Did Ravichandran Ashwin Confirm that He and Shreyas Iyer Are Not Being Retained by Delhi Capitals for IPL 2022?

Ravichandran Ashwin, the renowned off-spinner from Tamil Nadu, made a comeback to the T20 international setup after a seven-year hiatus, being picked for the T20 World Cup in the UAE. Despite a decent performance, Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer are not expected to rejoin the Delhi Capitals for IPL 2022.

Retirement from Delhi Capitals: Ashwin's Statement

In a recent interview on his YouTube channel, Ashwin directly confirmed that neither he nor Shreyas Iyer will be retained by the Delhi Capitals. Ashwin stated, "I am not getting retained by Delhi. I would have known by now if the Delhi management would have retained me. I don’t think Shreyas is getting retained by the franchise either."

Impact on Delhi Capitals

While Ashwin's absence is significant, Delhi Capitals might retain Rishabh Pant and Shikhar Dhawan due to their crucial roles in the team. However, their loss could be costly for Delhi Capitals. Ashwin emphasized, "Retaining Ravichandran Ashwin was not so important, but they should have retained someone like Shreyas Iyer, who is one of their key batsmen and an excellent captain. Any new franchise would quickly pick him as their captain."

Strategical Implications for Delhi Capitals in the Auction

Delhi Capitals might attempt to buy Ashwin and Iyer again in the upcoming IPL auction, but the competition is fierce as 10 teams are competing for valuable players. Ashwin opines, "They might try to buy these players again in the auction, but with 10 teams fighting for players, it's not going to be easy for Delhi Capitals."

Potential New Teams for Shreyas Iyer

Ashwin suggests that Shreyas Iyer could be a valuable captain for new franchises like Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Chennai, or Bangalore. If Iyer does get picked by any of these teams, he would excel as a leader, as Ashwin explains, "If he gets picked, Shreyas Iyer would even be a good captain for Chennai or Bangalore."

In conclusion, the decision to not retain Ashwin and Iyer highlights the strategic challenges faced by Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL season. However, Ashwin's acknowledgment of Iyer's value as a key player and potential captain reflects his understanding of the importance of versatile and skilled players in a highly competitive environment.