R Ashwin is all but set to join Delhi Capitals soon and an official announcement regarding it is set to be made in the coming days. While the fans wait for the news to be made public by the franchise, a report in Mumbai Mirror has suggested that Kings XI Punjab will get two players from Delhi Capitals in exchange for Ashwin.
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The two players are New Zealand’s lead pacer Trent Boult and Karnataka’s all-rounder Jagadeesha Suchith. Boult, who was bought by the franchise for Rs 2.2 Crores in IPL 2018 auction, played 19 matches for the franchise in two years. In 2018, he was the lead pacer for the side as he scalped 18 wickets in 14 matches. In 2019, he scalped five wickets in as many matches. At KXIP, Boult will pair up with the likes of Mohammed Shami, Andrew Tye, Hardus Viljoen, Ankit Rajpoot and others.
Suchith, who has been part of Mumbai Indians in past, was signed by Delhi mid-season as a replacement for Harshal Patel. He played one match in IPL 2019 where he scalped two wickets. At KXIP, he will be second spin-bowling all-rounder – Harpreet Brar is also a part of the team.
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The report in Mumbai Mirror suggests that Delhi have paid Rs 1.5 Crore to KXIP and Ashwin has already signed the contract. The report also adds that Ashwin is still looking to make a white-ball comeback and Delhi’s pitch will suit him.
Under Ashwin, KXIP failed it to make it to the second round of IPL 2018 and 2019. Last year, KXIP were set to become the first team to enter playoffs but faltered in the second half. In 2019, they finished at the sixth spot in the points table.
Since then, it looked like the franchise might release Ashwin. The talks were on for months but seemed to be over when Anil Kumble joined KXIP as their Director of Cricket but the talks resumed recently and an official announcement is set to be made soon. Ashwin scalped 15 wickets in 28 matches that he played for the Punjab-based franchise.