Which Players will Delhi Capitals Target in IPL 2025 Auction with INR 73 Crore Purse? Analysing Full DC Wishlist and Key Areas They Need to Fill

Delhi Capitals (DC) have retained four players ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. They have spent INR 47 crores and have INR 73 crores to work with during the auction. Before delving into DC’s strategy for the auction, let’s analyse each player they have retained and their expertise.

1. Abishek Porel: Abishek Porel is a solid hitter vs pace who can be flexible with his batting position. However, his best comes at the top, where he can utilise the field restrictions. He is also a wicketkeeper.
2. Tristan Stubbs: Among the finest young talents in the overseas department, Tristan Stubbs is equally capable against pace and spin. He can bat anywhere in the middle order and bat at the required pace. He also bowls useful off-spin.
3. Axar Patel: Axar Patel is an all-rounder who contributes with both bat and ball. He is a spin-hitter who can be promoted in the batting order to counter slow bowlers. He is also a solid defensive left-arm finger spinner.
4. Kuldeep Yadav: The finest wrist-spinner in the country, Kuldeep Yadav is a genuine wicket-taker who mostly bowls in the middle overs. He is capable of picking wickets on any surface. He completes DC’s spin attack.

Also Read: Which Players will SRH Target in IPL 2025 Auction with INR 45 Crore Purse? Analysing Full Sunrisers Hyderabad Wishlist and Key Areas They Need to Fill

Right now, this is how Delhi Capitals’ Playing XI is set up:

1. Abishek Porel
2. ________________
3. ________________
4. Tristan Stubbs
5. ________________
6. ________________
7. Axar Patel
8. Kuldeep Yadav
9. ________________
10.  ________________
11. ________________

Now that it’s clear where the voids are, we can explore how Delhi Capitals might go about their business in the IPL 2025 Auction.

What do Delhi Capitals require in the IPL 2025 auction?

Role No.1 – An opener who is skilled vs spin, preferably an RHB

1. Jos Buttler: Jos Buttler is an ideal fit in the DC setup. He is equally capable vs pace and spin and is a proven performer. He will thrive on flat decks of Delhi while also providing a captaincy option.
2. KL Rahul: KL Rahul is another decent fit. He is equally good against pace and spin and can also act as a captain. He can also keep the wickets.
3. Devon Conway: While not an RHB, Devon Conway offers precisely what Delhi Capitals require. He is a skilled player vs spin and more than good against pace. He also offers a wicketkeeping option.
4. Rachin Ravindra: Rachin Ravindra is another LHB but skilled vs spin. He is also a real shot-maker vs pace and can also bat in the middle order. He will be a long-term investment.
5. Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Rahmanullah Gurbaz is another solid opener who has improved massively. He handles pace and spin well and can also keep the wickets. He can utilise the powerplay and provide a brisk start.
6. Daryl Mitchell: While Daryl Mitchell has mostly batted in the middle order in IPL, he can also open the innings. He has done it for New Zealand and can replicate the same for Delhi Capitals. He is superb vs spin and has shots vs pace.

Role No.2 – A No.3 who stabilises the innings and is solid vs spin, preferably an LHB

1. Nehal Wadhera: Nehal Wadhera has mostly batted in the middle and lower middle order but has the potential to bat at No.3. He is exceptional against spin and can hit them from the first ball. His game vs pace is also encouraging.
2. Nitish Rana: A bonafide spin-hitter, Nitish Rana is exceptional against all kinds of spin, including off-spinners. He will shield pace-hitters around him and can be flexible with his batting position, for he can also bat at No.4. He also bowls a bit of off-spin.
3. Mahipal Lomror: Mahipal Lomror wasn’t utilised properly by RCB. His best value is No.3 or 4 because of his superior skillsets vs spin. He can also bowl a bit.
4. Moeen Ali: Moeen Ali is a solid spin-hitter and also hits fuller lengths vs pace brilliantly. He also offers an off-spin option. His recent regression can be an issue, though.
5. Glenn Maxwell: While not an LHB, Glenn Maxwell is an ideal spin-hitter. He can hit them at will and shuffle his position with Tristan Stubbs if required to handle pace. He also offers useful off-spin.
6. Shreyas Iyer: It won’t be surprising if Delhi Capitals try getting Shreyas Iyer. He is a perfect No.3 who takes on spin and non-short-length deliveries against pace. He can also lead the side, and DC require a skipper.
7. Harry Brook: DC should try getting Harry Brook again if they don’t get an LHB for this role. He is exceptional vs spin and targets unusual areas while his pace game is also really good. He can be flexible with his batting position, even though he is not an LHB.

