Overview:
Starting from a base of ₹30 lakh, the 29-year-old attracted heavy bidding from multiple franchises before Delhi Capitals sealed the deal.
Abhinav Mukund lauded Auqib Dar’s arrival on the IPL stage, calling it a deserved moment after the Jammu and Kashmir seamer secured a ₹8.40 crore move to Delhi Capitals at the IPL 2026 auction. According to Mukund, DC were keen to add a pace option to share the new ball with Mitchell Starc, and Auqib matched that requirement. Starting from a base of ₹30 lakh, the 29-year-old attracted heavy bidding from multiple franchises before Delhi Capitals sealed the deal.
“I’m really pleased for Auqib Dar. He’s put in years of service for Jammu and Kashmir and has now earned his opportunity at the highest level. Delhi Capitals were looking for a strong powerplay bowler. While there are doubts around his death-overs skills, playing at a challenging venue like Delhi will only help him improve,” Abhinav Mukund said.
“After the problems they faced last season with Natarajan’s injury, Delhi Capitals chose to bolster their pace resources. They were specifically looking for a bowler to take the new ball alongside Mitchell Starc, and that’s the role they’ve identified for him. It’s a really uplifting story,” he added.
Over the last few domestic seasons, Auqib has established himself as a regular wicket-taker across formats, relying largely on his swing bowling. More recently, the Jammu and Kashmir seamer has broadened his repertoire, especially in the closing overs, a progression that has markedly lifted his market value.