IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals' strongest predicted XI against Punjab Kings

The Delhi Capitals (DC) return to the Arun Jaitley Stadium to take on the top-of-the-table Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 35 of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday, April 25. The afternoon game forms part of yet another weekend doubleheader.

DC come on the back of a 47-run defeat at the hands of the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Axar Patel’s side has won two out of their last five games this season, with their most recent triumph coming against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where David Miller scored 16 runs off the final three balls to win them the game.

The 2020 finalists have a strong side, which had a bad day in the office in Hyderabad last time around. The team is well-balanced with hard-hitting opening batters along with excellent finishers and a tidy bowling unit. They just, however, need to be more consistent to have a shot at playoffs qualification.

Here is DC's strongest predicted XI vs PBKS, Match 35, IPL 2026:

Top Order: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Rana

DC’s top order is heavily reliant on the form of KL Rahul. The wicketkeeper-batter is currently his side’s second-highest run-scorer this season with 205 at a strike-rate of 166.66. Pathum Nissanka, however, has lacked consistency, scoring at an average of just 22.66.

The Capitals had a minor issue with the number three slot, but that seems to have been rectified with Nitish Rana’s half-century in the previous game against SRH.