Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], November 24 – The IPL 2025 mega-auction kicked off with a bang in Jeddah as the Delhi Capitals made two marquee acquisitions in the first half of Day 1. The franchise secured Australia’s ace pacer Mitchell Starc for Rs 11.75 crore and India’s seasoned wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul for a whopping Rs 14 crore.
Reflecting on these big-ticket signings, Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani hailed both players as world-class assets.
“Pretty elated with the buys. Both KL and Starc are world-class players. In fact, they’re battling each other right now in India versus Australia, so it’s pretty interesting,” Badani said in a press release issued by the franchise.
Starc: A Proven Match-Winner
Mitchell Starc was Delhi’s first acquisition at the auction. The left-arm pacer, who played a crucial role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2024 triumph, has been a dominant force in T20 cricket.
With 193 wickets in 142 T20 matches, Starc’s reputation as a wicket-taker and match-winner remains unparalleled. Speaking about the signing, Badani said, “Starc is a match-winner, he’s a wicket-taker, and couldn’t be happier.”
KL Rahul: The Reliable Run Machine
KL Rahul, acquired for Rs 14 crore, brings a wealth of experience to the Delhi Capitals lineup. A veteran in T20 cricket, Rahul has amassed 7,586 runs in 226 matches, including 65 half-centuries and six hundreds. His consistency earned him the Orange Cap in IPL 2020.
Praising Rahul, Badani remarked, “With KL Rahul, again, somebody who we believe is a bankable player, will give you runs each season, has been somebody who’s given or scored runs every IPL season. For me, at the moment, this is the best buy of the auction.”
Auction Strategy Paying Off
Badani also reflected on Delhi Capitals’ strategy during the first session of the auction. “The energy has been spot-on. We’ve been patient, we’ve been disciplined, we’ve been careful about spends, we’ve stuck to certain numbers that we had in mind. We have enough clarity as to how we go about this auction. And I think, as of now, we’ve kind of reaped the rewards of being well-strategised and well-planned,” he said.
Delhi’s Star Signings So Far
- Mitchell Starc: Rs 11.75 crore
- Left-arm pacer with 193 wickets in 142 T20 matches. Key player in KKR’s IPL 2024 victory.
- KL Rahul: Rs 14 crore
- Experienced IPL campaigner with 7,586 T20 runs, 65 fifties, and six hundreds. Won the IPL 2020 Orange Cap.
Looking Ahead
With Starc and Rahul in their ranks, Delhi Capitals have strengthened their squad significantly. As the mega-auction progresses, the team looks poised to build a formidable lineup for IPL 2025.