"They just tried everyone" - Former India opener on Delhi Capitals' requirements at the IPL 2026 auction

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has opined that the Delhi Capitals (DC) need to address their opening issues at the IPL 2026 auction. He highlighted that the Delhi-based franchise tried a plethora of opening combinations in IPL 2025 and needs to acquire a reliable overseas opener to complement their Indian players.

DC have released three overseas top-order batting options - Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis and Sediqullah Atal - ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. They have a remaining purse of ₹21.80 crore and can buy at most eight players, including five overseas.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the cricketer-turned-commentator opined that the Delhi Capitals were right in releasing Fraser-McGurk and need to acquire an overseas opening batter using the money that was released.

"Delhi released Jake Fraser-McGurk. He was very expensive. So releasing him was absolutely right. Delhi's opening was a game of musical chairs - Abishek Porel, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, eventually KL Rahul, and I think Karun Nair may have opened once," Chopra said. (7:50)

"They just tried everyone, and you felt why so many changes were required when they were doing so well. Now that you have released Jake, a lot of money gets released, you can quickly bring in an overseas opening batter because they don't need Indians. It's a very good Indian core," he added.

Aakash Chopra highlighted that the Delhi Capitals have an excellent Indian batting core, considering the presence of KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Abishek Porel, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma and Axar Patel. He pointed out that DC have also traded in Nitish Rana from the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and have Tristan Stubbs as an overseas middle-order batter.

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"If that is not settled, you will find yourself in trouble" - Aakash Chopra on Delhi Capitals' top-order issues heading into IPL 2026

KL Rahul might consistently open for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026. [P.C: Getty]

While observing that the Delhi Capitals potentially have the best spin-bowling attack among all franchises, Aakash Chopra noted that the opening department is the only big concern they need to address.

"No one will have better spin bowling than them. So they are actually in a very good space. They need someone at the top so that the opening gets settled. If that is not settled, you will find yourself in trouble. They have let Faf du Plessis go. So they got ₹2 crore from there as well. They have money, and they don't have to buy much," he said. (8:55)

While acknowledging that DC might not be able to acquire Jonny Bairstow at the IPL 2026 auction, the former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player reckoned that Tim Seifert, Jamie Smith, or some other opener could be their potential target.

"They can strengthen the overseas contingent a little more. They might not get Jonny Bairstow, even if they want, because Kolkata might want him, and some other team might also be thinking the same. They don't have enough money to win that one-to-one battle. It could be Tim Seifert or Jamie Smith, or someone else," Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra opined that the Delhi Capitals might also need to acquire a backup overseas fast bowler for Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera. To conclude, the analyst noted that the IPL 2020 runners-up are and were a good team, and would be in a great space if they get a decent opener who remains in form throughout the season.