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It was a typically confusing season for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024. There was a lot of promise at the start with Rishabh Pant coming back to take the reins, the coaching set-up looking solid, and a lot of youngsters lacing the squad.
However, as Pant struggled to get going, some selection choices proved bad, injuries took their toll and close matches were lost, the questions began all over again. A lot of times, and especially close to the end when wins stopped coming entirely, DC's failure to create a robust squad at the auction became lucid.
But, like always in the IPL, even the most underperforming teams get a chance for an overhaul every few years. DC will have that with a mega auction likely ahead of the next season. Below are five players they can release to sort things out:
#5 Anrich Nortje
This one is the least likely in this list but still possible. Anrich Nortje once played a massive role in DC's success in 2020-21 where he and Kagiso Rabada formed one of the most scary pace partnerships in the league. However, since his recent bouts with injury, he has lost a bit of pace and a lot of that fear factor.
He played just six matches in IPL 2024, picking up seven wickets at 42.00. It was his worst season in the tournament, taking over just the 2023 one -- average of 36.40.
These numbers are not good enough for your lead overseas pacer. DC's pace department needs that extra kick because they found it hard to rely on the Indian trio of Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, and Khaleel Ahmed for consistency. Nortje would free up ₹6.5 crore in DC's purse which could go into signing that x-factor.
#4 Jhye Richardson
Nortje and Jhye Richardson's cases are similar. The Australian was in excellent form in the Big Bash League before IPL 2024 and looked set for more chances with the national team. However, a big injury cut short his campaign and the after-effects were seen at DC, where he could play just one match for a spell of 0/40.
Richardson needs a more patient environment where he can build some rhythm and then play a handful of games with the management's backing. DC, due to their desperate need for trophies, is not that at the moment. It would be good for both him and the franchise if they part ways to free up ₹5 crore in the purse.
#3 David Warner
It was a second-straight disappointing season for David Warner in the IPL and perhaps his last too. The stand-in captain last year, he played only eight games, scoring 168 runs at an average of 21 and a strike rate of 134.40 this season.
Although he was injured for a few games in the middle, the fact that DC brought him back against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and then dropped again for the next match clearly showed they had moved on. A younger Australian, Jake Fraser-McGurk's emergence could also be the death knell for the 37-year-old Warner.
He would go to the 2024 T20 World Cup and like the last time, might end his career in the shortest format on a high. However, DC would probably not want to bet on him after that for the ₹6.25 crore-worth hole he makes in their pockets.
#2 Prithvi Shaw
Like Warner, Prithvi Shaw simply seems to have fallen off in the eyes of the DC management. He has had his share of fitness issues but Abhishek Porel was preferred in IPL 2024 even for the games Shaw was available for selection.
The situation seems to be at a stage where even if DC show interest in retaining him for next season (his current pay is ₹7.5 crore), Shaw might prefer to move on. He's not getting younger and for a batter who was once considered India's next opener, he needs regular playing time in the IPL to make a national comeback.
#1 Kumar Kushagra
When Kumar Kushagra failed to perform in IPL 2024, the easiest thing to do was to ignore that he was just 19 years old. Despite his unimpressive record in domestic T20s, DC management was clearly impressed with his hitting ability in their pre-season camp and thought he deserved a ₹7.2 crore bid.
Now, this could be the right opportunity for both parties to step back. By releasing him, DC can deploy that money elsewhere knowing that the young wicketkeeper-batter won't get similar beds in the 2025 auction. Kushagra, too, can use the time to reflect, mature and work further on his obvious talents to make a comeback.
