Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons the Delhi Capitals must find a batter to bat in the middle order in IPL 2026. Chopra highlighted that KL Rahul had struggled to deliver consistently in the middle order and he was promoted to open in IPL 2025.
The flamboyant batter scored 539 runs in 13 matches of IPL 2025 and he was the team’s highest run-getter in the previous season.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “You will need another player in the middle order. Of course, there is Stubbs there, but you will need a proper middle-order batter because KL Rahul is not performing in the middle order. Ultimately, you ended up making him open anyway. Karun Nair, Rizvi, or Ashutosh Sharma, these players can only serve as twists and options. They can only be companions to Stubbs; they have not been able to work shoulder to shoulder. So you need another middle-order batter, and for that, you will need to release some money. You can do that, the options are available to you.”
The renowned commentator said Delhi Capitals can target all-rounder Cameron Green or Heinrich Klaasen, if the duo are part of the auction pool.
“You will need another player in the middle order. Of course, there is Stubbs there, but you will need a proper middle-order batter because KL Rahul is not performing in the middle order. Ultimately, you ended up making him open anyway. Karun Nair, Rizvi, or Ashutosh Sharma, these players can only serve as twists and options. They can only be companions to Stubbs; they have not been able to work shoulder to shoulder. So you need another middle-order batter, and for that, you will need to release some money. You can do that, the options are available to you.”
The former Delhi commentator said the Delhi Capitals need to settle their opening pair for IPL 2026.
“They need to settle their opening because they haven’t been able to settle it so far. In the last tournament, I think they made the most changes in terms of openers. We saw Abhishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul, Jake Fraser, Faf du Plessis. It felt like, if there’s anyone left, just play them as an opener as well. So all the rotation they had with so many openers needs to be stopped. They don’t want to keep the musical chairs and revolving door system. If you want to settle the opening, you will need money for that. And the money will be available to you if you release so many players. That was one important aspect, so at least you get your batting order sorted.”
Delhi had finished the previous season in fifth place with seven wins, six losses, and one no-result.
