5 Players Delhi Capitals (DC) Can Release Ahead Of IPL 2023

Delhi Capitals missed the playoffs berth in IPL 2022 as they lost their final group stage match to Mumbai Indians. Capitals’ loss was Royal Challengers Bangalore’s gain.

Delhi Capitals finished in fifth place in the table with 14 points. Had the Rishabh Pant-led side won against MI then they would have easily qualified in the playoffs on superior NRR against RCB.

Capitals had to deal with many COVID-19 cases in their camp during the league stage. They were also involved a no-ball drama with skipper Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Shardul Thakur being slapped with fines while assistant coach Pravin Amre was banned for a match.

Let us look at the 5 players Delhi Capitals can release ahead of the next IPL auction in 2023.

5 Players Delhi Capitals (DC) Can Release Ahead Of IPL 2023

1. Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz played six games for Delhi Capitals batting in various positions in all five innings.

In the match against Lucknow Super Giants, Sarfaraz was slotted in to bat at No.5. He remained unbeaten at 36 off 28 balls.

He was benched after scoring 1 against Rajasthan Royals and was only called back when Prithvi Shaw missed the last few league matches due to illness.

Sarfaraz slammed 32 runs off 16 balls against Punjab Kings while opening the batting order.

There remains a serious question mark about Sarfaraz’s batting position in Delhi Capitals playing XI or he could even be released ahead of IPL 2023.

2. Tim Seifert

The New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter played the first two games for the Capitals against Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans.

He scored 21 and 3 respectively in the only two innings played in IPL 2022 before he tested positive for COVID-19 on the day of the Capitals’ game against Punjab Kings.

With the presence of power-hitting batters like David Warner and Rovman Powell, Seifert’s future with the Capitals looks uncertain.

3. Mustafizur Rahman

The Bangladesh left-arm pace bowler picked eight wickets in as many games in IPL 2022.

Mustafizur averaged 30.50 and maintained an economy rate of 7.63 in the recently concluded cash-rich league.

Mustafizur yielded 28 runs in an over against Dinesh Karthik and smashed four boundaries and a couple of sixes in the carnage.

Delhi Capitals have the presence of left-arm pacers in the domestic ranks of Khaleel Ahmed and Chetan Sakariya, so they might release Mustafizur, who was purchased for his base price of INR 2 crore.

4. Lungi Ngidi

After playing 14 games for Chennai Super Kings across four seasons (2018-21), Ngidi watched the IPL 2022 from the Capitals dugout.

Unlike his injured international teammate Anrich Nortje, Ngidi wasn’t fortunate to find a place in the Capitals’ bowling attack comprising Khaleel Ahmed, Shardul Thakur and Chetan Sakariya.

Ngidi has picked 25 wickets in 14 IPL games, averaging 17.92 with best figures of 4/10 against Punjab Kings in 2018.

5. Mandeep Singh

Mandeep registered two ducks from the three innings played in the IPL 2022.

After Prithvi Shaw was rested due to illness, Mandeep was considered ahead of Srikar Bharat and Sarfaraz Khan to open the innings with David Warner.

But the Punjab batter bungled up against Sunrisers Hyderabad, poking one behind the stumps off Bhuvneshwar Kumar.