IPL 2018: 3 unsold players who could have changed Delhi Daredevils' fortunes

Delhi Daredevils are officially out of contention for a playoff spot in IPL 2018. Their recent defeat against the Royal Challengers Bangalore has sealed their fate. It's been a poor season for Delhi right from the first game. They lost quite a few matches under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir early in the season.

Though the change in captaincy brought about some excellent individual performances, they struggled to win games. They have failed to play well as a unit and have lost 9 of their 12 games so far. Except for Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Amit Mishra, and Rishabh Pant, none of the others players has made any sort of match-winning contribution.

Delhi's problem has been their overseas players. Colin Munro, Jason Roy, Chris Morris, Daniel Christian, and Glenn Maxwell have struggled for consistency throughout the campaign.

On that note, let's take a look at 3 unsold players who could have changed Delhi Daredevils' fortunes.

#3 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh's IPL record is phenomenal

Shaun Marsh is one of the most successful overseas batsmen in IPL history. The left-hander from Western Australia has scored a ton of runs in the Indian Premier League. In 71 IPL games, the 34-year-old has scored 2477 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 132.74. He has amassed 20 fifties and one hundred so far in the IPL.

He has played quite a few match-winning knocks for Kings XI Punjab in the past and it came as a surprise to many when he went unsold in the 2018 auction. He was Kings XI Punjab's all-time leading run scorer and even the orange cap holder in IPL 2008.

His familiarity with the Indian conditions could have made him a real asset for any franchise this season. At Rs 1.5 crores, Marsh would have been a real steal. He could have laid the perfect platform for Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant to take the game away from the opponents.

#2 Joe Root

Root could have played a big role for Delhi Daredevils

Joe Root has a T20I average of 39.10 and a strike rate of 128.76 but no IPL franchise wanted his services this season.

Seeing Kane Williamson scoring loads of runs in IPL 2018 with his quality stroke play, many cricket fans would be wondering why the franchises ignored Root, who is of the same caliber. The Englishman could have been a real asset for Delhi Daredevils.

With Colin Munro and Jason Roy struggling for runs at the top, Root could have replaced one of them and opened the batting for them. He could have even replaced Glenn Maxwell in the middle order. His consistency and ability to play spin would have certainly helped the Daredevils.

#1 Ashton Agar

Agar has done an excellent job for Perth Scorchers in the BBL

The 24-year-old has never played in the Indian Premier League despite being one of the best limited-overs cricketers in Australia.

Agar was the star of the show for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League 2017/18. He picked up 8 wickets in the tournament at an economy rate of 5.74. Only Rashid Khan conceded fewer runs per over in the tournament (minimum 30 overs). He also played well for Australia in the T20I tri-series against New Zealand and England.

Agar is a handy batsman and with Vijay Shankar struggling to fill the all-rounder slot, Agar would have done a great job for Delhi. His ability to bowl in the power play overs would have given Iyer an additional bowling option at the start.