Role No.3 – Two pace-hitters at No.5 and No.6, one of them should be capable of shuffling his position

1. Liam Livingstone: Liam Livingstone will fit perfectly in DC’s setup. He is a ferocious pace-hitter who is perfectly suited for the No.5 position. He also offers useful spin bowling against both RHBs and LHBs.
2. David Miller: David Miller can bat at either No.5 or No.6 according to the situation. He is an elite pace hitter who also handles spin decently. He is a proven performer and will enjoy playing in Delhi.
3. Abhinav Manohar: Abhinav Manohar might not be a popular pick, but DC can get him for multiple reasons. He is among the best pace-hitters in the domestic competition and can hit maximums at will. His recent hitting has improved significantly.
4. Jitesh Sharma: Jitesh Sharma is a perfect No.5. He should be preferred if DC don’t get one of David Miller and Liam Livingstone. He is terrific vs pace and also handles spinners well while providing a wicketkeeping option.
5. Marcus Stoinis: Marcus Stoinis can bat either at No.5 or No.6 according to the requirement. He is solid vs pace and hits all kinds of lengths against them easily. He can also bowl useful medium pace.
6. Glenn Phillips: Another player IPL didn’t utilise properly, Glenn Phillips is a serious hitter of the ball who can either bat at No.5 or 6. He is really solid vs pace and doesn’t get restricted by spin, either. His off-spin has improved massively.
7. Sherfane Rutherford: Sherfane Rutherford’s pace-hitting has improved massively. He can hit all lengths easily and is a perfect No.6. His price won’t be too high, either.
8. Tim David: Delhi Capitals have the budget to go hard after Tim David. Given his decent skillsets vs spin, David can be promoted to No.5 as well if required. He is powerful vs pace, especially on non-short-length deliveries.

Role No.4 – A powerplay specialist

1. Khaleel Ahmed: Delhi Capitals should simply try getting Khaleel Ahmed back. He can swing the new ball both ways and is a genuine wicket-taker with the new ball. He also brings variety to the bowling attack.
2. Mohammed Shami: Delhi Capitals should go hard after Mohammed Shami. He is a sure wicket-taker with the new ball who can move it early on. He also provides ample value in the middle and death overs.
3. Josh Hazlewood: Josh Hazlewood is an ideal powerplay pacer who can generate movement. He can also bowl hard lengths in the middle overs. He offers dual value, and DC should try sealing him.
4. Akash Madhwal: Akash Madhwal also provides two values: he can bowl in the powerplay and the death overs. He moves the new and old ball and is quite accurate. He also has decent control over his yorkers.
5. Spencer Johnson: Spencer Johnson also provides dual value: he can move the new ball and death overs. He is a genuine new-ball operator who can extract any help available. He also bowls accurately in the death overs.
6. Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Bhuvneshwar Kumar might be on a downward curve but still has a lot to offer. He can move the new ball and has a deadly inswinger. Further, he also has decent control over his yorkers and slower ones, making him a decent death-over bowler as well.
7. Nuwan Thushara: Nuwan Thushara might not be a popular pick but adds a lot of value. He can swing the new ball and can bowl those fuller-length swinging deliveries on the stump line. He also has fine control over his yorkers, making him a death-over option as well.
8. Gurjapneet Singh: Gurjapneet Singh is really skilled. He can move the new ball and also has the pace to bowl hard lengths in the middle overs. His price won’t be high, so DC can look to get him at a reasonable price.

Role No.5 – A middle-over enforcer

1. Anrich Nortje: Despite his injury concerns and recent form issues, Anrich Nortje is still among the best bets. He can hit the deck hard and bowl 145+ km/h consistently. He can also operate decently in death overs but is vulnerable in this phase.
2. Kagiso Rabada: Kagiso Rabada is a fine powerplay and middle-over bowler. He can generate seam movement and also gets some swing with the new ball. Further, he can also hit the deck hard and bowl consistently at 140+ km/h, so if used wisely, he has a lot to offer.
3. Avesh Khan: Avesh Khan has previously worked with Delhi Capitals. He is among the best hit-the-deck bowlers in the country and can crank it up in the middle overs. There’s also solid death-over value in him.
4. Simarjeet Singh: Being a local player, Simarjeet Singh has a lot to offer. He can bowl at a high pace and hit shorter lengths consistently. He knows the conditions in Delhi.
5. Kuldeep Sen: A budget pick, Kuldeep Sen is a genuine hit-the-deck bowler. He mostly bowls straighter lines and targets the stumps. He also has the potential to be a quality death-over bowler.
6. Gerald Coetzee: Gerla Coetzee is an ideal enforcer who can hit shorter lengths consistently at pace. He also gives decent value in the powerplay and death overs. He has developed a few slower ones, which he needs to learn when to bowl and will be a complete bowler.
7. Lockie Ferguson: A budget pick, Lockie Ferguson has the pace to bowl hard lengths regularly. He also has the credentials to be a solid death-over bowler. He has shown encouraging signs lately.

Role No.6 – A death-over specialist

Note: Several bowlers are already discussed for this role in the previous two sections. So, we have limited our options here.

1. Harshal Patel: Among the best options available, Harshal Patel can bowl in the middle and death overs. He has a range of slower ones and knows how to use them. He also has a quality pace-on delivery.
2. Mohit Sharma: Mohit Sharma is another useful death-over bowler. He has several slower deliveries and also knows how to mix pace-on with it. He has done well in the league previously.
3. T Natarajan: T Natarajan is the best option available for this department. He has terrific control over his yorkers and has also developed a few slower ones. He is a proven performer.
4. Nathan Ellis: Nathan Ellis is an elite T20 operator. He has different types of slower ones and knows how to use them precisely. He also has decent control over his yorkers.

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