IPL Auction 2022: Delhi Capitals move to utility resources | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals had to make a sharp pivot. The franchise’s evolution as a powerhouse over the last three seasons had depended on specialists in their disciplines going on an all-out attack. With the mega auctions witnessing their core going to other franchises with lucrative deals, the franchise has resorted to more experienced and utility players.
The bowling attack which wore an ominous look with Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, R Ashwin, Axar Patel and Avesh Khan has been disturbed. Shardul Thakur, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaleel Ahmed, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav and Lungi Ngidi will assume lead roles with their variations to complement Nortje and Axar.
IPL AUCTION: AS IT HAPPENED
David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, the player of the T20 World Cup and player of the T20 World Cup final, are expected to make up for the lack of firepower due to the loss of Shikhar Dhawan, Shimron Hetmyer and Marcus Stoinis. But the real challenge will be to stabilize the middle-order which will help leverage their skipper Rishabh Pant to play the high-impact role.
This is where the likes of KS Bharat, Mandeep Singh and Sarfaraz Khan are expected to play their roles. “One must remember Bharat played at No. 3 for RCB last year and did a very good job. He is expected to play a similar role here if needed. He is not seen just as a backup wicketkeeper to Pant,” Saba Karim, DC’s head of talent search, told TOI moments after the auction on Sunday evening.

“We have gone for players who have multiple utility skills. Like most teams, we ensured our playing XI first and then went for backups. So, Bharat, Nagarkoti, Ngidi and Mandeep all form part of the plan,” Karim added.
The franchise has worked on a philosophy of grooming talent for years. The investments in Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw and Avesh Khan started bearing fruit in the last couple of seasons. While it has a job to protect its reputation, the management tried hard not to deviate from its core philosophy.

“We have gone for continuity with younger talent like off-spinning allrounder Lalit Yadav, seam-bowling allrounder Ripal Patel and leg-spinner Pravin Dubey. We have also invested in Yash Dhull, Sarfaraz and Vicky Ostwal. It’s very important to look at the future and groom the next line,” the former India selector.

DC have got more variety with the ball to make up for the potency of their former attack. The power-hitting in the lower middle-order will be tested. Thakur has never been such an important cog of a team before. Changing their game plan will be a challenge for them but with coach Ricky Ponting around, one can be rest assured there will be negligible change in the attacking brand of cricket.