The transfers ahead of IPL 2020 auctions in Kolkata on December 19 is now complete. Big names and some IPL stalwarts including the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajnkya Rahane and Trent Boult amongst others have been released.
In this write-up, we will have a look as to how the teams stand after the initial phase of transfers. We will start with Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab. Both these sides have the worst record in the leagues past eleven seasons. The Capitals had their best season in 2014 when they played the final against Kolkata Knight Riders, but unfortunately ended up on the losing side. Apart from 2014, They finished as the fourth semifinalists in 2008, third semifinalists in 2009 and reached the playoffs in the last IPL season and ended up as being 3rd on the points table.
This trading season, with a view to revamp the squad, the squad has released as many as five players. The names include Chris Morris, Colin Ingram, Hanuma Vihari, Ankush Bains and Colin Munro.
What they have done well is that they have retained their core group of Indian who key to their successful season in the last season. Skipper Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant. Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma have all been retained by the franchise. While the other teams have depended more on their overseas superstars to perform for their team, Delhi is the only franchise that has invested heavily on the young Indian players in the side.
Delhi has retained only two foreign players namely Kagiso Rabada, Sandeep Lamichhane. The inclusion of Rahane and Ashwin in the team has ensured that both the batting and the bowling departments increase in terms of strength. With Dhawan having established himself as a successful opener for Delhi, his combination with Rahane at the top is expected to work wonders for the website.
Also Read: 1 Player That Each Team is Likely to Release ahead of this year auction
In the bowling department, Delhi will now have three quality bowlers after Ashwin’s addition to the squad. Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra and now Ashwin will work with the young crop of bowlers that Delhi have at their disposal. The addition of Ashwin and Rahane was a tactical move by the franchise and it remains to be seen as to how does this idea work for the franchise.
This is the squad of Delhi Capitals after the initial transfers are over.
Released Players of Delhi Capitals
Hanuma Vihari, Jalaj Saxena, Manjot Kalra, Ankush Bains, Nathu Singh, Bandaru Ayappa.Chris Morris, Colin Ingram, Colin Munro.
Retained Players of Delhi Capitals
Ajinkya Rahane, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Keemo Paul, Prithvi Shaw, R Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, Sandeep Lamichhane, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer.
Kings XI Punjab, who finished sixth on the points table in the last edition of the Indian Premier League agreed on trading Ravichandran Ashwin to Delhi Capitals. Doing this they have lost the player who led them in the last two seasons. Meanwhile, the Priety Zinta owned franchised retained, Universe Boss Chris Gayle, Indian wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Mohammad Shami, Mandeep Singh, Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran and Afghanistan spin sensation Mujeeb ur Rahman.
Among the released players one of the big players who attract our attention is David Miller. The South African hard-hitting batsman has played his entire IPL career so far for the Kings and was instrumental alongside Glenn Maxwell in their road to the IPL 2014 finals. Making his debut for Punjab in 2012, Miller was a part of the franchise for the last eight seasons. In the meantime, he has scored 1850 runs at an average of 34.26 and a strike rate of 138.78 for his team. His best for the Kings came against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013 in Mohali where he scored a ton in 33 balls. He also ended up scoring 418 runs for Punjab that season.
Andrew Tye, Sam Curran and Varun Chakravarty were the other players released by the franchise ahead of the 2020 IPL auctions to be held in Kolkata o December 19.
Also Read: IPL 2020 Player Auction: New Rules, Retained Players and Available Franchise Fund
This is how KXIP have shaped up after the initial Transfers
Released Players of Kings XI Punjab
Varun Chakravarthy, Andrew Tye, Sam Curran, Simran Singh, David Miller, Moises Henriques and Agnivesh Ayachi.
Retained Players of Kings XI Punjab
Arshdeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Darshan Nalkande, K Gowtham, Hardus Viljoen, Harpreet Brar, Jagadeesha Suchith, Karun Nair, KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Mayank Agarwal, Mohammed Shami, Mujeeb ur Rahman, M Ashwin, Nicholas Pooran, Sarfaraz Khan.