Ajinkya Rahane who was traded by Delhi Capitals from Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2020, is unlikely to be selected for Delhi Capitals’ opening game against KXIP. Rahane is the 11th highest run-getter in the IPL and Delhi coach Ricky Ponting in a virtual press conference said that his addition adds depth to the side.
Delhi’s batting lineup consists of Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant. Arguably Delhi boasts of the most strong Indian batsmen among all the teams. As a result, Rahane’s inclusion thus seems tough.
Ajinkya Rahane doubtful starter against KXIP
“We have a balanced squad. There is a lot of competition for middle-order slots. Having someone like Rahane in the team gives us more depth to our batting,” Ponting said during a virtual press conference on Saturday.
Delhi’s middle-order is also well-stacked with Shimrom Hetmyer and Alex Carey. Both are in form and have tasted recent success. Thus a middle-order spot also seems tough for the IPL veteran.
“We have Pant, Hetmyer and Carey [both left-handers], which gives us a good mix of left-right combinations. We have our bases covered,” Ponting explained.
Also Read: Ishant Sharma Picks Up an Injury Ahead of Delhi’s Campaign Opener Against Kings XI Punjab
DC Skipper Hails Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin
Meanwhile, Delhi skipper Iyer admitted that their new recruits Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane will add immense value to the side. While Ashwin has 125 wickets in the IPL, Ajinkya Rahane has 3,820 runs in 140 games with two centuries
“They [Ashwin and Rahane] give that extra sense of confidence. You don’t feel that they are seniors and they are willing to help every individual,” said Iyer.
Meanwhile, ahead of Delhi’s campaign opener, veteran pacer Ishant Sharma is ruled out with a back injury. As per reports he is set to e sidelined for a considerable amount of time. Mohit Sharma, with his experience, seems the most likely replacement for Ishant. He will pair up with Delhi’s premier pacer Kagiso Rabada from the other end.
Also Read: Key Players to Watch out for Delhi Capitals
