Bowlers
#7 Amit Mishra
Amit Mishra's international career never got going and he managed to put in only sporadic appearances in ODIs and Tests for India. However, that failed to dim his enthusiasm or blunt his effectiveness in the domestic arena, where he always picked up bucketloads of wickets and is undoubtedly a stalwart.
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Economy rate |
| 63 | 71 | 22.78 | 7.28 |
He has been a treasured member of whichever IPL side he has played for. Mishra is the tournament's highest wicket-taker behind Lasith Malinga and one of its most capped players. Considering the phenomenal numbers he has racked up in the league, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a colossus in the IPL.
He also holds the distinction of being the only bowler to take three hat-tricks in the IPL - a truly remarkable feat. Mishra is a leg-spinner of the traditional variety and is never afraid of flighting the ball. His googly is another potent arrow in his quiver that fetched him a good number of wickets.
He has the ability to take wickets without going for plenty. For the role of the spinner, Mishra faces no stiff competition and wins hands down.
#8 Zaheer Khan
In his international cricket, Zaheer Khan never reached the heights, that would classify him as a great bowler in the league of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, and Dale Steyn, but none can doubt that he was one of the best ever pacers to emerge from India.
In the latter half of his career, the former Indian pacer became a vastly improved bowler, spearheaded the Indian pace attack admirably well in all formats and was amongst the best in the world for a period of time. While many talented pacers came and disappeared, Zaheer remained a constant presence in the Indian bowling lineup.
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Economy rate |
| 21 | 22 | 24.72 | 7.26 |
His ability to swing it both ways, the deceptive slower deliveries, the high-precision yorkers, the surprising bouncers - all turned Zaheer's bowling into a formidable proposition. It is not an exaggeration to say that only Zaheer's name springs to mind when asked about the Indian pacers who excelled in bowling yorkers in the last decade.
In our team, the wily left-arm pacer will share the new ball with Morne Morkel. His bowling can be mighty effective both in the initial phase of the game and in the death overs.
#9 Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav is one of the most exciting bowling prospects to emerge from India and is capable of bowling at a tremendous pace, something that is uncharacteristic of an Indian pacer. He can fire in fast and nasty bouncers catching the batsmen unawares.
At times when Yadav achieved control along with pace, he reaped rich rewards. He has many miles to go before he can be labelled a 'world-class fast bowler' but is clearly showing signs of improvement. Compared to the longer version of the game, Yadav has enjoyed greater success in limited overs cricket.
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Economy rate |
| 51 | 47 | 29.17 | 7.93 |
As his high economy rate suggests, Yadav is certainly an expensive bowler but provides the captain with a definite wicket-taking option. He has been a crucial component of Delhi's campaign over the years and bowled some crucial spells. Yadav possesses the stamina to hit the 140 kmph mark consistently and his express pace clinches the spot for him in the side.
#10 Ashish Nehra
At the start of his career, Ashish Nehra showed plenty of promise but failed to cement his spot in the team and quickly fell down in the pecking order of the Indian pace bowlers. His career was constantly plagued by injuries but when fit and on song, Nehra's bowling was delightful.
He could bowl at considerable pace and could swing the ball into the right-hander making his bowling a difficult proposition for the batsmen.
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Economy rate |
| 30 | 36 | 22.88 | 7.41 |
Nehra had been a terrific performer for the Daredevils, especially in the second season, when his bowling played a stellar role in the team's ruthless march to the semi-final. It was his spectacular showing in the IPL that resurrected his international career and saved him from fading into oblivion.
His tally of 36 wickets at more than a wicket per match on an average and an economy rate of less than 7.5 runs are admirable. He is among the top 5 wicket takers for the Daredevils too.
#11 Morne Morkel
Morne Morkel forms one-half of the dreaded 'Steyn-Morkel' duo of the South African pace battery and is one of the best limited overs bowlers in the world today. While the limelight refused to move away from the record-breaking Dale Steyn, Morkel grew quietly to become one of the most dependable players in the Proteas team.
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Economy rate |
| 41 | 51 | 23.31 | 7.52 |
Morkel runs in hurriedly and hits the deck hard at a lively pace. By virtue of his tall frame, Morkel extracts plenty of bounce seemingly from nowhere and that remains his greatest strength. He can be brilliant in sending down searing yorkers too.
At the height of his powers, Morkel can be unplayable and give nightmares to even the best of the batsmen in the world.
Morkel is the highest wicket-taking pace bowler for the Daredevils with 51 wickets in 41 matches and the second highest overall. His economy rate of 7.5 is praiseworthy too. The South African might have been condemned to act as the 'second-in-command' to Steyn for the South African side throughout his career but is the undisputed spearhead of our 'all-time Daredevils XI.'
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