New Delhi, March 23 (NationPress) The head coach of Delhi Capitals, Hemang Badani, is optimistic that the team has addressed its top-order challenges by acquiring new talent, including Prithvi Shaw, Ben Duckett, and Pathum Nissanka during the auction for the upcoming IPL 2026 season, which kicks off on March 28.

Last season, DC struggled, recording the second-lowest run rate and batting average during the powerplay. The opening partnerships were especially troubling, averaging only 21.8 runs—the lowest across all teams—and achieving just two fifty-plus partnerships over 14 innings.

Despite experimenting with seven different opening combinations, the franchise could not find the right fit, prompting a reevaluation before the new season. The hope is that establishing stability at the top will eliminate the frequent changes that plagued them in 2025.

"The solution is quite simple. We need to find someone capable of fulfilling that role. Last year, we saw changes with players like Porel, KL, Faf, and Jake. Now, we have brought in new openers," said Badani in response to an inquiry from IANS during a pre-season press conference.

"We have returned to Prithvi Shaw, and added Ben Duckett and Pathum Nissanka. We've genuinely tackled this issue by selecting these players. The opening slot was a focal point for us in the auction, and we believe we've achieved that," he added.

DC, under the leadership of Axar Patel, is set to commence their IPL 2026 journey against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on April 1.

Echoing Badani's thoughts, Venugopal Rao, the Director of Cricket at DC, remarked, "We will indeed try new openers."

Badani also acknowledged the rapid changes in T20 cricket over the last year, pointing out that higher scores have become the new standard, as evidenced by India’s victory in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup. "Cricket has progressed to a stage where scores of 180 are no longer adequate; one must have powerful shots at the top," he noted.

“We’ve observed the high scores in recent World Cups, with Axar leading the team to its second win and scores hitting 250 and 240. Last year's IPL also witnessed similar trends,” he continued.

Badani discussed a shift in bowling strategies as well. "Previously, the focus was on dot balls; now, we emphasize minimizing boundary balls in each over. I prefer taking six singles rather than bowling two dot balls and conceding three boundaries," he stated.

When addressing DC's long-standing pursuit of an IPL title, Badani emphasized the importance of improvement and aiming for the trophy in 2026, rather than fixating on past performances. "We need to focus more on how we can enhance our game and add value, rather than dwelling on previous seasons," he said.

"We have discussions post-season to identify areas for improvement for the next year, and we are prepared for 2026," he added.

He also mentioned that the franchise has found stability in leadership with Axar continuing as captain. “I can’t comment on past events as I joined recently. We made a deliberate choice to stick with someone familiar with our environment—Axar was the clear choice. We had a solid start last season, and he embodies a young leader’s spirit," Badani remarked.

Regarding fast bowler Auqib Nabi, who is set to debut in IPL after leading Jammu & Kashmir to a historic Ranji Trophy victory, Badani dismissed any concerns over the hefty price tag of Rs 8.4 crore affecting his performance, praising his consistency and skill.

"I’ve monitored him for over two years. He has consistently delivered with his line and length, making him a valuable asset for us, especially in the early overs. His impressive white-ball record may be overshadowed by his red-ball success, but he is a viable option for us," Badani concluded.