IPL 2026: 3 players DC underutilised this season

Delhi Capitals (DC) once again endured a disappointing campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Despite assembling a squad packed with international stars such as KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi, Pathum Nissanka, and Tristan Stubbs, the franchise failed to secure a playoff berth and fell short of ending its long wait for an IPL title.

While several players delivered notable performances throughout the season, there were also a few talented individuals who did not receive enough opportunities to showcase their abilities.

Here are three players underutilised by Delhi Capitals:

3) Nitish Rana

Experienced left-handed batter Nitish Rana showed glimpses of his quality whenever he was given a chance. However, Delhi Capitals did not back him consistently despite some encouraging performances. Rana featured in nine matches and scored 225 runs at an impressive strike rate of 151.00.

One of his standout performances came against Punjab Kings, where he stitched together a crucial partnership with KL Rahul and demonstrated his ability to anchor as well as accelerate an innings. Given his experience and versatility, Rana could have been used more flexibly in the batting order. A longer run in the playing XI might have allowed him to contribute even more significantly to the team's fortunes.