India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is all set to join Delhi Capitals in a trade-off with Kings XI Punjab for the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2020.
Ashwin, who had captained the Punjab outfit for two seasons without much success, was supposed to join Delhi Capitals earlier but once Anil Kumble became the Head Coach, it was learned that KXIP wasn’t ready to release their senior bowler.
“Yes, Ashwin is joining Delhi Capitals. The deal had earlier fell through as KXIP didn’t get the two DC players that they wanted in a trade-off with Ashwin. Now they are getting those two players and it’s 99 percent done,” a senior BCCI official, privy to IPL trade-offs, was quoted as saying by PTI.
Kings XI Punjab to get two players in trade-off
According to reports, KXIP and DC had reached an impasse because the latter did not want to release two players. KXIP wanted two players in order to release Ashwin. And according to Mumbai Mirror, the two players are New Zealand’s fast bowler Trent Boult and Karnataka’s all-rounder Jagadeesha Suchith.
DC roped in Boult during the 2018 IPL auctions after splashing INR 2.2 crores. The Kiwi pace spearhead had gone on to justify the faith shown in him by leading Delhi’s bowling attack. Boult had finished the season as DC’s leading wicket-taker, picking up 18 wickets from 14 games. However, he fell down the pecking order this year as Kagiso Rabada returned after missing last year’s edition due to injury. In IPL 2019, Boult played just five matches and picked up as many wickets.
On the other hand, Suchith was signed by Delhi mid-season as a replacement for Harshal Patel. He played just one match this year where he took a couple of wickets. With Ashwin gone, KXIP will also have to appoint a new skipper as search for their maiden IPL title continues.
