3 unsold players who could have helped DD qualify for play-offs

Yet another season’s group stage is over and Delhi Daredevils have not made the play-offs. They have finished in the Top 4 just 3 times in 11 seasons and have won none of the games in the knockout stage!

Gautam Gambhir’s return and the exciting crop of youngsters in the team were tipped to do great things in the IPL this season, but only a couple of them showed up. Gambhir never really got off the mark this season and was dropped from the team after he stepped down as the captain. DD’s auction strategy looked good on paper but the players never clicked on the pitch.

Here are 3 unsold players who could have helped Delhi qualify for the play-offs this season:

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#3 Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill

Delhi Daredevils had Prithvi Shaw, Colin Munro, Gautam Gambhir, Glenn Maxwell and Jason Roy opening on different occasions this season. The inconsistency at the top of the order itself was enough to help the opponents get on top of them from the word go.

Martin Guptill could have been someone who could have helped in bringing some consistency for them. The New Zealand batsman is an opener who can attack the bowlers from the very first ball and get his side off to a flying start.

Picking him instead of Munro could have been the smart thing to do and it would have resulted in a totally different season for DD.

#2 Morne Morkel

Morne Morkel

An injury to Chris Morris gave DD a golden chance to get a fast bowler in to help Trent Boult. They went for Junior Dala – a good choice but not the South African who could have saved them this season.

Morne Morkel would have been a good pick as he has a lot of experience and could have provided them the extra edge in the bowling department. The 33 year old can deliver wickets at the start of the innings and also control the run rate at the death.

Dala played just one game and was unable to impress. That gave Liam Plunkett the chance to continue playing despite not being on top of his game.

#1 Thisara Perera

Thisara Perera

Glenn Maxwell was the only good all-rounder in DD this season after Chris Morris got injured. Dan Christian was a part of the squad but he was not in form and there was no way he was going to help them qualify for the playoffs.

Thisara Perera would have been a brilliant pick as he can bat and bowl well on Indian pitches. He has not played in the IPL since 2016 and could have been the differentiator for them.

They could have gone for him instead of Dan Christian in the auctions itself or signed him as a replacement for Chris Morris.