IPL 2018: 3 mistakes Delhi Daredevils made against Kings XI Punjab 

The Delhi Daredevils lost to Kings XI Punjab by 6 wickets in their first game of IPL 2018. They would want to put this performance behind them and get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

Other than captain Gautam Gambhir's valiant half-century, the Delhi franchise didn't have any positives to take away from the game. On paper, the Delhi Daredevils are stronger than ever, but things didn't go too well for them in their season opener.

They need to find their winning stride immediately if they hope to make an impact in IPL 2018. Here's an analysis of three strategical mistakes that probably cost them the match.

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#1 Vijay Shankar coming in ahead of Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant came in to bat after Vijay Shankar

At 54-1 after 6.4 overs, the team was in a fairly strong position. Unfortunately, Shreyas Iyer got out in the very next ball. A lot of people were left surprised when Vijay Shankar walked in to bat instead of Rishabh Pant.

Pant was retained by the Delhi Daredevils ahead of IPL 2018 after he put on a string of consistent batting performances for them last season. Had he batted before Vijay, he would have helped stabilize the innings.

The team could've put up a lot more than the paltry 166 runs they scored in the first innings and even gone on to win the match. The Delhi Daredevils think tank will have to reconsider the batting order ahead of their next game.

#2 Rahul Tewatia playing instead of Shahbaz Nadeem

Nadeem is a seasoned campaigner for the Delhi Daredevils

Shahbaz Nadeem comes with a lot of experience and is a proven performer in the IPL. Playing Rahul Tewatia in the XI ahead of Nadeem raised a few eyebrows.

Nadeem has been a vital feature of the Delhi lineup over the years and has picked up crucial wickets for the team in the middle overs. He would've made a difference to the Delhi Daredevils bowling line up as he is a seasoned campaigner in the IPL.

He has picked up 37 wickets in 55 matches in the IPL at a more than respectable economy of 7.1. The Delhi think tank might have to bring Nadeem into the team for their next match against the Rajasthan Royals on April 11.

#3 Pushing Chris Morris and Dan Christian down the order

On his day, Chris Morris can hit the ball into orbit

Chris Morris and Dan Christian are powerhouse all-rounders who can smack the ball all around the ground. Like most batsmen, they too need their time to settle before they start playing the big shots.

The decision to send Rahul Tewatia in to bat ahead of these two quality power hitters was baffling. The IPL is not a tournament where you can afford to take things easy in the first few games.

The team needs to find its winning stride right from the outset. The Daredevils will have to start with a clean slate and rethink their strategies ahead of their game against the Rajasthan Royals.