Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked the Delhi Capitals’ (DC) probable playing combination for their IPL 2026 clash against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). He opined that Prithvi Shaw should open the batting with KL Rahul.

DC will square off with LSG in the fifth game of IPL 2026 in Lucknow on Wednesday, April 1. Shaw, who was acquired for ₹75 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction, is among the opening options in the visitors’ squad.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India batter chose Shaw ahead of Abishek Porel and Pathum Nissanka as Rahul’s opening partner.

“Delhi, the question for you is, who will open – Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel or Pathum Nissanka. My vote is for Prithvi Shaw. You should open with KL Rahul. Nitish Rana at No. 3, Tristan Stubbs at No. 4, Axar Patel at No. 5, David Miller at No. 6, and Ashutosh Sharma at No. 7,” he said.

While picking Lungi Ngidi and Dushmantha Chameera as two overseas seamers, Chopra added that the Delhi Capitals can choose between T Natarajan and Auqib Nabi as the third pacer.

“At No. 8, if you wish, you can play Sameer Rizvi or else Vipraj Nigam, followed by Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi and Dushmantha Chameera. The one Indian bowler you have to play can be T Natarajan or Auqib Nabi. You can think who you want to play. It is looking like a good unit,” he observed.

Aakash Chopra’s probable Delhi Capitals playing 12 for IPL 2026 clash vs Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, David Miller, Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi/Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Dushmantha Chameera, T Natarajan/Auqib Nabi

“Mitchell Starc hasn’t come as of now” – Aakash Chopra on the questions for Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2026 clash vs Lucknow Super Giants

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that finding the right opening combination and new-ball pair, especially in Mitchell Starc’s absence, are the only potential questions the Delhi Capitals need to address ahead of their IPL 2026 clash against the Lucknow Super Giants.

“They don’t have too many questions. The one big question for Delhi last year was who would open, which I hope they just get right this time, to begin with, and who will bowl with the new ball and how. The new ball was a bit of a problem. Mitchell Starc hasn’t come as of now. So that also comes to the fore a little bit,” he said.

While pointing out that DC are the better unit heading into Wednesday’s game, the cricketer-turned-commentator added that LSG’s explosive top four can swing the game in their favor.

“All four home teams have won the first four games. This is Lucknow’s home game. The scales are tilted in which team’s favor? If one does man-to-man marking, it seems like Delhi are the more sorted and settled side, with more options, but Lucknow have explosive ability with the bat. They have an incredible top four,” Chopra observed.

The Delhi Capitals won both games against the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025. While they registered a narrow one-wicket win in their tournament opener in Visakhapatnam, they trounced Rishabh Pant and company by eight wickets in Lucknow.