"They didn't have ₹45 crore" - Aakash Chopra declares the 'winners' of the IPL 2026 auction

Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked the Delhi Capitals (DC) as the 'winners' of the IPL 2026 auction. He highlighted that the franchise covered all the bases with their acquisitions despite having a limited available budget.

DC spent ₹21.45 crore to acquire eight players at the IPL 2026 auction. They bought most of their players at base prices, with Auqib Dar (₹8.40 crore) being their most expensive pick.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that the Delhi Capitals acquired Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, David Miller and Auqib Dar despite not having a huge remaining purse heading into the IPL 2026 auction.

"I think the winners of the auction were the Delhi Capitals because they didn't have ₹45 crore. They had less money, but they got Duckett, Nissanka, Miller and Auqib Nabi. They did an incredible job. You needed a new-ball bowler, and you got that. You needed a finisher, and you got that," he said. (5:00)

Chopra added that the Delhi-based franchise has started nailing the auction, both in the Women's Premier League and the Indian Premier League.

"You had already taken Nitish Rana, and you have got two openers. This team has actually started acing the auction, whether you see their WPL auction or their last IPL auction. If they get the role clarity, Delhi are making a fantastic team. They are actually a very, very decent side. A good team became a better team. An upgrade is definitely being seen in DC," he observed.

The Delhi Capitals bought Ben Duckett and David Miller at ₹2 crore apiece, their base prices. While they outbid the Rajasthan Royals (RR), the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) to acquire Auqib Dar, they trumped the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to buy Pathum Nissanka.

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"Is he the new Jofra Archer?" - Aakash Chopra on LSG's acquisition of Josh Inglis in IPL 2026 auction

LSG bought Josh Inglis for ₹8.60 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had an interesting IPL 2026 auction, highlighting that they bought a sparsely available Josh Inglis, apart from excellent picks in Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje, for a massive sum.

"Lucknow Super Giants - interesting. Two extremely fantastic buys, Hasaranga and Nortje, but after that, they bought Josh Inglis for ₹8.60 crore. He is available for only four games. Is he the new Jofra Archer?" he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator wondered whether LSG followed the philosophy the Mumbai Indians (MI) had while acquiring Jofra Archer at the IPL 2022 auction.

"Remember, Jofra Archer had come to the auction once and Mumbai had bought him for next year. He wasn't available that year at all. They had bought him for the next year beforehand. Is Josh Inglis that kind of player?" Chopra observed.

The Lucknow Super Giants spent ₹18.40 crore to buy six players at the IPL 2026 auction. Apart from Wanindu Hasaranga (₹2 crore), Anrich Nortje (₹2 crore), Josh Inglis (₹8.60 crore), LSG acquired Mukul Choudhary (₹2.60 crore), Naman Tiwari (₹1 crore) and Akshat Raghuwanshi (₹2.20 crore) at the auction.

Edited by Kartik Iyer