An in-depth preview of Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL 2024 auction including their strengths, weaknesses, purse remaining, players to target and more.

Delhi Capitals made it to the top four three times in the first five editions of the IPL, but finished in the bottom three in the next six. They made it to the playoffs in the next three, including their only final appearance in 2020. However, they finished fifth in 2022 and ninth in 2023, a streak they will want to turn around.

Delhi Capitals IPL 2024 auction preview: Trades, full squad, purse & slots remaining

Trades

Delhi Capitals did not make any trades ahead of the IPL 2024 auction.

Players released

Indian: Chetan Sakariya, Manish Pandey, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Aman Hakim Khan, Ripal Patel, Sarfaraz Khan, Priyam Garg. Overseas: Rilee Rossouw, Rovman Powell, Mustafizur Rahman, Phil Salt.

Squad before auction

Indian: Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Prithvi Shaw, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Dhull, Lalit Yadav, Abishek Porel, Praveen Dubey, Vicky Ostwal. Overseas: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.

Purse remaining (in INR)

28.95 crore

Slots remaining

8 (4 overseas)

Delhi Capitals IPL 2024 auction preview: Strengths

An Indian bowling attack

If needed, Delhi Capitals can field Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, and – if fit – Ishant Sharma, and use their entire overseas quota on power-hitters. They already have David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, who can also chip in with overs. On pitches that demand them, Delhi can always switch to one of Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi.

Rishabh Pant’s probable return

A horrific accident kept Pant out of all of 2023. However, there are reports of him making a comeback for the 2024 IPL. As talismanic batter, wicketkeeper, and captain, a fit Pant may be Delhi’s most important cricketer.

Delhi Capitals IPL 2024 auction preview: Weaknesses

The middle order looks thin

Having released Powell, Rossouw, and Salt, the Delhi middle-order looks extraordinarily thin. Even if Pant returns, he may take time to get back to his prime.

Warner and who?

Warner and Shaw look like a devastating opening pair for Delhi, but Shaw’s complete loss of form as well as off-the-field problems were partly responsible for Delhi’s ordinary season in 2023. While there is no doubt over his talent, Delhi will want backup.

Delhi Capitals IPL 2024 auction preview: Potential first XI (from retained)

David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Mitchell Marsh, Yash Dhull, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav

Delhi Capitals IPL 2024 auction preview: Players to target

Bowling all-rounders: While Delhi have the bowlers – Indian and overseas – they lack bowlers who can bat. Bowling all-rounders will be targets. They can go big on Wanindu Hasaranga or David Willey or Mohammad Nabi, while Jamie Overton may be an interesting option for his batting strike rate of 174. Shardul Thakur is another probable pick.

Power hitters: Buy back Salt or Rossouw or Powell? Go for Travis Head? Delhi have the purse to fight for all of them, but there is also Shahrukh Khan and other Indian batters.

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