IPL 2018, Match 2: Delhi Daredevils (DD) Predicted 11 to face Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)

With a revamped squad and a passionate leader, Delhi Daredevils will take the field against Kings XI Punjab on 8th April with nothing but the IPL title in sight. Gautam Gambhir, who led KKR to two titles in his seven-season stint with them, would be willing to help his home side to their first-ever IPL trophy.

The Daredevils have a balanced squad with a quality option for almost every slot. However, whether they'll be able to cross the final hurdle is yet to be seen. On that note, let's look at how the team from Indian's capital city might line up for their tournament opener against KXIP.

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Openers

Leading from the front!

Gautam Gambhir(C)

Gambhir has returned to the Delhi-based franchise six years and two IPL titles later and would be leading them from the front. He'll be opening the innings for them come 8th April and an encore of his performances for KKR would do a world of good for them.

Colin Munro

The New Zealand hotshot, with three international T20 centuries to his name, will have to bring his A game to the fore if Delhi are to win this season's IPL. Munro, in all probability, will be one of the four foreigners starting for DD against KXIP.

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Middle Order & Wicket-keeper

The wicketkeeper-batsman is widely believed to be a long-term replacement for MS Dhoni

Rishabh Pant(WK)

"My personal opinion is that if Pant plays in the top three, he'll give us maximum returns," said Gambhir after being appointed the captain of Delhi Daredevils. The skipper made it clear that Pant will be promoted up the order and will walk in at number three. The wicketkeeper-batsman is widely believed to be a long-term replacement for MS Dhoni and his performance this season in the IPL will have a big role to play in his career.

Shreyas Iyer

One of the three players retained by the Daredevils, Iyer is another youngster who has a bright future ahead of him. The swashbuckling Mumbai batsman will fit in the number four slot seamlessly and just like his teammate Pant, the 2018 IPL might just be the turning point in Iyer's budding career.

Glenn Maxwell

Bought by Delhi Daredevils for Rs 9 crore, Glenn Maxwell will probably be their most important player. If the Australian decides to let loose, there's not much the opposition can do. Maxwell would love to get the better of his former franchise KXIP, who decided against retaining him prior to the auction.

Note: Maxwell is set to miss the first encounter and either Daniel Christian or Jason Roy will be drafted in for him. The Australian all-rounder is expected to be a part of the DD starting XI for rest of their matches.

All-rounders

The South African's form, both with the bat and the ball, will directly affect Delhi's chances of progressing to the playoffs

Chris Morris

Morris has carried Delhi Daredevils single-handedly quite a few times in the past and it was because of those performances that the franchise retained him. The South African's form, both with the bat and the ball, will directly affect Delhi's chances of progressing to the playoffs.

Vijay Shankar

The Tamil Nadu all-rounder was the subject of an intense bidding between DD and Royal Challengers Bangalore, by the end of which the Delhi-based franchise bought him for as many as Rs 3.20 crore. Shankar has been in good touch of late in the domestic circuit and will be a vital cog in the DD wheel.

Spinners

Amit Mishra is the second highest wicket-taker overall in the IPL

Amit Mishra

With 134 wickets in the IPL, Amit Mishra is the second highest wicket-taker overall in the tournament. The experienced leg-spinner is a wicket-taker and Gambhir would bank on him to disrupt the opposition's flow in the middle overs.

Shahbaz Nadeem

The Jharkhand spinner has been one of the better performers in the Indian domestic circuit for the past three years. Just like Vijay Shankar, both RCB and DD went all in for Nadeem as well and the latter managed to get him at a price of Rs 3.20 crore. Though he hasn't picked as many wickets in the IPL, his overall economy of 7.09 is commendable.

Pacers

Shami has been cleared by the BCCI to play in the IPL

Trent Boult

Kagiso Rabada's loss is Trent Boult's gain. The South African pacer had to pull out of 2018 IPL because of a back injury and certainly, Boult will fill in for him. The left-arm pacer has previously featured for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in his three-season strong IPL career and has 15 wickets to his name.

Mohammed Shami

Delhi had used one of their RTMs for the Indian fast bowler, who has been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late. However, he has been cleared by the BCCI to play in the IPL and though there is still a question mark over his fitness, he is back training with the squad and will make it to the XI come 8th April.