Middle Order
#3 Gautam Gambhir
Easily one of the classiest left-handers to emerge from Delhi, Gautam Gambhir will be remembered forever for his 97 in the final of the 2011 ODI World Cup, that formed the cornerstone of India's successful chase.
For a period of time, he formed a prolific opening partnership along with Virender Sehwag for India in all formats. After Sehwag, he is by far the most successful opener for India in the last decade.
| Matches | Runs | Avg | Strike Rate |
| 44 | 1115 | 28.58 | 122.52 |
Gambhir's batting oozes elegance and is studded with stylish strokes on both sides of the field. He is considered one of the best Indian players against spin and his 'inside-out' strike which he plays so well, is an absolute treat to watch. He was one of DD's most prolific run scorers and has been a stellar performer for Kolkata Knight Riders for quite some time, too.
The Delhi man may not be in the current scheme of things for the national team but is a player in huge demand in the IPL. While he may prefer an opening slot, he will have to be content with the crucial No. 3 slot as Sehwag and Warner occupy the opening slots. It is hard to overlook this master of elegance for our team.
#4 Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen cannot be kept out of the headlines for long. He is one of modern cricket's most colourful characters who always hogged the limelight for his batting exploits on the field or numerous controversies off the field. In the modern era, he is the best English batsman in ODIs by a fair distance.
Even in the longer format, only Alastair Cook has a stronger claim than him for the title of the 'best modern day English batsman.'
| Matches | Runs | Avg | Strike Rate |
| 23 | 672 | 37.33 | 131.50 |
The sight of Pietersen shuffling across to upset the bowler's rhythm and his unprecedented switch-hitting will remain etched forever in the minds of the modern cricket lovers. The South Africa-born Englishman can unleash booming strokes, clear the boundaries at will and score runs at a galloping pace - all this without sacrificing even an iota of elegance his batting is renowned for.
Pietersen was one of DD's overseas star performers and a constant presence in their middle-order. He is also one of a handful of DD batsmen to boast of an IPL hundred. A player worth his weight in gold - Pietersen will be the lynchpin of our middle-order.
#5 Dinesh Karthik (wk)
Despite being granted a good number of opportunities at the international level, Dinesh Karthik failed to capitalise on them and as a result of this, his career at the highest level never blossomed.
The emergence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni shut the door on all other wicket-keepers in the country and the opportunities for the likes of Karthik dried up completely. However, the Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman remained a force to be reckoned with in domestic cricket and was a key figure for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.
Karthik is safe behind the stumps and is a fine batsman too. With over 1000 runs to his name, he has served the team well and was a vital presence in the batting order. Only Virender Sehwag and David Warner piled up more runs than him for DD.
As his strike rate of 126 indicates, he can score runs at a decent pace. Although South Africa's Quinton de Kock is a strong contender and a better choice for the wicket-keeper's slot, Karthik prevails over him as there is a limit on the overseas quota.
| Matches | Runs | Avg | Strike Rate |
| 60 | 1128 | 25.06 | 126.03 |
#6 JP Duminy
Considering the amount of promise Duminy showed as an elegant left-hander, his international career has been one of the biggest disappointments for South Africa. He never scaled great heights that he was expected to and struggled for consistency.
His Test record is mediocre but has enjoyed far greater success in the limited overs formats. When on song, the boundaries flow freely from the blade of this stylish southpaw.
| Matches | Runs | Avg | Strike Rate |
| 38 | 1015 | 44.13 | 130.79 |
For the Daredevils though, Duminy was one of its big success stories. With the bat, he averages 44, a number which is considered as magnificent even in ODI cricket. His strike rate of 130 shows his big hitting ability.
When the team is in dire straits, he can play the role of consolidator and when quick runs are needed, he can bring his big hits on and go berserk especially during the death overs. Duminy will be a vital cog in the middle order of the 'all-time Daredevils XI.' His part-time off spin can be handy and hence, he can be trusted to chip in with an over or two if the main bowlers have an off day.
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