With a change in name, the Delhi based franchise is surely aiming for a change in fortunes. They went into the auction with quite some areas to address and they seem to have done so. The North Indian franchise has always had some problems in figuring out a good squad but this year’s auction seemed different as the new management looked determined not to repeat history. Let us have a look at their team and see how far the new management has been successful.
OPENERS:
Prithvi Shaw proved to be a great buy for Delhi as he carried his U19 World Cup form into the season last year and the Capitals would expect him to fire this year too. Apart from him, the inclusion of the Delhi lad Shikhar Dhawan in the squad who has been in red hot form has boosted the top order of the franchise.
Together, Shaw and Dhawan will be a difficult pair to deal with for any team. The Capitals also have the service of Kiwi batsman Colin Munro who can deliver at the top of the order.
MIDDLE ORDER:
This has been the North Indian franchises main concern for the last few seasons. The underperforming big names in their middle order increased the pressure on their young skipper Shreyas Iyer and the Capitals’ think tank tried to deal with the problem by buying not one but two batsmen who could add some firepower to their middle order. First inclusion is the veteran Proteas batsman Colin Ingram and the other one is Windies hard hitter Sherfane Rutherford. They would not only help relieve the pressure off young Shreyas but would also assist Rishab
Pant, who was in great form last season, to add some quickfire runs down the order. The Capitals also bought Hanuma Vihari to strengthen their bench, in case the big names failed.
BOWLERS:
Although Kotla is no more the rank turner it was, yet spinners always play an important role in a T20 match. Keeping this thing in mind, Delhi included the experienced Axar Patel to their squad. The Capitals already have the services of the experienced Amit Mishra, Rahul Tewatia and the mystery spinner from
Nepal, young Sandeep Lamichhane who has impressed everyone with his brilliant performances in the ongoing T20 leagues across the world. Having said so, the Delhi Capitals have a formidable spin attack which can create a great deal of trouble for the other teams.
The pace battery of Delhi looks good with the likes of Rabada, Boult and Morris.
The inclusion of Ishant Sharma, Nathu Singh and Keemo Paul does give the pace battery a great deal of variation. The main concern in the bowling department of Delhi has been the underperformance of Morris as well as the youngsters Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan. With both Rabada and Boult leaving earlier to join their respective national teams for the World Cup, a lot would depend on how the domestic quicks of Capitals perform.
It seems like the Delhi side has finally addressed most of the areas and have a formidable squad at their disposal but their only concern will be the performance of their pacers. If they perform well, then Delhi will be a tough team to beat this Season.
Players Bought:
Shikhar Dhawan (transfer), Colin Ingram, Axar Patel, Hanuma Vihari, Sherfane Rutherford, Ishant Sharma, Keemo Paul, Jalaj Saxena, Ankush Bains, Nathu
Singh, Bandaru Ayyappa.
Players Retained:
Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Manjot Kalra, Colin Munro, Chris Morris, Rahul Tewatia, Harshal Patel, Amit Mishra, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult,
Sandeep Lamichhane, Avesh Khan.
