IPL 2020: 3 overseas players Delhi Capitals could target at the auction

Delhi Capitals are the only IPL side to have never made it to the final of the tournament. The team (formerly known as Delhi Daredevils) were semifinalists in the first two seasons of the IPL, but have struggled as a unit ever since.

Over the last 10 seasons, the team from Delhi has made it to the playoffs on just two occasions. 2019 was a positive year for the Capitals as they made it to the playoffs after seven long years, under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer.

The team boasts of several young Indian cricketers who have played international cricket for India. The likes of Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel form the core of the team. Add to that the experience of Shikar Dhawan and Ishant Sharma, and you have a very strong local-focused team.

The form of the overseas players, however, has been a cause of concern for Delhi Capitals. The likes of Colin Munro, Colin Ingram and Chris Morris have not exactly set the IPL stage on fire lately.

On that note, here is a look at 3 overseas players who could help Delhi Capitals take the next step in IPL 2020.

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#1 Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla

South Africa's Hashim Amla, who retired from international cricket post the 2019 World Cup, could be the perfect addition to the Delhi Capitals team.

Amla can be a replacement for Colin Ingram, who struggled to get going in the 2019 IPL. Ingram scored 184 in 12 IPL games at an average of 18.40 and strike rate of 119.48. The latter was picked up by the Delhi franchise in the 2019 auction for a whopping sum of Rs. 6.40 crore, but he did not yield the required results.

Amla is now free of the burden of international cricket and will be raring to go in the upcoming season of IPL. The South African top order batsman last played the IPL in 2017 for Kings XI Punjab; in 10 matches he scored 420 runs at an average of 60 and strike rate of 145.83. He also had two centuries and two half-centuries to his name.

Amla has clearly tasted success in the IPL earlier and can be a valuable part of the Delhi franchise, where he can guide the young Indian players in addition to scoring runs himself.

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#2 Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill

The New Zealand opener could be the perfect replacement for his opening partner Colin Munro, who failed to impress for the Delhi franchise in IPL 2019.

Munro looked totally out of sorts last season and in four matches, could score just 84 runs at an average of 21. The left-hander has really struggled to get going in the league; in 13 IPL games across three seasons, he has scored 177 runs at a dismal average of 14.75.

Guptill, who was initially unsold in the 2019 IPL auction, eventually ended up playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He may be on the radar of the Delhi Capitals this season considering SRH are unlikely to retain him.

To be fair Guptill has also struggled to get going in IPL cricket, but he has a better batting record than Munro and seems due for a change in fortunes. The right-handed New Zealand opener could be a suitable opening partner for Prithvi Shaw, and he is an excellent fielder too.

The 33-year-old has played 78 T20 internationals where he averages 33.57 and has a strike rate of 132.42, with two hundreds to his credit. If the Sunrisers release Guptill, Delhi could grab the opportunity to get him on-board.

Also see – T10 schedule

#3 Hayden Walsh Jr

Hayden Walsh Jr

The all rounder from West Indies could be a perfect replacement for Chris Morris in the upcoming season of the IPL.

Morris did not have the best of times last season and averaged just 5.33 with the bat. Though he picked up 13 wickets, Morris had an economy of 9.27 which is not acceptable in T20 cricket.

The Delhi Capitals may look to bid for Hayden Walsh Jr in the upcoming auction. He is an all-rounder who can score handy runs lower down the order and also take wickets with his right-arm leg spin bowling.

In the past Walsh has represented USA in T20Is and ODIs, and he has now been named in the West Indies ODI and T20 squads that will take on Afghanistan in Dehradun next month.

The presence of a wrist spinner is of great importance in T20 cricket. Walsh is a relatively unknown figure in the IPL, and he could be the trump card for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming season.

Also see – T10 points table