Prithvi Shaw's Emotional Homecoming to Delhi Capitals Ahead of IPL 2026
Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw made a heartfelt return to the Arun Jaitley Stadium as he rejoined the Delhi Capitals camp in preparation for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The league is scheduled to commence on March 28, marking a significant moment for Shaw and the franchise.
Shaw's Release and Redemption in the Auction
After a seven-season association, Delhi Capitals released Shaw ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, ending his long-standing tenure with the team. The 26-year-old batter faced a challenging period, going unsold as Delhi opted not to re-sign him. His quest for another opportunity extended into the IPL 2026 auction, where he was initially overlooked during the main rounds. However, his fortunes changed dramatically in the accelerated phase. Shaw was among the final players selected, securing a contract worth Rs 75 lakh with his former franchise, Delhi Capitals.
"Delhi, Your Boy is Home": A Touching Social Media Tribute
Delhi Capitals celebrated Shaw's return with an emotional video posted on social media, captioned "Our Boy is back home." In the video, Shaw shared his deep connection with the franchise and the iconic stadium, stating: "You don’t forget a place like Kotla. Not the noise. Not the silence. Not what it made you. Some stories don’t end. They come back. Delhi, your boy is home." This poignant message resonated with fans, highlighting the strong bond between the player and the team.
Shaw's Journey and Performance with Delhi Capitals
Prithvi Shaw was originally signed by Delhi Capitals for Rs 1.2 crore after leading India to victory in the 2018 U-19 World Cup as captain. Over seven seasons, he played in 79 matches, accumulating 1,892 runs at an average of 23.5, including 14 half-centuries. His contributions have been vital to the team's campaigns, though Delhi Capitals narrowly missed a playoff spot last season, finishing fifth with seven wins in 14 matches. The franchise, still pursuing its maiden IPL title, is eager to leverage Shaw's experience and skills to improve their performance in the upcoming edition.
IPL 2026 Schedule and Delhi Capitals Squad
As per the announced schedule, Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 1. The team's squad for the season includes:
- Axar Patel (Captain)
- KL Rahul
- Karun Nair
- Mitchell Starc
- David Miller
- Ben Duckett
- Pathum Nissanka
- Sahil Parakh
- Prithvi Shaw
- Abhishek Porel
- Tristan Stubbs
- Sameer Rizvi
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Vipraj Nigam
- Ajay Mandal
- Tripurana Vijay
- Madhav Tiwari
- Auqib Dar
- Nitish Rana
- T. Natrajan
- Mukesh Kumar
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Lungisani Ngidi
- Kyle Jamieson
- Kuldeep Yadav
This diverse and talented roster aims to bring success to Delhi Capitals in the highly competitive IPL 2026 season.
