IPL 2020 Exclusive: Auction Strategy for Delhi Capitals (DC)

Reviving the pace bowling and the batting all-rounder departments the focus area for Delhi Capitals (DC) as we look at their strategy for IPL 2020 Auction. 

After a successful IPL 2019 campaign, Delhi Capitals made some bold and wise decisions for IPL 2020. While they retained a solid Indian core, they let go of some of the big underperforming names in the overseas department.

With the transfer of Ajinkya Rahane from Rajasthan Royals to Delhi Capitals, Delhi Capitals’ top order looks promising. If they sustain a batting line-up in the order of Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, then they could be the only team to have an all-Indian Top-order.

Also, the transfer of Ravichandran Ashwin from Kings XI Punjab to Delhi Capitals has strengthened Delhi Capitals’ spin department, which already had the likes of Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, and Sandeep Lamichhane. 

Overall, the batting and spin departments look good for a playing 11, but Delhi Capitals are slightly thin in the all-rounder, pace bowling department, and backups with the release of Chris Morris, Trent Boult, Sherfane Rutherford, and others. 

So, how can Delhi Capitals address these gaps? Let’s look at the strategy Delhi Capitals need to adopt for the IPL 2020 Auction. 

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Delhi Capitals’ retained squad before IPL 2020 Auction:

Total Retained Players: 14 | Total Purse Available: INR 2785L

Batsmen: Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant (WK), Shikhar Dhawan, and Shreyas Iyer (C). 

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Keemo Paul. 

Bowlers: Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, and Sandeep Lamichhane. 

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#3: Revamp Pace Department

After a superb IPL 2019 campaign, Kagiso Rabada would once again lead the pace department in IPL 2020. But, apart from Kagiso Rabada, there is no prominent name in the pace department. 

The likes of Avesh Khan, Harsha Patel can produce a few good performances here and there, but that won’t suffice. Ishant Sharma, on the other hand, has certainly come of age, but expecting him to perform in 14 odd matches would be naive. 

So, looking at the current pace attack, Delhi Capitals should look to buy at least 1 overseas pace bowler, and 1-2 good Indian pacers. 

#2: Purchase 1-2 Good All-rounders

In IPL 2019, Delhi Capitals had Chris Morris and Sherfane Rutherford, who could make up for good batting all-rounders. However, post their release, the Delhi Capitals are left with only bowling all-rounders.

No doubt, the likes of Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Keemo Paul make up for brilliant bowling all-rounders, but their competency in the batting department that makes Delhi Capitals’ lower-order thin. 

While Delhi Capitals cannot buy Sherfane Rutherford back, Delhi Capitals can certainly re-buy Chris Morris at a lower price, and target additional 1-2 more batting all-rounders. 

#1: Purchase 2-3 Good Overseas Middle-order Batsmen 

Delhi Capitals released two big names in the overseas batting department in the form of Colin Munro and Colin Ingram. Apart from these two, Delhi Capitals released Hanuma Vihari in the middle-order department. 

In IPL 2019, only 4 players carried the burden of batting for Delhi Capitals, and those were Dhawan, Shaw, Iyer, and Pant. None of the above-released batsmen stood up to support these 4 batsmen. Hence, the release of these players looks a well thought off decision.

The IPL 2020 Auction would give Delhi Capitals a good platform to target at least 2-3 good overseas middle-order players. If they get some prominent names in his department, they would be a force to reckon.

So, these are the three areas Delhi Capitals need to focus at the IPL 2020 Auction. 

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ALSO READ: IPL 2020: Final list of retained players of all the Teams before the Auction

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