Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Nitish Rana to bat at number three for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026. Ashwin reckons Rana can make the most of his local ground in Delhi and use his experience of playing for the state team.

Rana has scored 2853 runs in 118 IPL matches at an average of 27.7 and a strike rate of 136.77. The left-hander was in fine form while leading West Delhi Lions to glory in the Delhi Premier League 2025. He scored 393 runs in 11 matches at an average of 65.50 and a strike rate of 181.94. 

Furthermore, Rana scored a match-winning knock of 79 runs off just 49 balls in the final against Central Delhi Kings.

Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “Nitish Rana coming to Delhi is a good thing. He did well in the Delhi Premier League. He is a local boy, who knows the secret of the local ground. Delhi has found a way to lose home games. Maybe, to win home games, Nitish Rana is the recipe. If you want to play Nitish Rana, you have to play him at No. 3, not below that.

Ashwin said if a wicket falls in the Powerplay overs, then Rana can also bat at number four but he should not bat below that in any scenario.

“If they lose a wicket in powerplay, maybe at No. 4. Nitish Rana can’t come below that. So, if they use Nitish Rana well and KL Rahul has a good season, I don’t see why Delhi shouldn’t get right up there,” Ashwin added.

Ashwin wants Delhi Capitals to open with KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka. He backed David Miller and Tristan Stubbs to bat at number four and five, respectively. The former off-spinner urged DC to bat finisher Ashutosh Sharma at number six.

He added, “Because you have a high-scoring ground in Delhi, you will need both Stubbs and Miller.”

Ashwin wants captain Axar Patel to bat at number seven for DC. The cricketer-turned-analyst backed Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar, and Kuldeep Yadav as specialist bowlers.

Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants at Lucknow on 1st April.