Changes Delhi Daredevils should consider for their remaining IPL matches in 2018

The 2018 IPL has not started on a positive note for the Delhi Daredevils as they have lost their opening two games. The team led by Gautam Gambhir and coached by Ricky Ponting has failed to click as a unit in the initial stages of the IPL.

While Kings XI Punjab comfortably chased a target of 167 in their opening encounter against Delhi, the Daredevils failed to chase a target of 71 in 6 overs against Rajasthan Royals in a rain-curtailed game in Jaipur.

Here is a look at what changes the team management might consider for the remaining matches:

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#3. Need of aggressive openers:

Rishabh Pant can be an option to open the batting for Delhi

The success of any team in a T20 match depends on the start given by the openers in the power play overs. Colin Munro has failed to get a start this IPL and scored 4 in the first game against Kings XI and failed to open his account against Rajasthan Royals.

The management may consider opening with Rishabh Pant who has had a good start this season and scored 28 runs at a strike rate of 215.38 batting in the middle order against the Kings and while batting against the Rajasthan Royals, he scored 20 runs at a strike rate of 142.86. The team management may consider Pant to open the batting with Glenn Maxwell to get them off to a flying start.

Another option for the Daredevils is the inclusion of Jason Roy as an opener. Roy opens regularly for England and has a strike rate of 133.85 in 27 T 20 internationals. Roy has the experience of playing international cricket for around 4 years and is an aggressive batsman at the top of the order who can solve the opening batting woes for Delhi Daredevils.

#2. Middle order:

The management can consider replacing Shankar with Shaw

Vijay Shankar has failed to get going this IPL and has scored just 16 runs in 16 balls without a boundary or a six which has impacted the final result of the game. Surprisingly, Shankar has not bowled a single over this season. Thus it would make sense to play a batsman in place of Shankar who can turn the game in the middle overs. The management has the option of Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra, who can replace Shankar.

While both Shaw and Kalra are primarily openers and were successful in the U 19 World Cup, if selected they would have to bat in the middle order only considering that Delhi have a lot of openers to choose from i.e. Pant, Maxwell, Maxwell, Roy and Munro.

The IPL will be a perfect platform for youngsters to showcase their talent on the biggest T20 league and make a name for themselves at this level too.

#1. Bowling department:

Sandeep Lamichhane can be a handy bowling option for the Delhi Daredevils

Leg spinners have a vital role in the success of a team in T20 cricket. The management can consider Sandeep Lamichhane, a 17 year old spinner from Nepal for the next few games. Sandeep can be a surprise package as no player would have faced him before. Chris Morris has not bowled up to the mark this IPL and Sandeep can be the foreign player to replace him. Avesh Khan, the 21 year old fast bowler can be another option for the Delhi Daredevils.

All is not lost for the Delhi Daredevils and they can still finish in the top 4 subject to the team management getting their options and combinations correct. In Gambhir they have a captain who is vastly experienced and will lead from the front to ensure that the Delhi Daredevils will be back on track for the remaining matches,