DC vs RCB: 3 big reasons why Prithvi Shaw should play in match 39 of IPL 2026
Prithvi Shaw was bought by DC in the IPL 2026 auction for INR 75 lakh.
Delhi Capitals are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (DC vs RCB) in match 39 of the Indian Premier League 2026. The encounter is scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on April 27.
DC bought Indian batter Prithvi Shaw in the IPL 2026 mini-auction after going unsold in the prior season. He was grabbed by the franchise at his base price of INR 75 lakh.
Although Shaw joined the DC squad ahead of IPL 2026 and is injury-free, he has been benched in all the matches so far.
The Capitals have backed KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka as the opening pair, and Shaw is waiting for the opportunity. In this listicle, let’s look at the three reasons why Prithvi Shaw should play for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming clash against RCB.
Reasons DC should play Prithvi Shaw against RCB-
Pathum Nissanka’s struggles as DC opener
DC bought Nissanka in the IPL 2026 mini-auction and has been selected as an opener alongside KL Rahul. However, the Sri Lankan batsman has struggled to make a mark in the tournament so far.
Across seven games, he has not scored any half-centuries, crossing 40+ on three occasions and getting out cheaply in other matches. Hence, the Capitals should drop him from the playing XI and replace him with Prithvi.
Prithvi Shaw’s extensive experience with the Delhi Capitals
Shaw is familiar with the Delhi Capitals since the start of his IPL career in 2018 and has long experience with them. He also played a pivotal role in Delhi’s journey to the final in the IPL 2020 edition, where they ended as runners-up.
With 79 IPL games in his kitty, he is among the most experienced openers in the tournament. He has mustered 1892 runs at an impressive strike rate of 147. Shaw’s expertise and aggressive batting style will be a big support for KL Rahul at the top slot.
Prithvi’s brilliant form in SMAT
While Shaw did not feature in IPL 2025, the right-handed batter gave a decent performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26.
Playing for Maharashtra, he scored 183 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 160.52. He was the second-highest run-scorer for his team and also hammered two half-centuries.
Prithvi Shaw is part of which team in IPL 2026?
He is playing for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026.
When will the DC vs RCB match take place?
The DC vs RCB match take place on April 27 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
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Vikas Singh Derek is a core cricket-lover since childhood and has always followed the sport both in his personal and professional life. He started his school life by watching cricket at home with family. Later, he played cricket on the field at local clubs during college. After his Master's in Journalism from Mumbai, he followed his passion by covering cricket news across various digital media. Since 2015, he has been an aspiring sports journalist and cricket content writer with over 50K+ articles.