Delhi Daredevils is pleased to have strengthened its batting by picking up the intended players during the auction for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League, here today.
Delhi added Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and young all-rounders Andre Russell (West Indies) and Doug Bracewell (New Zealand) to their ranks.
"Going into the auction, we were very clear that we would strengthen our middle-order batting and look for all-rounders. We are happy to have found what we targeted," team mentor T A Sekar said.
He said Jayawardene would be a source of strength for the Delhi Daredevils middle-order.
"There can be no doubt that Mahela will make a difference to the team with his vast experience and his approach. We are delighted that we could add a true blue professional of his stature to our roster," he said.
In 106 Twenty20 matches, Jayawardene has scored 2,631 runs with two centuries and 17 half-centuries at a strike-rate of 136.81. He has also 1,136 runs to his credit in 49 IPL matches so far.
Sekar said that in Russell and Bracewell the Delhi Daredevils found the quality all-rounders it was looking for.
"We wanted players who could bat explosively in the death overs and give the team four effective overs. We believe Andre and Doug are exciting talent and will live up to our expectations," he said.