Delhi Capitals could be heading into IPL 2027 with a major leadership decision to make after bringing Rishabh Pant back from Lucknow Super Giants through
a trade ahead of the retention deadline.
While the wicketkeeper-batter's return has strengthened their batting options, it has also created uncertainty over who will captain the franchise next season.
With Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Amit Mishra and Chaminda Vaas forming an impressive coaching and support group, DC are expected to undergo a significant strategic overhaul. However, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes the franchise's captaincy situation remains far from settled.
Speaking on JioStar's Game Plan, Chopra identified Pant and KL Rahul as possible candidates while suggesting that Axar Patel might not be interested in taking up the leadership responsibility.
"There are multiple questions, actually. It's an MCQ because who will be the captain? Rishabh Pant has been a captaincy candidate, KL Rahul is an option, and I'm hearing that Axar doesn't want to be the captain. So, with everything going on, you don't even know who will captain the side. It could well be KL Rahul at this stage. And Rishabh Pant, now that you have traded him, must bat in the top four. If you are going to bat him lower than that, then you will not utilise him to his fullest potential. I felt that in that trade, LSG was better off because you couldn't have asked for more than a bowler of Kuldeep's calibre for that pitch," Chopra said.
Pant's Return Creates More Questions Than Answers
Pant's return is undoubtedly one of the biggest talking points surrounding Delhi ahead of the new season. However, his arrival does not automatically guarantee that he will reclaim the captaincy.
KL Rahul remains a credible alternative, having previously led franchises in the IPL, while Axar's leadership credentials are also well established. The latter's potential reluctance, as suggested by Chopra, could narrow the choices.
Chopra also questioned Delhi's bowling composition, particularly with Mitchell Starc's availability uncertain. He highlighted the financial commitments towards Starc, Mukesh Kumar and Auqib Nabi while pointing out that the franchise could face challenges in assembling a reliable pace attack.
With multiple senior players and a revamped coaching setup, Delhi's next leadership decision could prove crucial in determining their direction.
