IPL 2022: Four players DC are likely to retain ahead of mega auction
The preparations for the next edition of the IPL are already underway. With the mega auction on cards, the existing eight franchises have a big task in hand to plan their further steps. About Delhi Capitals, the team has shown some great promise in the league from the last three seasons.
Though they haven’t won the title yet but have presented themselves as one of the strongest contenders. DC has largely relied on its youngsters. Until the last season, the side had a good mix of experience and younger talents by their sides. Thus, ahead of the mega auction, it will be interesting to see the players the team might think to retain for the next season.
Here are the 3 players DC might retain ahead of the mega auction:
Rishabh Pant
Well, it goes without saying that keeper-batter is one of the strongest links of DC’s chain. He has also shown some great dominance in the international circuit across all formats lately. This makes him one of the most potential match-winner of the side.
In the absence of Shreyas Iyer who was injured, Pant led the team in IPL 2021. The 24-year-old impressed everybody with his captaincy. DC did well under him as the team had a good run in the last season. It is unlikely that the DC management will put Pant in the auction pool.
Prithvi Shaw
The batter has been a pivotal aspect of the team in recent years. His attacking style of play has reaped rewards for the team on most occasions. Whilst opening the innings for DC, he has stitched in some important partnerships and provided the team with steady starts.
He chipped in 353 runs from 16 matches in IPL 2019 whereas, in this edition of the league, he scored 479 runs at an average of 31.93. He possesses the excellent ability to take on the pacers and chip in some crucial runs. In IPL 2021, Shaw played Shivam Mavi all around the park and achieved the feat of hitting six fours in an over. He also scored the fastest fifty of the season in just 18 balls.
Axar Patel
Axar Patel provides the team with an excellent all-around package. He comes in handy with both the bat and the bowl and has been one of the key players of the Capitals. The left-arm spinner has scalped 34 wickets in his last 41 games.
In the recent T20I series against New Zealand as well, Patel blew the trumpet of his repertoire. He finished the series as the joint highest wicket-taker with four wickets to his account from the three matches. His contributions will be important for the team and he can prove lethal on the Indian pitches.
Anrich Nortje
The South African pacer has impressed in the last couple of seasons with his pace and accuracy. He has bowled only in the UAE so far in the IPL and will be tested in India. But his performances do warrant his place in the side. Also, if he goes in the auction pool, a lot of teams might go for him.
Nortje picked up 22 wickets in 16 matches in the IPL 2020 season and continued his good job in the second leg of IPL 2021 as well. He scalped 12 wickets in just 8 matches and if he stays fit, certainly will reap more rewards in the coming seasons. He should be the perfect retention for DC.
