The perennial underperformers must find a way to transfer on-paper potential to on-field performances
Sruthi Ravindranath20-Mar-20198:40
Will Delhi’s young India players lead them to the IPL playoffs?
Where they finished in 2018
With just five wins in 14 games, the Delhi boys – Daredevils then, Capitals now – finished bottom of the points table. They, however, ended their otherwise dismal campaign on a high by beating eventual champions Chennai Super Kings and knocking the then defending champions Mumbai Indians out in their last two group-stage games.Strengths
The rebranded Delhi Capitals made a number of gains at the auction this year. Apart from investing in India’s domestic talent by roping in the likes of Ankush Bains and Jalaj Saxena, they made the big move during the trade window by snapping up Shikhar Dhawan from Sunrisers Hyderabad in exchange for three players. With Dhawan’s inclusion, the top order, which also includes Prithvi Shaw and Colin Munro, looks solid.ESPNcricinfo LtdBeing among the top run-scorers of the tournament, Dhawan, who is back in the side after 11 years, brings in the experience, which they lacked last year after Gautam Gambhir stepped down. Along with Rishabh Pant, their highest run-scorer last year, they have another reliable player in Shreyas Iyer, who had taken over the captaincy from Gambhir and had impressed with 411 runs in 14 games. The onus will be on them to bring the batting unit together.They are spoilt for choices with their bowling as well, with Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Sandeep Lamichhane, Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford rounding off the international names. Although he had to wait for his chance last season, young Nepal legspinner Lamichhane made an instant impression on his debut and went on to pick five wickets in three games.Delhi Capitals schedule•ESPNcricinfo LtdAdding to the strong back-room presence of Ricky Ponting and Mohammad Kaif is Sourav Ganguly, who has taken up the role of an advisor.Weaknesses
Their middle order looks a bit thin. Barring Colin Ingram and Pant, they don’t have any big names who can be trusted to perform a rescue – or a finishing – act. They might regret letting go of Vijay Shankar – one of the three players traded for Dhawan – who has, in his brief stint with India in the last couple of months, proven to be a force to be reckoned with. They do have Axar Patel – their costliest Indian buy this season – but he is yet to establish himself as a dependable finisher. Although Ingram can be unstoppable on his day, he comes into the tournament on the back of middling performances in the BBL and PSL.2:26
This is the season – Ponting and Ganguly on Delhi’s chances
The overseas question
Munro must slot in right at top of the order, while Ingram might be the man to provide the middle-order solidity. Having impressed with a number of match-winning spells in the BBL, PSL and BPL, Lamichhane is primed to be one of the Capitals’ main bowlers this year. Rabada or Boult will handle the new-ball responsibilities.Availability
Their fast bowling is likely to take a hit when Rabada or Boult head to their respective World Cup preparatory camps during the latter part of the tournament. In that case, they are left with an overseas option in Keemo Paul – who is under an injury cloud after sustaining a quadriceps tear during the third Test against England last month.Sandeep Lamichhane exults after picking up a wicket•BCCIThe best XI1 Colin Munro, 2 Prithvi Shaw 3 Shikhar Dhawan, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Colin Ingram, 6 Rishabh Pant (wk), 7 Axar Patel, 8 Sandeep Lamichhane, 9 Kagiso Rabada/ Trent Boult, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Ishant Sharma Will they make the playoffs?
The perennial underperformers definitely have a chance this time around if they are able to translate their on-paper potential to on-field performances.Poll
