IPL 2020: 5 Star players who might not feature in the playing XI in the first week

4. Ajinkya Rahane (DC)

The former captain of Rajasthan Royals was traded to Delhi Capitals ahead of the IPL 2020 auction. The Mumbaikar is expected to be left out from the starting XI as the Delhi-based franchise already have Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw to open the batting. The duo had done a fairly good job in the last season, playing a vital role in the team reaching the playoffs.

In the last season where he played for the Jaipur-based franchise, Rahane scored 393 runs at an average of 32.75 and with a strike rate of 137.89 which includes a century and a half-century. Despite his consistent performances for the team, the franchise traded him as they already have plenty of opening options. RR also traded in Mayank Markande and Rahul Tewatia into their side to strengthen their spin-attack.

Their head coach Ricky Ponting is expected to back Shaw for most part of the season and brining in Rahane might disrupt the left-hand right-hand combination at the top. Hence Rahane is expected to sit in the dugout unless a injury happens to the current openers.