Delhi Capitals ramp up IPL 2027 prep with Aerocity camp, Yuvraj and Vaas in tow
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Delhi Capitals have significantly intensified their preparations for the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, conducting a short camp and trials at a ground in Aerocity, New Delhi. According to sources, the camp was overseen by former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and ex-India leg-spinner Amit Mishra, with Sri Lanka's former pace bowler Chaminda Vaas also joining the proceedings.
What Happened at the Camp
The Aerocity camp drew players who had also featured in an earlier off-season trial at the Just Cricket Academy ground in Bengaluru, held last month. According to sources, the New Delhi camp concluded on Monday, 14 September. The trio of Yuvraj Singh, Amit Mishra — himself a former DC player and one of the IPL's most prolific wicket-takers — and Vaas were present to assess identified domestic talent and put them through varied match simulations.
Chaminda Vaas, who played for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in the IPL from 2008 to 2010, is reportedly being evaluated as a potential fast-bowling coach for the side, though no formal appointment has been confirmed.
Bengaluru Camp and Ganguly's Role
The Aerocity trials follow an earlier camp held at Bengaluru's Just Cricket Academy, where both Yuvraj Singh and former India captain and DC's director of cricket Sourav Ganguly were in attendance. The Bengaluru session was the franchise's first structured off-season evaluation this cycle, with the New Delhi camp serving as a continuation of that talent-identification process.
JSW Takes Charge of Cricket Operations
Under a formal operational agreement between DC's co-owners JSW Group and GMR Group, management of the men's IPL team rotates between the two corporate entities every two years. JSW Group has taken charge of cricket operations for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, which explains the visible shift in personnel and approach at the camps. Before fielding a final squad, the franchise must still navigate the mini auction scheduled for later this year.
Breaking the Underachiever Tag
Delhi Capitals are widely regarded as the tournament's most consistent underachievers, having reached the final just once — in the 2020 season. The franchise missed the playoffs in both IPL 2025 and IPL 2026 under head coach Hemang Badani, director of cricket Venugopal Rao, and fast-bowling coach Munaf Patel. The renewed off-season activity signals a determination under JSW's stewardship to reverse that trend heading into 2027.
With the mini auction still to come and coaching staff not yet finalised, the next few months will be critical in shaping whether DC can translate this early groundwork into a more competitive campaign.