IPL 2024: Delhi Capitals Target Travis Head For Upcoming Season After World Cup Final Heroics

New Delhi: Following Travis Head’s whirlwind century in the ODI World Cup 2023 final against India, the Australian opener has fallen into Delhi Capitals’ radar ahead of IPL 2024 auction that is set to take place in Dubai next month. Riding on Head’s 137, Australia beat India by six wickets in the final to lift the World Cup for the sixth time.

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting, who was commentating during the ODI World Cup 2023, revealed that Delhi Capitals could have signed him in IPL 2023 had it not been his wedding. With lest than a month for the IPL 2024 player’s auction to be held in Dubai, it is evident that Ponting will once again be gunning for Head, more so after his World Cup performances.

“Travis has done everything right to make sure he gets a deal this year,” Ponting was quoted as saying to ‘Channel 7′. “He would have had a deal last year if it wasn’t for his wedding. His wedding got in the middle of it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to pick him up at Delhi.”

“I rang him and told him I was going for him in the auction, and he said, ‘Just to let you know, I’m getting married two weeks into the IPL’,” he added. “He would have missed three weeks at the start of the tournament, which our owners weren’t willing to take that gamble on.”

Although Head was a part of the Australian side for the World Cup, he didn’t play in the first five games due to a thumb injury. In his first match in ODI World Cup 2023, the southpaw scored a century against New Zealand before fading out in the next three league games.

However, Head showed why is most sought-after in world cricket as his fifty and century in semifinal and final played a crucial role in Australia’s title triumph. Notably, Head has featured in IPL before, representing Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016 and 2017 seasons with just 10 games under his kitty.