Aakash Chopra picks DC retentions ahead of IPL 2027 auction; releases 2026 India debutant worth ₹8.4 crore

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra urged the Delhi Capitals (DC) to retain Karun Nair, Nitish Rana, Abhishek Porel, and Dushmantha Chameera before the IPL 2027 auction. In the same video on his Instagram handle, Chopra advised the franchise to release Prithvi Shaw and Auqib Nabi, the seamer who made his India debut in 2026 and cost ₹8.40 crore at the last auction. Shaw, at ₹75 lakh, did not get a game all season.

Among Chopra's retained players, Nair is the cheapest of the five at ₹50 lakh and the least productive: two matches in IPL 2026, 18 runs, an average of nine. Rana, traded in from Rajasthan Royals at ₹4.2 crore, gave Delhi its standout middle-order innings of the season: 91 alongside KL Rahul's unbeaten 152 in a total of 264 for 2 against Punjab Kings. Delhi lost that game.

Porel, retained on ₹4 crore, is the squad's most adaptable Indian batter and is still without a fixed position. Chameera, at ₹75 lakh, and Ngidi, at ₹2 crore, are the overseas pacers in Chopra's retained list.

Retentions are due on November 17, with the BCCI having moved the original November 15 cut-off because it clashed with the fifth ODI between India and New Zealand at Bay Oval. The IPL 2027 mini auction is on December 16 at ITC Grand Goa, the first on Indian soil since 2022.

DC endured another torrid IPL season earlier this year

DC finished sixth with seven wins and seven defeats in their 14 outings and missed the playoffs once again in IPL 2026. Five of their seven home matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium were lost, including the 264-run night against Punjab.

The two trades this off-season have not repaired the bowling. Kuldeep Yadav left for Lucknow Super Giants in June in the deal that brought Rishabh Pant back, and T Natarajan went to Sunrisers Hyderabad for leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, leaving the seam attack thinner than it was in May.

The longer record sets the context. Delhi reached the 2020 final and finished top of the 2021 league table before losing the second qualifier to Kolkata Knight Riders. They have not played a playoff game since, and finished fifth in 2025 with 15 points from seven wins, six defeats and a no-result. The franchise has now gone five seasons without a top-four finish.

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