Delhi Capitals (DC) have done exceedingly well in the ongoing IPL 2020 as they sit second on the points table with 4 wins from 5 matches and eight points. Their next encounter will be against Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah on 9th October 2020.
Meanwhile, this IPL 13 edition also features the mid-season transfers in the tournament, which allows the franchises to internally trade players from one team to another. This time, however, it includes both capped and uncapped players. Any player who has played two or fewer matches is eligible for trade.
One such player is Ajinkya Rahane was traded to Delhi Capitals from Rajasthan Royals and is yet to play a single match this season as regular openers Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw have done very well for the franchise. The middle order of DC is also packed with the likes of Iyer, Pant, Hetmyer, and Stoinis, leaving no spot for India’s Test team vice-captain.
However, DC has reportedly refuted rumors of them trading Rahane to some other team during the transfer period.
A franchise official reportedly said, “You have to understand that whatever is being said on social media cannot be the criteria for team selection. Rahane is a brilliant player and brings in a lot of experience with him. But the simple point is that Dhawan and Shaw have been outstanding at the top. You do not fix something that isn't broken.
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“Also, you would realize we have looked to continue with players who we believe in over the last two seasons. Dhawan and Shaw are proven performers for us. Rahane will have to wait his turn, to be honest.”
Asked if that opens the door for other franchises to look at him in the mid-season transfer window, the official said, “He is an integral part of the team and he wasn't brought in with the idea of trading him mid-season. Whatever be said on the outside, he has been excellent with the team and has looked to give his input wherever possible.”
When inquired about Rahane playing in the middle order for DC in the latter part of the tournament, the official was non-committal and explained, “The demand in the middle-order in a tournament like the IPL is very different and you would not wish to be unfair to him by asking him to bat in the middle-order. After that, it is the call of the team management. Also, you don't do something just for the sake of it. There is a lot of discussion and planning that goes on behind these things.”
(ANI inputs)
