IPL 2017: 5 players Delhi Daredevils will be targeting at the auctions

The IPL auction is just a few days away and Delhi Daredevils fans will be hoping and praying that their franchise owners make better choices than they did all these years. The Daredevils have struggled to maintain a core group in the IPL, unlike the other teams.

JP Duminy remains their senior-most foreign buy but he could go midway through the tournament, and the Daredevils have already made a bizarre choice of releasing Imran Tahir, the World's No. 1 spinner in this format of the game.

With South African players forming a huge percentage of their foreign players, Delhi will need to be active at the auctions as CSA reportedly want their players back halfway through the IPL season.

Here we take a look at a few players Delhi will be targeting at this IPL auctions.

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#5 Ben Stokes

Delhi are set to lose Chris Morris and JP Duminy midway through the season and the only remaining all-rounder in their side is Carlos Brathwaite, who had a see-saw season last time around.

However, with so many quality all-rounders available in the auctions, Delhi will be tempted to add one to their squad. All-rounders these days rarely come better than Ben Stokes. A hard hitter, dynamic fielder and superb pace bowler, Stokes could be a great buy for Delhi.

The Durham all-rounder could join Brathwaite, who belted him for four sixes in that final over of the World T20. Stokes is in great form as well, having played some superb knocks in the recent Indian tour. His bowling in the limited overs also stood out and most teams will be in a tug of war for the English all-rounder on the 20th.

#4 Alex Hales

Hales has 1257 runs in 45 T20Is

Quinton de Kock and Shreyas Iyer form a fine opening pair, but de Kock might leave midway through the season and Iyer's form wavered right through the domestic season. Although they have the likes of Rishabh Pant and Sam Billings, an additional foreign opener will be a huge plus.

England opener, Alex Hales is one that the Delhi franchise will be targeting. A free-flowing opener, Hales has created quite a reputation in limited overs cricket in the past few years. He has played 45 T20Is, making 1257 runs at an average of 31.42 with a hundred and seventy half-centuries.

England are looking at someone capable of blowing the opposition off in the first few overs like de Kock does, and Hales could fit the bill perfectly. His strike rate of 133.86 in the format is pretty good and could relish batting on the quicker wickets in Delhi.

#3 Grant Elliott

An underrated middle order batsman, Elliott could be a huge boost for Delhi

Delhi will need to find some senior middle order batsmen as a large chunk of their squad consists of young Indian players and a few experienced Indians like Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra and Mohammed Shami. Duminy remains their captain and the possibility of him leaving early only piles on their misery.

However, a senior pro in the middle order could be a huge boost for the Daredevils. While they need not go all out and get a Morgan or Ross Taylor, they could accommodate a veteran middle order batsman like Grant Elliott. The retired Kiwi batsman is a great value for money player and could be a bargain buy for Delhi.

His ability to hold together an innings and go the attacking route when required are qualities Delhi miss to the core. Elliott can also bowl some dibbly-dobbly seamers and can chip in an over or two when one of the strike bowlers have an off day.

#2 Kagiso Rabada

Rabada could be the leader of Delhi's pace attack

The elegant South African youngster is yet to play in the IPL and has kept his base price at Rs 1 crore. A brilliant opening bowler and an even better death bowler, Rabada is arguably one of the best fast bowlers in World Cricket today.

The South African has the ability to rock batting line-up's with his pace, bounce and toe-crushing yorkers. Rabada is very much familiar to Indian conditions after having played a full tour in the country.

With Delhi releasing Nathan Coulter-Nile, Shami and Zaheer remain the team’s only proper fast bowlers, both of whom are injury prone. This makes it imperative that the franchise goes all out for a good fast bowler. And they rarely come better than this young South African bowler.

#1 Rishi Dhawan

The former Punjab player is a superb all-rounder who bowls at a decent pace

The Indian all-rounder is a handy player in this format of the game with his ability to bowl tight overs in the middle and hit the ball a long way coming down the order. Delhi are short of all-rounders as well as fast bowlers and Dhawan could be a two in one replacement.

He had a forgettable season with Kings XI Punjab where he got very less game time. In the Delhi line-up, there is more space for someone like him and the expected departure of Chris Morris makes it important that Delhi have enough all-rounders.

Dhawan has played 73 T20 matches and taken 54 wickets at an economy of 7.40. He also has 922 runs to go along with it including two half-centuries. With Shami and Zaheer susceptible to injuries, an Indian fast bowler is a good addition for Delhi, especially when he can bat as well as Rishi Dhawan can.