Delhi Capitals Signs Gulbadin Naib as Mitchell Marsh's Replacement for Remainder of IPL 2024

The Delhi Capitals signed Afghanistan pace boler & all-rounder Gulbadin Naib as a substitute for Mitchell Marsh on Thursday, after the latter was ruled out for the rest of the IPL 2024 due to injury.

Marsh, who will captain Australia in the T20 World Cup, which begins days after the end of this year's IPL, was ruled out for the rest of the IPL 2024 due to a hamstring issue. The Australian seam-bowler & all-rounder made only four appearances for the Capitals this season, scoring 61 runs at a strike rate of 160.53 and took one wicket.

Naib could be a trump player for DC

Naib is set to make his IPL debut after signing with the Rishabh Pant-led team for Rs 50 lakh. He was in top form during the T20I series in India earlier this year, finishing as the leading run-scorer among Afghans and third overall with 112 runs at a staggering average of 112 and a thrilling strike rate of 193.10, including back-to-back half-centuries.

Naib has played 82 ODIs and 65 T20Is for Afghanistan, hitting over 2,000 runs and taking 99 wickets in both white-ball formats.

Marsh had returned to Perth on April 12 to discuss with Cricket Australia's (CA) medical staff following his injury, with DC head coach Ricky Ponting later stating the all-rounder will not return to India for the rest of the season.

They’ve been managing his rehab for a couple of weeks now. I spoke to him the other day and it seems it’s taken a little longer than he first thought to get over it. I don’t think the T20 World Cup would be an issue.
~Ponting had said on Monday

DC is on the road of recovery

Marsh didn't get to play the entire season of last year, making only nine appearances.

DC is presently sixth in the IPL 2024 points table, having won four of their last nine games, including a four-run victory over the Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.