Former India player Aakash Chopra has named the Delhi Capitals’ (DC) opening issues as one of the reasons behind their poor run in IPL 2025. He added that the DC tried to fit KL Rahul in the available spot after giving the other batters their preferred positions as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “One thing that went against them was that they were unable to figure out whom they should open with. They were actually winning until Jake Fraser-McGurk was playing, but they had no option but to drop him. They had to go with seven different opening combinations. They tried everyone, but it didn’t work out for them. They realized right at the very end that they should think about what’s right for KL Rahul because they used to think about what’s right for the others. They left the breadcrumbs for KL Rahul as he would manage.”

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However, Aakash Chopra also stated that the Delhi Capitals’ reluctance to pick a replacement for Harry Brook also cost them the game as well.

“Some amount of arrogance also hit this team because Harry Brook wasn’t coming. However, they didn’t take anyone else. They didn’t even think about taking anyone. Dewald Brevis was available, but they said they didn’t need him. It was too late by the time they took (Sediqullah) Atal and played him,” he said.

“They didn’t have an idea about what needed to be done in the batting order because they had assembled all top-order batters in the auction. Everyone wanted to bat in the top three, but how many can? Ashutosh Sharma had form, but they weren’t using him properly,” Aakash Chopra concluded.