Delhi : Delhi Capitals (DC) face off against Gujarat Titans (GT) on 8th April at 7:30 PM for the 14th match of the IPL 2026 season at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. There is a positive update for GT, as skipper Shubman Gill is set to return to the side.
Both teams have played two matches each so far this season. DC have won back-to-back matches (one against LSG and one against MI), earning 4 points and standing in fourth position on the table. On the other hand, GT have suffered consecutive defeats (one against PBKS and one against RR), failing to collect any points and currently sitting second from the bottom of the table.
DC have played both matches under Axar Patel with the same playing XI and no changes. Their bowling performance has been very impressive, but their top batting order has struggled to score runs. KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka were dismissed early in their first match, with Rahul scoring a duck and Nissanka just 1 run. Nitish Rana managed only 15 runs. A similar situation occurred in their second match against MI, where Rahul scored 1, Rana got a duck, and Nissanka scored 44 off 30 balls. The top order has not been able to score as required in both matches. However, Sameer Rizvi played brilliantly (70 off 47 and 90 off 51), and his performances covered up these flaws. For DC to continue their positive performance, they need better contributions from the top order to reduce pressure on the middle order.
On the other hand, GT started their campaign with two consecutive losses. In the previous match, skipper Shubman Gill was unavailable due to a muscle spasm, and Rashid Khan led the team. However, in the pre-match press conference, Sai Sudharsan confirmed that Gill is fit and will play today’s match. GT’s bowling lineup has performed well, but their batting order has struggled. The top order did fine, but the middle order has failed to contribute effectively. If the top order gets out early, the middle order appears under pressure and struggles to score. This issue is quite similar to DC’s batting concerns. For GT to bounce back in the league, they need to address this problem as soon as possible.
In the pre-match press conference, DC’s bowling coach Munaf Patel discussed the importance of early wickets. He said, “If you manage to get two or three wickets in the Powerplay for around 40 runs, it will be difficult to score over 200 unless you bowl badly at the death. That’s what we have been able to do so far. The presence of Lungi Ngidi has also helped. He has variations and a good slower ball. He is putting his experience of playing in Indian conditions during the recent World Cup to good use. He also provides useful tips to his fellow pacers.” He also spoke about the absence of Mitchell Starc, saying, “We’ve won two matches, so his absence hasn’t been felt so far. But if results don’t go our way, questions will come up. Starc is one of the best bowlers in the world. In the IPL, only someone like Jasprit Bumrah can be compared with him. He brings pace, swing, and experience. We’re closely following his fitness because he is very important for us.”
In IPL history, both teams have played 7 matches, where Delhi have won 3 and Gujarat have won 4.
Squad of DC:
KL Rahul, Karun Nair, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Nitish Rana, Mitchell Starc, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Yadav.
Predicted Playing XI for DC:
KL Rahul, Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, David Miller, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Auqib Nabi, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav.
GT Squad:
Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Tom Banton, Glenn Phillips, Sai Sudharsan, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Luke Wood, Kulwant Khejroliya, Rashid Khan.
Predicted Playing XI (GT):
Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Jason Holder, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
The weather in Delhi is expected to be partly unstable. During the afternoon, there is a higher chance of rain and thunderstorms, which could briefly affect pitch preparation or warm-ups. However, conditions are expected to improve by the evening, around match time, with a lower likelihood of rain. Temperatures will be mild, around 22–24°C, with moderate humidity, making playing conditions comfortable. Overall, the match is likely to proceed without major interruptions. The pitch is expected to be batting-friendly early on, allowing stroke play, while spinners may get some turn later. It is generally a balanced surface, favoring batters initially but offering opportunities to bowlers as the game progresses. This is the same venue where DC chased 164 against MI. It will be interesting to see whether DC continue their good form or if GT can bounce back from their early setbacks.
