New Delhi, March 22 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed optimism regarding the Delhi Capitals (DC), predicting an end to their prolonged quest for an IPL title. He described the franchise's squad for 2026 as 'a highly competitive team' and hopes they clinch the trophy this season.

Despite participating in every IPL season since its inception in 2008, DC remains one of only two franchises that have yet to secure the title. “Looking at teams that have achieved multiple championships, including the Gujarat Titans—who reached the finals twice and won a title in their initial two years—it's clear that consistency and stability are key to their success,” Chopra remarked.

“The IPL structure allows for a reset every three years with a major auction. Hats off to Delhi for maintaining their presence among the top contenders since 2019, culminating in a finals appearance in 2020,” he added.

Chopra noted the remarkable consistency of the women's team, which has reached the finals in all four WPL seasons, emphasizing their effective auction strategies. “This year, I'm confident they possess a formidable unit. Fingers crossed that this could finally be their year,” he conveyed on JioStar.

He highlighted the significance of stable leadership and team selection, citing DC’s enhanced auction strategy last year as a pivotal factor. “Teams that don't find success often keep altering their rosters to seek it, mistakenly believing that success will lead to stability. This could lead to a vicious cycle. This has been the case for both PBKS and DC, with PBKS having had 15 captains and DC 17,” he stated.

In comparing DC and PBKS, Chopra said, “On paper, Delhi appears to be a more balanced team, with sufficient backups for nearly every role, except for the two spinners. Unfortunately, you won't find reliable substitutes for Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav anywhere in the country.”

Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan reflected on DC's struggles in talent identification during the early 2010s, sharing his experiences with Punjab and Delhi. “I was part of both teams for three years each. When I was in Delhi, efforts were made to establish stability with Eric Simmons as the coach.

“However, letting go of players like AB de Villiers and Andre Russell made it challenging to build a solid team. I shared a dressing room with Russell, and there were discussions about giving him more chances, but they couldn't consistently find a spot for him in the XI. Talent identification is crucial, and I believe Delhi has historically fallen short in this aspect.”

Pathan also mentioned how the leadership of captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting has significantly influenced PBKS's transformation since IPL 2025. “Leadership has been a crucial factor in Punjab’s resurgence. You can win half the IPL at the auction, and while having a large budget doesn't guarantee success, they made the right moves and reached the finals,” he explained.

“During the mini-auction, they made bold yet essential decisions, including releasing underperforming players like Glenn Maxwell. They faced some bad luck with Josh Inglis being unavailable for much of the season but still saw another team pursuing him for a high price. They are now making many sound decisions,” he concluded.