After a dramatic Day 1 at the IPL 2025 Auction, Delhi Capitals (DC) find themselves in a promising position. Securing KL Rahul for Rs 14 crore was a coup, although their attempt to retain Rishabh Pant fell short. Despite this, DC’s squad boasts a good mix of batters and bowlers. With Rs 13.80 crore left in their purse and four slots to fill, the team will need strategic moves on Day 2.
Day 1 Overview
Delhi Capitals went all in on Day 1, spending a hefty Rs 59.2 crore. Key additions include:
- KL Rahul for Rs 14 Cr
- Mitchell Starc for Rs 11.75 Cr
- T Natarajan for Rs 10.75 Cr
They also retained crucial players like Axar Patel (Rs 16.5 Cr) and Kuldeep Yadav (Rs 13.25 Cr), ensuring a strong bowling core.
Current Squad
- Batters: KL Rahul, Harry Brook, Karun Nair, Jake Fraser McGurk
- All-rounders: Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Mohit Sharma
- Wicketkeepers: Abhishek Porel, Sameer Rizvi
Remaining Purse and Slots
- Purse Remaining: Rs 13.80 Cr
- Slots to Fill: 4
What DC Needs on Day 2
- Fast-Bowling Depth: With Starc and Natarajan already in, DC may look for a backup overseas pacer to strengthen their bowling.
- Finisher: A reliable lower-order batter to close innings effectively could be key.
- Spinner or All-Rounder: With Kuldeep Yadav leading the spin department, a backup spinner or spinning all-rounder could add variety.
Potential Targets
- Overseas Bowlers: Trent Boult, Chris Jordan, or Adam Milne could be potential targets for bolstering the pace attack.
- Lower-Order Finisher: Players like Shivam Dube or Rahul Tewatia could add value with their finishing abilities.
- Spinners/All-Rounders: Adil Rashid, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, or Shakib Al Hasan might provide the required spin options and all-round depth.
Day 2 Strategy
Delhi Capitals must tread cautiously with their Rs 13.80 crore, prioritizing their needs while keeping an eye on bargains in the latter stages of the auction. Adding value players in specific roles could transform their squad into a championship contender.