Delhi Capitals (DC) always had the potential to reach new heights in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but somehow it couldn’t happen. However, the last season was quite impressive for DC as they qualified for the playoffs after six years. The investment in youngsters was a prime reason behind the comeback of Capitals.
Ahead of the auction, Delhi have released overseas stars players like Colin Ingram, Chris Morris, and Colin Munro. On the other hand, they have retained foreign players, namely Kagiso Rabada, Keemo Paul, and Sandeep Lamichhane.
DC have retained the Indian core like Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant; also, they have acquired Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin via trade window system. They now have 11 slots available (five overseas), and INR 27.85 cr in their purse for the auction.
Delhi have a robust set of Indian players, but they lack a quality finisher and will be looking to fulfill this gap in the upcoming auction. Among the pacers, DC have Rabada and Ishant Sharma, but they would like to add another speedster to boost up their bowling line-up.
Let’s have a look at three players that Delhi Capitals might target in the upcoming auction:
Glenn Maxwell
Australian power-hitter Glen Maxwell will be a hot property in the upcoming auction. Teams that are looking for a finisher and clean-hitter to strengthen their middle-order will have a go at Victoria player.
Delhi, who lacks a destructive middle-order batsman, might target the Maxwell as he has bountiful experience of the shortest format. DC needs a finisher who takes just a few deliveries to settle before whacking the deliveries into the stadium.
The best thing about Maxwell is he can deliver a couple of overs during the middle of innings and is pretty quick in the out-field too. Maxwell has a strong throwing arm, which helps him to produce run-outs as well.
Chris Morris
South African all-rounder and previous DC player Chris Morris will also be on the radar of the Delhi owners. They will look to get back Morris at a lower price.
In the recently concluded Mzansi Super league (MSL), Morris finished at the 8th spot in the list of leading wicket-takers. At a strike-rate of 22, he took ten wickets in the tournament.
Delhi needs an all-rounder in their lower middle-order, and Morris, who has been a part of the squad, would be a good option. He has played 61 matches in the IPL and taken 69 wickets with 4/23 being his best. The Proteas all-rounder has also scored 517 runs at a strike rate of 157.62.
Sheldon Cottrell
Delhi Capitals have a decent set of bowlers, especially in the spin department. The duo of Amit Mishra and Sandeep Lamichhane holds the spin area well, but they need a fast pacer who can bring a different dimension in their bowling attack.
The Windies bowler Sheldon Cottrell could be the right choice for DC. He will be a hot pick in the upcoming auction. The left-hander has a good run in international cricket. In 22 T20Is, he has taken 30 wickets with 4/28 being his best.
The natural angle that Cottrell creates always troubles the right-handed batsmen. He can swing the ball both ways and has control over his yorkers; this makes him even more lethal.
The Jamaican born could assist Rabada, and the duo can dismantle the opposing team’s batting unit. If Delhi goes for Cottrell, then their bowling group will become much stronger then it is right now.
