Delhi Capitals dropped K.S Bharat, Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2023

Delhi Capitals were touted to be one of the favorites to win the IPL 2022, as they had one of the balanced teams. Players such as Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Rishabh Pant, Mitchell Marsh, Shardul Thakur, etc., formed a very formidable squad. Predicted that may Delhi Capitals dropped K.S Bharat, Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2023.

Delhi Capitals picked a well-rounded side at the mega auction in 2022 with the hope to end their title drought at the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, they were rocked by COVID-19 mid-way through the season. Despite that, Rishabh Pant & Co. played some amazing cricket and put themselves in contention for the playoffs.

Unfortunately, Capitals lost their final group-stage game to Mumbai Indians and missed out on a playoff berth by a whisker. They had to remain content with the fifth spot. With the mini auction for the next season in sight, the team management would look to make necessary changes in their squad. We might witness players who have failed to deliver for the side be released from the squad.

K.S Bharat has proven his mettle in the Indian domestic circuit time and time again. In 82 First Class matches, he has amassed 4425 runs at an average of 37.50. In IPL 2021, the Andhra Pradesh batter showed that he has the goods to succeed in the T20 arena too. The 29-year-old scored 191 runs in eight games for Royal Challengers Bangalore at a strike rate of 122.43.

The Delhi franchise picked Bharat in the side to strengthen their Indian batting core. However, he was not able to find a place in the starting XI for the majority of the season. DC possess top-quality batters like Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, and Mitchell Marsh in the top order and so Bharat’s chances of making it to the final XI are quite grim even in the seasons to follow.

Moreover, the wicketkeeper batter could manage just eight runs in two games played in the 2022 season and this has not helped his case either. Therefore, one could see the think tank move past Bharat and release him ahead of the mini auction. Mustafizur Rahman has been a giant of a player in the shortest format of the game.

He has played a total of 200 T20 matches and picked 256 wickets at an economy of 7.35. Delhi Capitals roped in the left-arm pacer to add variety to their pace attack. Mustafizur played eight games for the franchise and did a decent job bagging eight wickets at an economy of 7.63. However, with Anrich Nortje back in the mix after recovering from injury, the Bangladesh pacer was dropped from the side.

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Moreover, with Khaleel Ahmed being sensational with the ball picking up 16 wickets in ten games meant that the need for a left-arm seamer in the XI was fulfilled. Thus, the services of Mustafizur were not required in the later part of the competition.