India, April 1 -- As the Indian Premier League caravan rolls into the city this week, with Delhi Capitals set to face Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, a quick scan of sports shops across the city reveals a shift in fan sentiment.

If you're guessing which jerseys are flying off the shelves, the answer may surprise you. This time, it isn't just the familiar red of Royal Challengers Bengaluru or Chennai Super Kings' yellow dominating the racks. Instead, Delhi seems to be backing its own team.

Jerseys in Delhi Capitals' blue have seen a sharp surge in demand over the past week, say shopkeepers across NCR. "This year, more Delhi Capitals jerseys are selling than anyone else, which honestly isn't the case every season,"...