Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund praised Auqib Dar for finally making his mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the Jammu and Kashmir pacer secured an Rs 8.40 crore deal from Delhi Capitals in the recent mini-auction.
A Strategic Addition for Delhi Capitals
Mukund emphasized that Delhi Capitals needed an opening bowler to partner with veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc. “Auqib is the opening bowling option DC was looking for,” he said.
Starting at a base price of Rs 30 lakh, Auqib attracted a competitive bidding war among Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Sunrisers. Ultimately, the 29-year-old pacer from Baramulla was claimed by DC.
Auqib’s Journey and Potential
“I am very happy for Auqib Dar. He has played for a long time for Jammu and Kashmir and finally gets a chance on this big stage. Delhi Capitals needed powerplay bowling options. Some people question his death bowling, but he will learn at a tough ground like Delhi,” Mukund added.
Reflecting on last year’s troubles with Natarajan’s injury, he noted that DC sought multiple pacers. “They needed someone to open the bowling with Mitchell Starc. That is the role they see for him at Delhi Capitals, which is a heartwarming story,” he remarked.
Bringing Value to the Team
Auqib has been a reliable wicket-taker in domestic cricket recently and primarily excels as a swing bowler. The Jammu & Kashmir bowler has also enhanced his skills in death overs, significantly increasing his market value.
Delhi Capitals’ co-owner Parth Jindal highlighted the team’s requirement for a swing bowler. “We needed someone who swings the ball and gets early breakthroughs, and we found Auqib Dar as the perfect candidate to play that role. That’s the reason we tracked him throughout the entirety of the current domestic cricket season. He is an exciting talent, and we went all out for him. We are really happy to get a player from Jammu and Kashmir,” Jindal stated.