IPL 2021: 5 players DC should release ahead of the auction

#3 Keemo Paul (IPL 2019-2020)

Keemo Paul seems far from adequate backup for someone like Marcus Stoinis.

One of the litany of all-rounders from the Caribbean playing in the IPL, West Indian all-rounder Keemo Paul was inducted into the national team soon after he played a role in his country's U-19 World Cup triumph. Since then, while he has played his share of international cricket as well as league cricket, not much about Keemo's record screams for attention.

Eight games in 2019 fetched nine wickets at an unremarkable economy rate of 8.72. However, it would be Keemo's recent lack of form that would concern DC. He has found it hard to pick up wickets and keep the runs down in both the Big Bash League 2020 and the Caribbean Premier League 2020. His last international appearance saw him disappear for 64 runs in his four overs. Given DC's strong overseas line-up, the team can definitely invest in a better overseas all-rounder next season.

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#2 Jason Roy (IPL 2020)

Jason Roy has a poor IPL record despite being England's preferred white-ball opener for years.

Someone who played no part in the last two IPL seasons, Jason Roy was roped in as an overseas opening option by DC. Despite his high career T20 strike rate, Roy has not had much IPL game time - often due to franchises stocking up on big-hitting openers - and thus his numbers are modest. A strange middle-order utilization by the Gujarat Lions in 2017 and a limited run at the top for Delhi Daredevils in 2018 was all Roy got in terms of IPL exposure.

By opting out of IPL 2020 for personal reasons, Roy forced DC to look for a replacement. For next season, DC look set to retain Daniel Sams who arrived in Roy's place. With DC's template not quite involving an overseas opener, the team might be better off utilizing the money on a top-order Indian option.

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#1 Alex Carey (IPL 2020)

Carey looks to be losing ground in the international arena.

Aussie wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey made his name as an attacking batsman in the Big Bash League, prompting his call-up to the Australian limited-overs setup. In 2020, DC decided to give him an opportunity as an option in case Shimron Hetmyer or Rishabh Pant needed to be replaced, and Pant's injury midway into the season created that window.

A poor return of 32 runs at a strike rate of 110 was well below what DC would have hoped for, leading to their struggle in the absence of Pant and Hetmyer. In the international arena, Carey seems to be falling behind Matthew Wade in the pecking order due to his falling numbers, which would further concern the DC camp. Given no real dearth of wicket-keeper batsmen - Hetmyer can keep too if needed - DC should look to release Carey.