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Cricket News: DC IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Will this be Delhi’s year? | DC IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis: Key Strengths and Weaknesses
Delhi Capitals tried to regain most of their core as they bid for the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Ravichandran Ashwin and Kagiso Rabada but they were unsuccessful due to purse constraints.
However, they did manage to pull off a steal buy in the form of Australian swashbuckling opener David Warner for just Rs 6.25 Crore, ensuring that they won’t feel the absence of Dhawan.
Delhi lost Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer from their top four but they managed to rope in the Aussie duo of Warner and Mitchell Marsh, ensuring that in Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant and the aforementioned names, they still have a formidable top order.
They have also picked the likes of Yash Dhull, Mandeep Singh and Ashwin Hebbar as middle-order backups besides picking KS Bharat and Tim Seifert as covers for Pant.
One of the major reasons behind Delhi’s success in the last three years was the presence of finishers like Marcus Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer. They tried to make up for it by roping Rovman Powell and uncapped Sarfaraz Khan.
Shardul Thakur proved to be their most expensive acquisition as they shelled out a whopping Rs 10.75 Crore. Thakur will not only serve as a middle-order striker; a role he played to perfection for the Chennai Super Kings, but he will also add batting depth alongside left-arm orthodox, Axar Patel.
DC have stacked their pace bowling with left-arm options by purchasing the likes of Mustaifzur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya and Khaleel Ahmed besides adding rookie right-arm seamer Kamlesh Nagarkoti and South African pacer Lungi Ngidi.
With Amit Mishra no longer a part of the set-up, they went for the services of Kuldeep Yadav and uncapped Pravin Dubey while U19 World Cup winner Vicky Ostwal has been picked as backup to Axar Patel.
Overall, the Pant-led unit shelled out Rs 47.4 Crores to avail the services of 17 Indians and seven overseas cricketers.
DC Squad for IPL 2022
Rishabh Pant (Rs 16 crore), Axar Patel (Rs 9 crore), Prithvi Shaw (Rs 7.5 crore), Anrich Nortje (Rs 6.5 crore), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Rs 1.10 crore), David Warner (Rs 6.25 crore), Mitchell Marsh (Rs 6.50 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (Rs 2 crore), Shardul Thakur (Rs 10.75 crore), KS Bharat (Rs 2 crore), Kuldeep Yadav (Rs 2 crore), Sarfaraz Khan (Rs 20 lakh), Ashwin Hebbar (Rs 20 lakh), Mandeep Singh (Rs 1.1 crore), Khaleel Ahmed (Rs 5.25 crore), Chetan Sakariya (Rs 4.2 crore), Lalit Yadav (Rs 65 lakh), Ripal Patel (Rs 20 lakh), Yash Dhull (Rs 50 lakh), Rovman Powell (Rs 2.8 crore), Praveen Dubey (Rs 50 lakh), Lungi Ngidi (Rs 50 lakh), Tim Seifert (Rs 50 lakh), Vicky Ostwal (Rs 20 lakh).
DC Possible Playing 11 for IPL 2022
Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Mandeep Singh/Sarfaraz Khan, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya
DC IPL 2022 Mega Auction: Key Strengths
1. Formidable top four
Delhi have regained a dynamic top four despite losing the Indian duo of Dhawan and Iyer. They have replaced the Indian duo with the Australian pair of Warner and Marsh.
With Warner and Prithvi set to open followed by Marsh at 3 and Pant at 4, their top-4 has all the makings of being the most destructive in the competition.
2. Batting depth + Middle overs strike bowler
The presence of Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel means that the Capitals have a deep batting line-up. Also, the acquisition of Thakur means that they will have someone who can give them wickets in the middle overs. Thakur played that role to perfection for CSK last season, especially in the final against KKR.
DC IPL 2022 Mega Auction: Weaknesses
1. Lack of power play strike bowlers + concerns over injury-prone Nortje and Marsh
DC have compiled an array of fast bowling arsenal but none of them are powerplay specialists. Nortje will lead the attack but he is injury prone. Lungi Ngidi and Mustafizur Rahman are his backups but neither of them have enjoyed success up front. Also, their predictability and lack of express pace will make them vulnerable at the death.
Also, if Marsh is unavailable to bowl then it will leave them with just one bowling option in the form of Rovman Powell, in case one of their first-choice five bowlers suffer an off day.
2. Finishers?
DC had the likes of Shimron Hetmyer and Marcus Stoinis to perform the finishing duties till last season. They have picked Rovman Powell and Sarfaraz Khan to do the same job. However, it remains to be seen if they can do the same work like their predecessors did.
3. Lack of depth in the Wrist-spin department
Delhi had legendary Amit Mishra as their lead leg-spinner till last season. They have now replaced him with Kuldeep Yadav besides picking uncapped Pravin Dubey.
Kuldeep has been mediocre in both IPL as well as for India in the last 3 year, and if he fails to regain his mojo, then it can expose the lack of depth in the wrist-spin department.
Overall, DC have talent within their ranks. If they fire, they can gave the tournament a shake. However, one feels that they will need a good run with injuries and form to key players.
Written by Yash Mittal. Follow Yash on Twitter today.
