IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals (DC) will look to bolster their bowling attack on Day 2 of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after potentially addressing the stability and experience issues in their batting lineup on the opening day.
Key Buys On Day 1
On Day 1 of the auction, the JSW and GMR co-owned Delhi Capitals made some notable acquisitions. Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul and Australian pacer Mitchell Starc were among the headline buys.
KL Rahul was secured for Rs 14 crore, bringing solid top-order stability and a wealth of experience to the team.
Mitchell Starc, the ace Australian fast bowler, was acquired for Rs 11.75 crore, adding depth and firepower to DC’s bowling unit.
Young Australian all-rounder Jake Fraser-McGurk was retained for Rs 9 crore using the Right to Match (RTM) card.
English batter Harry Brook joined for Rs 6.25 crore, while Indian players T Natarajan and Karun Nair were purchased for Rs 10.75 crore and Rs 50 lakh, respectively.
Additionally, DC acquired domestic players Sameer Rizvi (Rs 95 lakh), Ashutosh Sharma (Rs 3.80 crore), and experienced pacer Mohit Sharma (Rs 2.20 crore) to complete the first day of bidding.
Delhi Capitals’ Strategy On The Opening Day
Parth Jindal, Co-owner of Delhi Capitals, shared insights into their Day 1 strategy. The primary focus was on acquiring stability in the top order, especially with a player who could anchor the innings.
“We were looking for someone with experience who could build the innings,” Jindal said. “KL Rahul fits that bill perfectly, given his consistency in the IPL. He regularly scores over 400 runs a season, and with the Kotla wicket suiting his style of play, we’re excited to have him in our squad.”
Jindal further added, “Our batting lineup is quite young, and both KL and Axar Patel will play crucial roles in guiding them. KL’s experience will be vital for us.”
Focus On Strengthening The Bowling Attack
Jindal also spoke about DC’s focus for Day 2, particularly in strengthening the bowling department. “We went for the best available talent, and we’re looking to add a couple more bowlers tomorrow. Our bowling attack will be very strong, and our batting is also solid. Overall, we expect a very competitive squad.”
Head Coach Hemang Badani’s Reflection
Delhi Capitals’ Head Coach, Hemang Badani, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s strategy on Day 1. “We’re pretty elated with the buys. We had a clear plan in place, and we’ve been able to reap the rewards of that planning and strategizing,” Badani said.
Plans For Day 2: More Bowlers And Spin Depth
Looking ahead to Day 2 of the auction, Delhi Capitals are expected to focus on adding more pace and spin options. They may target former DC pacer Mukesh Kumar to further bolster their bowling ranks. Additionally, they are likely to seek more spin depth to complement the existing duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel in their bowling attack.
With a well-balanced approach to both batting and bowling, Delhi Capitals aim to build a squad capable of challenging for the title in IPL 2025.
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