Delhi Capitals: The team has made tremendous progress in the last three seasons. So far, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have seen the most dominance in the history of IPL but Delhi have come very close to the title. Delhi has been steadily improving in recent years. The balance of the team is amazing and people’s eyes are on that too. This time too, people will have a lot of expectations from Delhi in the IPL starting from March 26.
For the last three years, Delhi has reached the playoffs every time. She reached the final in the 2020 IPL. Although she has not won the title yet, but the way this team has continuously improved itself, it has added a lot of hope to this team. After the mega auction in the year 2022, the team will hope that it will also cross its last stop.
Delhi Capitals have mainly kept their team strong. The team has retained Rishabh Pant (₹16 crore), Axar Patel (₹9 crore) and Prithvi Sau (₹7.5 crore) along with themselves. Along with this, Enrich Nortje (₹6.5 crore) paired with his team. In the auction also, the team added many big players with them.
The team spent a whopping amount of Rs 10.75 crore for Shardul Thakur. At the same time, Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (₹ 6.5 crore) joined the team. Australia’s opener David Warner has been made a part of his team for Rs 6.25 crore. West Indies’ Ravman Powell, Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman also give strength to Delhi’s team. At the same time, India’s Khaleel Ahmed and Chetan Sakaria will also be seen playing for Delhi. If seen from this level, Delhi has prepared a good pool of left-handed pacers. Kuldeep Yadav gives spin variety to the team. let’s take a look Power of Delhi Capitals on weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Delhi Strength – Batting
Delhi batting is very strong. All eyes can be on this in the coming season. The team has many aggressive batsmen. The team has good hitters from the beginning. The team seems to have covered this point well.
Prithvi Shaw and David Warner will be seen as the opening pair. Both are amazing attacking batsmen. The team will have many advantages as soon as they land with them. Both can strike the bowling. The advantage of having a pair of right and left hands will also be available. Along with this, Warner’s experience can balance the enthusiasm of Sav well.
Even after this, one aggressive player will come in Delhi’s batting. Team captain Rishabh Pant has made his mark at the international level. He alone can take down any bowling attack on his own. Mitchell Marsh has played an important role in Australia’s T20 World Cup victory. He is an amazing batsman as well as gives the option of bowling.
Ravmain Powell was a name that Indians were not very familiar with until recently. But in the recently concluded T20 series against West Indies, he also showed his bat to the Indian audience. Powell has both timing and strength. The reach of his bat is also very high. And it adds more arrows to their quiver.
Delhi Weakness: Lack of Spinners
Delhi team seems to be lacking it a lot this time. Delhi had quality spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra but this time before the auction, the team released both of them. Now Delhi lacks experience in the spin department.
However, the team has kept left-arm spinner Akshar Patel with them. Patel has played well for Delhi. But Delhi does not have such a spinner who can turn the match on his own. Although Delhi also has left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Yadav’s recent performance in the IPL has not been very good. Kolkata Knight Riders have not given him a chance in many matches. Even in international cricket, this chinaman bowler did not get many opportunities. His poor form can also be a matter of concern for Delhi.
Apart from Yadav and Axar Patel, Delhi do not have very experienced spinners. This can cause a lot of damage to the Delhi team. This time IPL will be played in Maharashtra and Pune. Indian pitches are helpful for spinners and the absence of quality spinners can be a burden for the Delhi team. However, the team can have hopes from left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal, who performed well in the Under-19 World Cup. But it will also be interesting to see how many chances he gets in the playing XI.
All-rounders
Good all-rounders can be of great use in T20 cricket. Delhi has done very well in this regard. In the IPL 2022 auction, Delhi has added Mitchell Marsh, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav with their team.
Marsh though is primarily a batsman but can also bowl medium pace with the right hand. Apart from this, Powell also bowls usefully with the change of pace. Both of these can become good options for the captain. Axar Patel can also show a useful game with the bat down the order as well as bowling left-arm spin.
Who will become the anchor in batting
Delhi has many attacking batsmen. And an aggressive batting line-up is a double-edged sword at times. The team may miss a batsman somewhere who can handle the innings in trouble. Can play the role of a batsman around whom the rest of the team can play. The team management will have to make its own strategy regarding this.
Delhi has all the attacking batsmen and in such a situation it can be difficult. Especially chasing runs. When wickets start falling, the team should have a player who can show some restraint.
Yash Dhul, the captain of the U-19 World Cup winning team, has impressed with his game. After the World Cup, in the Ranji Trophy too, this player from Delhi has proved his talent and ability. And maybe Delhi can try him in this role.
| Date | Vs | Venue | Time |
| 27 March 2022 | Mumbai Indians | CCI, Mumbai | 3.30 pm |
| April 2, 2022 | Gujarat Titans | MCA, Pune | 7.30 pm |
| April 7, 2022 | Lucknow Supergiants | DY Patil Stadium | 7.30 pm |
| April 10, 2022 | Kolkata Knight Riders | CCI | 3.30 pm |
| April 16, 2022 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Wankhede Stadium | 7.30 pm |
| April 20, 2022 | Punjab Kings | MCA Stadium, Pune | 7.30 pm |
| April 22, 2022 | Rajasthan Royals | MCA Stadium Pune | 7.30 pm |
| April 28, 2022 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium | 7.30 pm |
| May 1, 2022 | Lucknow Supergiants | Wankhede Stadium | 3.30 pm |
| May 5, 2022 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | CCI | 7.30 pm |
| May 8, 2022 | Chennai Super Kings | DY Patil Stadium | 7.30 pm |
| May 11, 2022 | Rajasthan Royals | DY Patil Stadium | 7.30 pm |
| May 16, 2022 | Punjab Kings | DY Patil Stadium | 7.30 pm |
| May 21, 2022 | Mumbai Indians | Wankhede Stadium | 7.30 pm |
Delhi Full Team Squad
Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, Rishabh Pant (c), Axar Patel, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Shardul Thakur, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Ashwin Hebbar, Sarfaraz Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, KS Bharat, Mandeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakaria , Lalit Yadav, Ripple Patel, Yash Dhul, Rovman Powell, Praveen Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Tim Seifert, Vicky Ostwal
