IPL 2021: 5 players DC should release ahead of the auction

The name change for Delhi Capitals (DC) has turned the franchise's fortunes in the two Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons played since then. Following up from a third-place finish in 2019, they reached their first-ever IPL final in 2020.

Although they were easily outclassed by the Mumbai Indians throughout the competition, DC gave their fans plenty to cheer about, as they looked title contenders throughout the season.

The Indian trio of Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel shone for their team, while R Ashwin impressed on most occasions. DC's foreign stars were outstanding, as Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje often proved too hot to handle. Rishabh Pant had his poorest IPL season, but remains a pivotal part of the team given his record.

As the season wore on, DC's bench strength was exposed, and the team would be disappointed with their run in the second half of the league stage. Although DC in most part had a very good auction, here are five players they should release before the next one.

---

#5 Tushar Deshpande (IPL 2020)

Tushar Deshpande was very expensive with the ball in his limited opportunities.

As the season wore on, DC rotated their Indian as well as overseas pace options. When it was Tushar Deshpande's turn, he started out alright with match figures of 2/37. While the runs remained on the high side in the next few games, the wickets dried up, and he endured three wicketless outings, to end his season with just three wickets and an economy rate of 11.29.

Although Deshpande's purchase did not set the team back by much, he did not show a lot of pace or skill to consistently unsettle batsmen. DC can scout for quicker Indian uncapped bowlers to replace him next season.

---

#4 Mohit Sharma (IPL 2020)

Mohit Sharma had to return home, but didn't look threatening in his only game.

A player more commonly associated with the Chennai Super Kings yellow, Mohit Sharma joined DC to support their Indian pace battery. A dependable medium-pace bowler with a good slower ball, Mohit played an important role in India's journey to the semi-finals of the 2015 ICC World Cup as the third seamer.

However, his IPL record has been mediocre since that year, and has fallen off a cliff after 2017. In the past three seasons, he has only been named in the playing XI a total of 11 times, with a rising economy rate and strike rate. His lone outing in 2020 was a shellacking, as he ended up with 1/45. DC didn't shell out much for Mohit, and it remains to be seen if franchises will show interest in the 32-year-old.

#3 Keemo Paul (IPL 2019-2020)

Keemo Paul seems far from adequate backup for someone like Marcus Stoinis.

One of the litany of all-rounders from the Caribbean playing in the IPL, West Indian all-rounder Keemo Paul was inducted into the national team soon after he played a role in his country's U-19 World Cup triumph. Since then, while he has played his share of international cricket as well as league cricket, not much about Keemo's record screams for attention.

Eight games in 2019 fetched nine wickets at an unremarkable economy rate of 8.72. However, it would be Keemo's recent lack of form that would concern DC. He has found it hard to pick up wickets and keep the runs down in both the Big Bash League 2020 and the Caribbean Premier League 2020. His last international appearance saw him disappear for 64 runs in his four overs. Given DC's strong overseas line-up, the team can definitely invest in a better overseas all-rounder next season.

---

#2 Jason Roy (IPL 2020)

Jason Roy has a poor IPL record despite being England's preferred white-ball opener for years.

Someone who played no part in the last two IPL seasons, Jason Roy was roped in as an overseas opening option by DC. Despite his high career T20 strike rate, Roy has not had much IPL game time - often due to franchises stocking up on big-hitting openers - and thus his numbers are modest. A strange middle-order utilization by the Gujarat Lions in 2017 and a limited run at the top for Delhi Daredevils in 2018 was all Roy got in terms of IPL exposure.

By opting out of IPL 2020 for personal reasons, Roy forced DC to look for a replacement. For next season, DC look set to retain Daniel Sams who arrived in Roy's place. With DC's template not quite involving an overseas opener, the team might be better off utilizing the money on a top-order Indian option.

---

#1 Alex Carey (IPL 2020)

Carey looks to be losing ground in the international arena.

Aussie wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey made his name as an attacking batsman in the Big Bash League, prompting his call-up to the Australian limited-overs setup. In 2020, DC decided to give him an opportunity as an option in case Shimron Hetmyer or Rishabh Pant needed to be replaced, and Pant's injury midway into the season created that window.

A poor return of 32 runs at a strike rate of 110 was well below what DC would have hoped for, leading to their struggle in the absence of Pant and Hetmyer. In the international arena, Carey seems to be falling behind Matthew Wade in the pecking order due to his falling numbers, which would further concern the DC camp. Given no real dearth of wicket-keeper batsmen - Hetmyer can keep too if needed - DC should look to release Carey.