As the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) is set to get its champion on May 31, the focus has already shifted to the next season, with several franchises facing big captaincy decisions. Ahead of the title clash, Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts on which captains should stay and which teams may need a fresh start in IPL 2027.
The IPL 2026 Final is scheduled to take place between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), led by Rajat Patidar, and Gujarat Titans (GT), led by Shubman Gill, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 31).
Ahead of the summit clash in Ahmedabad, Aakash Chopra was asked to share his thoughts on which franchises should move on from their current captains ahead of the IPL 2027 mega auction on CREX.
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Aakash Chopra feels Shreyas Iyer deserves full backing despite Punjab Kings’ disappointing finish this season. PBKS lost momentum badly and missed the playoffs after six defeats in a row, but Chopra believes Iyer has already shown what he can do by leading the franchise to the IPL final last year.
Iyer, who was in stunning form with the bat this season, is the only captain to take three different franchises to the IPL finals, and Chopra just said, “Back him, yaar.”
Aakash Chopra says Sanju Samson should replace Ruturaj Gaikwad as CSK captain
Chennai Super Kings could face a tougher decision. The five-time IPL champions have been badly struggling under Ruturaj Gaikwad and have not reached the playoffs since 2023. With questions growing around Gaikwad as captain, Aakash Chopra feels CSK may have to think about Sanju Samson.
The cricket pundit said, “This is a tough one, actually. Sanju Samson is ready. Maybe CSK should move to Sanju.” Ajinkya Rahane is also highly likely to be sacked as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain despite the stunning turnaround this season.
KKR has failed to make it to the IPL playoffs under Rahane’s captaincy, and Chopra believes that the franchise "needs a new captain” to change its fortunes. On the other hand, Pat Cummins should remain with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the next cycle as well.
The Australian superstar has built SRH into one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament, guiding the team to the IPL final in 2024 and then the playoffs this season. Speaking about Cummins’ chances, Chopra said: “Obviously, SRH will keep him.”
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Mumbai Indians (MI) will make a big call soon. Hardik Pandya has failed to deliver results because of the constant pressure and alleged lack of support from the players, and Chopra feels MI may consider looking for a new leader. He said, “MI needs a new captain.”
Delhi Capitals are in a similar position. After another disappointing campaign, questions have already raised over Axar Patel’s future as captain. And Chopra said, "Continuously bad season. Delhi Capitals can have a new captain instead of Axar.”
Riyan Parag gets Aakash Chopra backing after an impressive season
However, Riyan Parag has been applauded by Aakash Chopra for the way he captained Rajasthan Royals in his first season as the full-time captain. Despite the mid-season controversies, Parag led Rajasthan Royals to the IPL 2026 playoffs and even made it to Qualifier 2 while leading from the front.
The commentator felt Parag should retain his job in the 2027 season. He said, “They reached the playoffs and Qualifier 2. You can keep him.”
Should franchises continue backing their captains or look for a change??Our CREXpert analyzes the seasons of some captains and shares his opinion on what their franchises should do next.#AakashChopra #RuturajGaikwad #HardikPandya #CricketMatlabCREX pic.twitter.com/RzqmD6BqK4
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