IPL Auction Analysis: Harry Brook adds firepower but Delhi Capitals fail to get back-up Indian opener

Delhi Capitals, alongside Punjab Kings, are among the teams that are counted among the consistent underachievers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Not only are they among the handful of franchises in the history of the league to have not lifted the trophy even once, they were also the last among the ‘Original 8’ to even reach the final, doing so in the 2020 edition where they would eventually lose against Mumbai Indians.

IPL 2024 Auction: Full squads of ten teams, purse remaining and available slots

The name change ahead of the 2019 season appeared to have done the franchise some good with the team reaching the playoffs that year followed by their runner-up finish in 2020 and another appearance in the playoffs in 2021. DC narrowly missed out on a top-four finish in 2022, but appeared to have returned to their old ways this year, finishing ninth in the 10-team table under David Warner’s leadership after languishing at the bottom for a majority of the season.

There is hope of a comeback the following season with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant set to return to action in IPL 2024. Pant will lead the side even if he has difficulty keeping wickets and is played purely as a batter, and it was under his leadership that Delhi finished top of the table in 2021 — only to suffer back-to-back defeats in the playoffs — and narrowly miss out on a top-four finish the next season.

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DC had released as many as 11 players on Retention Day, including star names such as Rilee Rossouw and Rovman Powell — both of whom would fetch major bids in Tuesday’s player auction in Dubai. The franchise also parted ways with Indian batters Manish Pandey and Sarfaraz Khan. As for the bowling department, Bangladesh left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman and Indian pacers Chetan Sakariya and Kamlesh Nagarkoti were released into the auction pool.

Pre-auction gaps

The released resulted in Delhi Capitals needing replacements in their middle-order, especially someone who could be counted on as a finisher in order to fill the void left behind by Powell and England’s Phil Salt. ‘Fizz’ and Nagarkoti’s releases meant they also needed back-up pace options. And even though Prithvi Shaw had been retained by the franchise despite a poor run of late in the IPL, DC would have been happy with having back-up options at the top of the order as well.

Strengths

Harry Brook’s inclusion in the Delhi Capitals squad at a price of Rs 4 crore could be described as the highlight of DC’s purchases in the auction and has added more firepower to Delhi’s batting lineup heading into next year’s auction.

While Brook, who has been one of England’s fastest-rising stars of late, couldn’t quite achieve the level of consistency that was expected of him when he was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad camp this year, he did show glimpses of the destruction that he can cause with his unbeaten ton against Kolkata Knight Riders. He could potentially play a defining role in DC’s campaign if he is able to make an impact on a regular basis instead of once in the entire season.

Brook, like DC teammate Mitchell Marsh, is someone who can play both at the top of the order as well as in the middle-order, and can also finish games for his side.

DC also managed to get a couple of back-up wicket-keeping options in Tristan Stubbs and Kumar Kushagra in case Pant isn’t able to do so due to physical limitations.

Weaknesses

DC, however, couldn’t quite get hold of a back-up to Indian opener Shaw who, talented as he is, has been going through a mixed run with the bat lately. They bought West Indies’ Shai Hope specifically for that role and both Brook and Marsh are also handy options at the top of the order, but they’ll likely replace David Warner and not open alongside him.

Best buy

Getting Brook on board at a price of Rs 4 crore certainly is a bargain buy for the Capitals, given he had been sold to the Sunrisers Hyderabad for a whopping Rs 13.25 crore last season.

Worst buy

Getting Jhye Richardson at Rs 5 crore might prove a questionable choice for the Capitals next year given he’s likely to be benched for a majority of the season if the likes of Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi remain fit. Delhi also have an able seam option in Marsh, who will be heavily favoured for an extended run in the 17th season.

Delhi Capitals’ purchases at IPL 2024: Harry Brook (Rs 4 crore), Tristan Stubbs (Rs 50 lakh), Ricky Bhui (Rs 20 lakh), Kumar Kushagra (Rs 7.20 crore), Rasikh Dar Salam (Rs 20 lakh), Jhye Richardson (Rs 5 crore), Sumit Kumar (Rs 1 crore), Shai Hope (Rs 75 lakh), Swastik Chikara (Rs 20 lakh)

Delhi Capitals full squad: Abhishek Porel, Anrich Nortje, Axar Patel, David Warner, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Lungisani Ngidi, Mitchell Marsh, Mukesh Kumar, Pravin Dubey, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhull, Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar Salam, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Shai Hope, Swastik Chikara

Remaining purse: Rs 9.9 crore

Remaining slots: 0