IPL 2018, DD vs CSK: Delhi Daredevils Predicted XI for today’s clash against Chennai Super Kings

Delhi Daredevils finally displayed a performance of intent in the previous game, when they romped to a win against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Their new captain Shreyas Iyer showed what aggressive batting in the top order can do to the rest of the batting line-up, after which his bowlers applied the brakes just at the right time.

The young captain has many more challenges ahead with seven games remaining, and can only hope for consistently good performances from him and his teammates to take Delhi off the bottom of the table.

Here we chart out their predicted eleven for the game against the table toppers at Pune.

Openers

Prithvi Shaw announced himself in the IPL against the Kolkata Knight Riders at home, when he bashed 62 from 44 balls despite the threat of three spinners in the opposition, two of whom opened the bowling. The teenager attacked fearlessly and provided Delhi with the ideal momentum at the top, something which will make the team management extremely proud and send a positive signal across the dressing room.

Brought into the eleven for Gautam Gambhir, Colin Munro was the pinch-hitter against the Knight Riders with an innings of 33 from just 18 deliveries, hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes. He and Shaw gave Delhi an attacking left-right opening combination and stitched 59 inside seven overs. Delhi will hope the pair continues firing and provides them quick runs in the powerplay overs.

Middle-order

Shreyas Iyer made a dream start as Delhi captain after Gambhir chose to step down, smashing his way to an aggressive 93* from only 40 balls while facing the likes of Sunil Narine and Mitchell Johnson. As many as 10 sixes came off his blade in a knock of intent, meaning Delhi are still afloat in a tournament where they are currently last on the points table with half their matches left. He will have to lead from the front yet again if they are to continue with this momentum.

A massive innings of note is still due from Rishabh Pant this season, but this impactful wicketkeeper-batsman is too useful to be dropped at this stage. The only time he crossed fifty was against Royal Challengers Bangalore – he hit 85 with 6 fours and 7 sixes – though it resulted in a defeat; but Delhi will remain positive of his big-hitting skills, especially at the death.

All-rounders

Another asset to the Delhi side who has not yet delivered to his potential, Glenn Maxwell has been guilty of throwing away too many starts with scores of 27, 12, 47, 13 and 17 indicating a good beginning but eventually not going on to hit a big score. Though the first of those – off 18 balls – came in the dying stages of the game against the Kolkata Knight Riders, he will like to go big before it is too late for him and his side.

Vijay Shankar has played in six out seven games so far but has hardly had anything to do. He has bowled only twice and did not have to bat as many times. In Delhi’s previous game, he remained unbeaten without having faced a ball, while being dismissed for 13, 3 and 2 prior to that. The only thing that might save him from being dropped, however, will be his all-round skills, offering off-spin to keep the opposition’s run rate in check in the middle-overs.

Spinners

One of the young leg-spinners to have earned a name this season, Rahul Tewatia will aim to get back on track after three consecutive wicketless games after starting the tournament with 6 wickets in the first four matches. With his ability to keep the batsmen quiet by turning the ball appreciably, Tewatia’s presence alongside other spinners makes Delhi a handy spin-bowling unit with two of them being all-rounders.

While he was hit to all corners of the park by KL Rahul and company in his first two matches, Amit Mishra made a solid comeback against the Knight Riders by bagging 2/23 in his four overs, one of which was a maiden. He removed one of their best players of spin in captain Dinesh Karthik, striking at a crucial stage when he threatened to take the game away from Delhi. Mishra has a brilliant googly, something which can keep the batting-heavy Chennai team on its toes.

Fast bowlers

On his IPL debut two games ago, Liam Plunkett claimed 3/17 and got rid of three set and in-form batsmen in Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair. While he could not repeat that against the Knight Riders, his accurate line and length, combined with the effective slower balls stemmed the flow of runs, having bowled four cheap overs for only 24. Delhi’s new recruit will hope he can carry on with that and ensure Chennai are not allowed to go big.

The 21-year-old with good pace, Avesh Khan has so far taken two wickets in each of the two matches played, even paying the price for giving a send-off in the previous match. Not only does he provide pace, but also a handy death-bowling option for Delhi, who, courtesy of Avesh’s wicket of the dangerous-looking Andre Russell, were able to clinch an important win in that match.

Trent Boult has eleven wickets in the IPL so far, and with his left-armer’s angle and rushing pace, has fully utilised the new ball given to him by both his captains. Though expensive in the previous game, his early wickets have often set the momentum for Delhi. Once again, the start given by the experienced Boult will be key if Delhi are to keep the winning run going.

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