Delhi Capitals (DC) will aim to get hold of their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title. The franchise is one of the four teams yet to win the coveted trophy.
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The closest that the Delhi Capitals (previously, Delhi Daredevils), have come to winning the silverware was in IPL 2020. It took 13 seasons for Delhi Capitals to qualify for their first-ever IPL final. The Capitals finished second-best to Mumbai Indians, who won their fifth IPL trophy that night. The DC fans and owners would hope the jinx is to end in 2024.
The preparations for the IPL 2024 have already begun in full flow. The teams have already submitted their lists of retentions and releases.
Delhi Capitals, like every other franchise, will now gear up for the upcoming IPL Auction on December 19, 2023.
In this article, The Sporting News explains which players could be on DC's radar for IPL 2024.
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Delhi Capitals squad list for IPL 2024
Following the player retention/release deadline, DC have retained just 16 players. They are:
- Rishabh Pant
- David Warner*
- Mitchell Marsh*
- Prithvi Shaw
- Yash Dhull
- Axar Patel
- Lalit Yadav
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Ishant Sharma
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Pravin Dubey
- Mukesh Kumar
- Vicky Ostwal
- Anrich Nortje*
- Lungi Ngidi*
- Abishek Porel
*overseas players
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Which players should Delhi Capitals buy in the IPL 2024 auction?
The Delhi Capitals have released 11 players while retaining 16 ahead of the IPL 2024. The Capitals have let go off of some big-money buys from the 2023 IPL Auction.
The Delhi-based outfit head into the mini-auction with a spending capacity of INR 28.95 Crores. DC can rope in a maximum of nine players in total, including four overseas players.
They released the likes of Rovman Powell, Rilee Rossouw, and Manish Pandey. The Capitals are in dire need of at least two experienced middle-order batsmen. Moreover, there are doubts over the availability of squad captain, Rishabh Pant. If the Southpaw is to miss the campaign, the troubles will only increase for the Capitals.
The bowling looks good to go with the likes of Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Anrich Nortje, and Lungi Ngidi being retained. Even the part-timers in Mitchell Marsh and Lalit Yadav have been retained ahead of the auction.
The Delhi Capitals would hope to rope in some overseas firepower in their batting order.
Daryl Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell could be the target that the Delhi Capitals will vouch for at the auction table. The Capitals need to replace outgoing Rovman Powell and Rilee Rossouw. And who better to replace them with, than an in-form Mitchell.
Mitchell has also proved his mettle on Indian soil. He was New Zealand's glue that was sticking an otherwise strangled batting line-up. Mitchell has taken responsibility, and batted well under pressure. Could he be on his way to the Indian capital city in IPL 2024?
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Shahrukh Khan
Talking about middle-order slots, DC would be highly obliged to their counterparts, if they were to get Shahrukh Khan. The Tamil Nadu-born all-rounder is a hard-hitting batter and would provide solidity in the lower middle order.
Khan is expected to bag big at the auction, but DC need not worry about the price. They have a ransom amount of 28.95 Crores at their disposal. If they prioritise their targets, only a few teams could compete at their prices.
Pat Cummins
Having released Mustafizur Rahman, the Capitals could upgrade on him in the form of Pat Cummins. Pat Cummins is a proven leader too, and would add to the experience in the team.
We saw how Anrich Nortje was taken to the cleaners in IPL 2023. Inclusion of Cummins in the XI could be the X factor for Delhi. Moreover, Cummins has become a genuine all-rounder in the T20 format. The versatility of the Aussie could do the Capitals, the world of good.
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