Abu Dhabi, Dec 15 (NationPress) The CEO of Delhi Capitals (DC), Sunil Gupta, expressed that the franchise has a clear vision regarding the players they aim to target to finalize their squad ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

As the IPL 2020 runners-up, DC approaches this mini auction with a budget of Rs 21.80 crore and needs to fill eight positions, including five for overseas players. “We have arrived in Abu Dhabi, and our preparations for the auction have been in progress for quite a while,” Gupta stated.

“Our scouting team has performed remarkably, and we are confident about our targets as we seek to satisfy the remaining needs of the squad. While we will adopt an aggressive approach where necessary, auctions are unpredictable, and adaptability is crucial. We eagerly anticipate the auctions in Abu Dhabi,” Gupta added in a franchise statement released on Monday.

DC’s auction priorities include securing a dependable opener to accompany KL Rahul, especially with Jake Fraser-McGurk’s inconsistency and Faf du Plessis opting out of IPL 2026. The team also requires bolstering in the pace bowling department, given T. Natarajan's injury issues, while Mitchell Starc will return after a demanding Ashes series.

The retirement of veteran pacer Mohit Sharma has created another vacancy in the fast bowling lineup. Additionally, acquiring a middle-order overseas batsman is part of DC’s strategy, along with the potential recruitment of a reliable foreign allrounder.

“We have retained a robust group of players from the last season. Although we narrowly missed out on playoff qualification, the campaign was filled with significant lessons. We will carry those insights forward and aim to succeed with a strong roster, entirely focused on achieving our goals,” Gupta remarked.

Prior to the auction, DC acquired Indian left-handed batsman Nitish Rana in exchange for South African all-rounder Donovan Ferreira, who is now with the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Rana, a previous IPL champion with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI), brings substantial experience playing at his home ground, Arun Jaitley Stadium.

“Nitish is an experienced IPL player and a great addition to our squad. His familiarity with home conditions, as a local boy, combined with the vital roles he has played for his former teams, makes him an ideal fit for us. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Delhi Capitals family. He is truly home,” Gupta concluded.