Ahead of IPL 2026, Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel said KL Rahul is likely to open, citing his strong record in the role. Patel told reporters Rahul batted in the middle order last season due to team balance. He added a solid start in T20 cricket helps middle-order batters. IPL begins March 28, with DC facing LSG on April 1.

New Delhi: Ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Axar Patel explained that KL Rahul batted in the middle order last year due to the team's composition, which included two foreign top-order players.

He emphasised that Rahul has historically excelled as an opener and believes that giving him a top-order slot will provide strong starts in T20 matches, easing the role for the middle-order batters.

IPL is set to kick off from March 28, while Delhi Capitals will start their campaign with a match against LSG on April 1 in Lucknow.

"Last year, he was playing in the middle order because of our team combination. The players we had there were two foreign players, who could play in the top order, and, if you make foreign players play in the middle order, then teams use spin more," Patel told the reporters.