TATA IPL 2022: DC possess good mix of all-rounders, pacers; will look to break title jinx

Delhi Capitals (DC) full squad details, analysis, list of bought players at auction and possible playing XI for IPL 2022

Delhi Capitals think tank at the IPL 2022 auction. (©BCCI/IPL)

Delhi Capitals (DC) have never won an IPL title till now despite putting in great performances in the league phase six seasons of the marquee cricket tournament of the world. They have been participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inception in 2008. They were earlier known as Delhi Daredevils. Hope this IPL 2022 Mega Auction augured well for them.

DC have been under the flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant since IPL 2021. Shreyas Iyer was their former skipper but now he will play for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). DC haven't retained Iyer for the upcoming season of this cash-rich league despite ending as runners up in IPL 2020 under the Mumbai batter’s leadership.

Let’s take a look at the squad in terms of its line-up.

Delhi Capital Complete Squad

Rishabh Pant (Rs 16 crores), Axar Patel (Rs 9 crores), Prithvi Shaw (Rs 7.5 crores), Anrich Nortje (Rs 6.5 crores), David Warner (Rs 6.25 crore), Mitchell Marsh (Rs 6.50 crore), Shardul Thakur (Rs 10.75 crore), Kuldeep Yadav (Rs 2 crore), Ashwin Hebbar (Rs 20 lakh), Mustafizur Rahman (Rs 2 crore), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Rs 1.10 crore), Sarfaraz Khan (Rs 20 Lakh), KS Bharat (Rs 2 crore), Ripal Patel (Rs 20 Lakh), Yash Dhull (Rs 50 Lakh), Lalit Yadav (Rs 65 Lakh), Khaleel Ahmed (Rs 5.25 crore), Chetan Sakariya (Rs 4.20 crore), Rovman Powell (Rs 2.80 crore), Pravin Dubey (Rs 50 Lakh), Mandeep Singh (Rs 1.1 crore), Tim Seifert (Rs 50 lakh), Vicky Ostwal (Rs 20 lakh), Lungi Ngidi (Rs 50 lakh)

Read More: TATA IPL 2022: RCB's Pace Bowling Arsenal a decent mix of youth and experience

DC's Top-order Batters – David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Mandeep Singh

Delhi Capitals have signed the seasoned Australia opener, David Warner who will be back with the Delhi team after many years. He played for Delhi when it was named Delhi Daredevils. David Warner has played well till IPL 2021 and famously led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to a title win in IPL 2016.

Warner and Prithvi Shaw can give DC explosive starts in the first six overs of the powerplay. They can be a deadly combination in the top-order and put any opposition on the backfoot. Mandeep Singh can also be an option to open the innings. He has done a decent job for his previous franchise Punjab Kings (PKBS).

DC's Middle-order – Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, Yash Dull, Rovman Powell, Tim Seifert

The skipper will be the player to watch out for in the middle-order of the Delhi team. Rishabh Pant has three jobs to do at the same time. He needs to captain the side, bat well in the middle-order and be the wicketkeeper. Pant will hold the key in the middle-order of the DC team.

KS Bharat can bat at no. 3 like he did for RCB in previous season while Tim Seifert, Yash Dull and Rovman Powell be the extra cushion for DC in the middle-order. Rishabh Pant will need help from the lower-order all-rounders to win games and the maiden title for Delhi Capitals.

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Shardul Thakur was purchased by Delhi Capitals (DC) for INR 10.76 crores. (Image ©BCCI/IPL)

DC's All-rounders – Shardul Thakur, Mitchell Marsh, Lalit Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Axar Patel, Ripal Patel

Shardul Thakur can play as a bowling all-rounder in this DC side. Thakur is a handy batter in the lower-order. He has scored fifties in England and Australia in the Test matches. Shardul has been purchased for INR 10.75 crores because of his all-around skills. Mitchell Marsh will be a key batting all-rounder for DC and he might bat in the middle-order.

Lalit Yadav has been useful for DC in the past. He can give batting depth to his side along with Thakur and Marsh. Yadav can do a handy job as a bowler and tonk big sixes in the final few overs of the innings. Axar Patel will be the lone spin bowling all-rounder who will get into the Playing XI without much trouble. But DC can try out fresh talent like Vicky Ostwal and Ripan Patel.

DC's Bowlers – Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Mustafizur Rahman, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Chetan Sakariya, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav

The Capitals have covered their bases in the fast bowling department. They have a good replacement for Kagiso Rabada who partnered with Anrich Nortje in the last few seasons. But now that Rabada is gone, they have a few more options in Lungi Ngidi, Mustafizur Rahman with Nortje. These three will certainly play together in as many games as possible.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Chetan Sakariya and Khaleel Ahmed will be the Indian options in the pace bowling department. Kuldeep Yadav can be the back up spinner for DC given Axar Patel is retained or they both can be the part of XI on spin friendly pitches. Kuldeep will hope to have a good season with the Delhi Capitals team after giving disappointing performances for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Pravin Dubey can be a back up option.

Delhi Capitals Possible XI for IPL 2022

David Warner (os), Prithvi Shaw, Mandeep Singh, Rishabh Pant (C & Wk), Mitchell Marsh (os), Rovman Powell (os), Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed/Chetan Sakariya, Anrich Nortje (os)

*os - overseas

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What went wrong for DC?

The Delhi Capitals do not have a backup opener other than Mandeep Singh. They will have to play Mandeep and Tim Seifert so that the middle-order get going with power hitters like Pant, Bharat and even Mitchell Marsh.

DC’s middle-order does not have much experience apart from skipper Rishabh Pant. That is why they need Tim Seifert, Rovman Powell and Mandeep Singh to keep the balance of the side. They need to trust young Indian players like Bharat, Ashwin Hebbar and Yash Dull. DC need to groom the latter two for the further seasons.

Another issue is that they lack quality spin bowlers. Axar and Kuldeep are definitely good but, they will have a major role to play as Lalit Yadav or Praveen Dubey will be the second-choice spinners.

The pace bowling attack looks good and it is one of the positives. Mustafizur Rahman, Mitchell Marsh, Shardul Thakur, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Chetan Sakariya and Khaleel Ahmed are the selected pace bowlers in their team.

IPL 2022 kicks off in India on March 27. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has indicated that the venues for the premier cricketing league could be Mumbai and Pune and the tournament will be held without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The detailed schedule of the tournament is yet to be announced.

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