IPL 2018: 4 opening combinations Delhi Daredevils can try by dropping Gautam Gambhir

Two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winning skipper, Gautam Gambhir reunited with his local team Delhi Daredevils after seven glorious years at Kolkata Knight Riders. He wanted the homecoming to be something memorable, and it has become memorable, albeit in a way he did not wish.

After losing five games out of the six they have played so far, Gautam Gambhir has stepped down as the skipper of the team. His poor form is one of the main reasons behind Delhi's current situation. The left-handed batsman has scored just 85 runs in 6 games at an average of 17 and his strike rate is under 100. Now that Gambhir is not a skipper anymore, DD think tank can feel free to drop him. They have got a plethora of openers and can try these 4 opening pairs:

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#4 Jason Roy and Prithvi Shaw

Jason Roy played a match-winning knock against MI

This is the combination DD is most likely to vouch for. ICC U-19 World Cup winning skipper Prithvi Shaw impressed everyone with his quickfire 22 in the last match against Kings XI Punjab and English opener Jason Roy has played a match-winning knock against Mumbai Indians.

Roy has scored 97 runs so far in this season with an average of nearly 50. Though he had a poor last couple of games after his blitzkrieg against MI, he has shown a lot of promise, just like young Shaw did.

#3 Jason Roy and Colin Munro

Colin Munro had two bad outings so far but his T20I numbers are impressive

Jason Roy was not DD's first choice overseas opener. They wanted the aggressive Kiwi batsman Colin Munro to do the damage upfront for their team. However, Munro was a tad unlucky and scored just 4 runs in the two opportunities he has got so far.

Gambhir realized the need to change his team and hence the axe fell on Munro. After Roy's brilliance against MI, his place in the dugout was nailed. However, Munro has an impressive average of nearly 35 in T20Is and his strike rate is over 160. The opening has been Daredevils' primary concern and they might consider giving Munro another opportunity and go with an all overseas opening combination.

#3 Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant

Shaw got DD off to a flyer in the last game against KXIP

Taking a 180° turn from the previous option, here is the best Indian opening option DD management can opt for. If they decided to field Maxwell, Morris, Boult, and Plunkett as their four overseas players, it will be mandatory for them to go for an Indian opening pair. As mentioned previously, the world has already got a glimpse of the mountain-like talent of the young Prithvi Shaw.

Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant is having a terrific IPL campaign. He has scored 227 runs so far at an average of nearly 40 and a strike rate of over 170. He is not new to opening as he opened the innings for his state team Delhi in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017/18. Delhi won the tournament and a major share of credit should be given to Pant, who was the joint highest scorer with 411 runs in 10 games.

#1 Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra

Manjot Kalra played a superb knock in the final of ICC U-19 World Cup 2018

This is probably a very risky opening pair, but requiring a minimum of seven victories in eight matches, it is high time DD move out of their safe and secure plans and start taking risks. With one U-19 star already proving his worth, DD can give a chance to another young and rising Indian talent in Manjot Kalra.

The Shaw-Kalra partnership did wonders for India U-19 in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2018. Kalra played an unprecedented knock of 101 runs in just 102 deliveries in the final against Australia U-19 to seal the trophy.