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Capitals retain three players with huge potential who are likely to target Shreyas Iyer at auction – Firstpost

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Capitals retain three players with huge potential who are likely to target Shreyas Iyer at auction – Firstpost

Delhi Capitals have suffered a slump in recent years, failing to make the playoffs in any of the last three seasons. This comes on the back of three consecutive playoff appearances, including a second-place finish in 2020, and is likely why they may be looking to move in a different direction. Ricky Ponting is no longer their head coach and former India international Hemang Badani will take over from the former Australia captain.
Rishabh Pant, surprisingly, is no longer their captain.. He is currently not a Delhi Capitals player.

How it happened |
IPL Retention: 10 Teams Announce List of Retained and Released Players.

Which players did DC keep?

Axar Patel (capped) – Rs 16.5 crore

Kuldeep Yadav (cap) – Rs 13.25 crore

Tristan Stubbs (playing in an overseas match) – Rs 10 crore

Abhishek Porel (without cap) – Rs 4 crore

Wallet balance: Rs 73 crore.

The Thought Process Behind DC Hold

There’s a good chance that much of the Capitals’ post-retention discussions will focus on the one player they couldn’t (or couldn’t) keep. But they did well by tying up three players with huge potential.

Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are among the top echelon of Indian bowling across all formats and are likely to lead India’s defense in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Add to that Axar’s growing reputation as a slugger, and the Capitals have two players they can build their team around. around.

Tristan Stubbs, like Axar and Kuldeep, has been lauded for his greatness. Now a regular across South Africa’s formats, he had a remarkable 2024 IPL campaign and was unstoppable at the death. And with the talent at his disposal, he could emulate what Heinrich Klaasen is doing for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The Capitals also targeted Abhishek Porel, but Pant is not on the list. He can be their wicket-keeper and top batter for years to come and he has already shown that potential in the IPL.

Possible auction strategy

Well, first of all they need a captain. Of the four players they have retained, only two are expected to be in the top five, so a world-class overseas batter could be at the top of their wish list.

There may be some excellent top-tier Indian options that the Capitals could also be interested in (more on that later). They also haven’t retained any players, and with their rotation duo being self-selected, this is an area they can make a big impact on.

DC players likely to be targeted at auction

Shreyas Iyer. This is the first name that catches your eye. Due to the fact that he has previously played for the Capitals and led them to the final and also due to his exploits as captain in the last IPL. He won’t come cheap (of course), but considering he solves a lot of problems, the Capitals could get him a pretty penny. K.L. Rahul may also figure in their discussions, but his captaincy and his performance in T20 have come under scrutiny in recent times.

There is also not much clarity regarding what happened between Pant and the franchise. But if there is an opportunity to bring him back on board, they will certainly want to explore it.

Shreyas Iyer led Delhi Capitals to their only appearance in the IPL final in 2020 and the franchise is hoping to get him in the upcoming mega auction following the release of captain Rishabh Pant. AP

Jos Buttler from the overseas batting team also makes a lot of sense. And he, too, could lead the team if necessary. Not to mention the carnage he could cause on the flat track and small area in Delhi.

David Warner, who worked for the franchise, could also be an option, while Phil Salt and Will Jacks (who plays for Pretoria Capitals) also fit the bill. Another name they might be interested in is Harry Brooke. He was scheduled to play for the Capitals in the 2024 season, but was unable to participate due to personal reasons.

The Capitals would also ideally want a top overseas player. Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult could be in the fray, as well as Kagiso Rabada, who was part of DC’s most successful years as a franchise. Anrich Nortje, who was hired ahead of the latest mega-auction, could also pique their interest.

Among the Indian cutters, their list may include Deepak Chahar, Mukesh Kumar and Tushar Deshpande. But if they get a chance to sign Mohammed Shami, given what they need in the squad, they will probably take the opportunity.

Sure, there are a few holes that need to be plugged, but the wallet they have should give them the flexibility they need to shape the lineup to their liking.