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Auqib Dar's ₹8.4 Crore IPL Deal: Why Delhi Capitals Chose Him to Partner Starc

Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund is thrilled for Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Dar after his big IPL payday. He explains that Delhi Capitals specifically needed someone to share the new ball with Australian star Mitchell Starc. The franchise's co-owner, Parth Jindal, confirmed they had been tracking Dar all season for his swing bowling. This deal marks a major breakthrough for the consistent domestic performer from Baramulla.

Key Points: Abhinav Mukund on Auqib Dar's Delhi Capitals IPL Deal

  • Auqib Dar was signed for ₹8.4 crore after a fierce bidding war with multiple IPL franchises
  • He is seen as the powerplay bowling partner for star pacer Mitchell Starc
  • The Jammu & Kashmir swing bowler has recently improved his death-overs skills
  • DC co-owner Parth Jindal said they tracked Dar throughout the domestic season
2 min read

'DC needed someone to open bowling with Starc', says Abhinav Mukund on Auqib Dar's IPL 2026 deal

Abhinav Mukund explains why Delhi Capitals signed Auqib Dar for ₹8.4 crore to open the bowling with Mitchell Starc in IPL 2026.

"Delhi Capitals needed someone to open the bowling with Mitchell Starc. That is the role they see for him. - Abhinav Mukund"

New Delhi, Dec 19

Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund hailed Auqib Dar's long-awaited break on the Indian Premier League (IPL) stage after the Jammu and Kashmir pacer bagged an Rs 8.40 crore deal from Delhi Capitals in the mini-auction held recently.

Mukund said Delhi Capitals needed someone to open bowling alongside veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc in their squad in the upcoming IPL, and Auqib is the opening bowling option DC was looking for.

Starting at a base price of Rs 30 lakh, Auqib sparked an intense bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Sunrisers, but the 29-year-old pacer from Baramulla was snapped up by DC.

"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.

"After last year's issues with Natarajan's injury, they went for 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 said.

A consistent wicket-taker across formats in domestic cricket over the past few seasons, Auqib is primarily a swing bowler. Recently, however, the Jammu & Kashmir bowler has added new dimensions to his game—most notably improved death-overs skills—which have significantly boosted his value.

Delhi Capitals' co-owner Parth Jindal said they needed someone who swings the ball, and Auqib is the "perfect candidate to play that role".

"We needed someone who swings the ball and gets early breakthroughs, and we found Auqib Dar as the perfect candidate to play that role, and that's the reason why 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 said.

bc/bsk/

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting strategy by DC. Pairing a young Indian swing bowler with Starc's experience could be brilliant for the powerplay. Hope they manage his workload properly, especially after mentioning Natarajan's injury issues last season.
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Aditya G
8.4 crore is a lot of pressure for someone new to the IPL. His domestic record is good, but the Delhi pitch and the big stage are different beasts. I really hope he succeeds, but DC's management needs to back him even if he has a few bad games.
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Priyanka N
Love seeing teams invest in tracking players throughout the domestic season. Shows proper scouting, not just auction-day hype. J&K producing another pacer after Rasikh Salam is great for Indian cricket's depth.
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Michael C
As a cricket fan, I'm excited. A left-arm swing bowler opening with Starc? That's a nightmare pairing for any top order on a helpful pitch. If he can learn death bowling from someone like Nortje in the squad, this could be a masterstroke.
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Kavya N
Heartwarming story indeed! But let's be real, the role is very specific - take the new ball and swing it. Mukund himself pointed out questions about his death bowling. DC better have a solid Plan B for the slog overs.

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