IPL 2018: Delhi Daredevils squad analysis

It is with the return of Gautam Gambhir to his home city after six years that the Delhi Daredevils are looking to clinch their maiden IPL title. Gambhir, who has had a successful stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous years, led the KKR side to two titles as captain.

It is the left hander's leadership that is credited for transforming a KKR team from an inconsistent side, who had never qualified for the last leg of the tournament till then, to one of the most consistent teams of the tournament.

Delhi Daredevils will look for a similar inspiring leadership effort from the southpaw. The franchise made a smart move by retaining South Africa’s Chris Morris and the Indian players Rishabh Pant (1555 runs from 21 First-Class matches) and Shreyas Iyer (3989 runs from 46 First-class matches) who have proved themselves time and again at the domestic level.

Moreover, the franchise will have high hopes from the Under 19 World Cup winning captain Prithvi Shaw, who came into limelight when he was just 15 years old after he made 546 runs in the prestigious Harris Shield Tournament and made a place for himself in the record books.

His teammate in the Under 19 world Cup, Manjot Kalra also has a good reputation and will look to give his best for the side, when he gets a chance.

Apart from these batting options, DD also has the likes of Colin Munro, Jason Roy and Glenn Maxwell. The pace attack seems to have the firepower too with Mohammed Shami, Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult in the Delhi squad.

With a set of spinners with impressive IPL and T20 records in the side, it is time for the inconsistent Delhi Daredevils to make the best of the available resources they have in their ranks and change their fortunes by ending the drought of an IPL title.

The Delhi Daredevils play their first match in the Indian Premier League on the 8th of April 2018 when they play against the Kings XI Punjab at 4:00 pm (IST).

Squad: Gautam Gambhir (C), Rishabh Pant, Chris Morris, Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Jason Roy, Colin Munro, Mohammed Shami, Kagiso Rabada, Amit Mishra, Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Shabaz Nadeem, Dan Christian, Jayant Yadav, Gurkeerat Singh, Trent Boult, Manjot Kalra, Abhishek Sharma, Sandeep Lamichanne, Sayan Ghosh

Batting

Gambhir has been one of the most consistent batsmen in IPL history

With Gambhir in the team, one opening slot seems to be fixed. Part of the Indian World Cup winning squad, the southpaw is one of the most consistent batsmen in the IPL and is a definite match winner who likes to lead by example.

Along with him, somebody like a Prithvi Shaw can open the innings. However, Jason Roy (2006 runs in 57 ODIs) can fill in the shoes of Shaw too if the franchise wants to go for an experienced opener.

Roy has been doing really well for the England International team especially in the ODI format and can wreck the best of bowling attacks on a given day.

The batting order can prove to be a big headache for the skipper as the side has way too many top order batsmen. Colin Munro of New Zealand is another opening option for the Delhi Daredevils and has played under Gambhir during his time with the Knight Riders.

The Kiwi batsman has three international T20 tons alongside his name and is a huge name in the T20 Circuit. Perhaps Munro may not get the opening slot even if he features in the 11.

Rishabh Pant also opens for the Delhi domestic side but may feature in the Delhi Daredevils XI as a middle-order batsman. Pant will also be the go-to man behind the stumps for DD.

Naman Ojha is another wicket-keeping option but may have to wait for his turn in the side. Manjot Kalra in the middle order may well have to play a crucial role for the Daredevils, trying to score quickly when needed and occasionally steer the team out of trouble.

In Australia’s Glenn Maxwell (who took the 2014 IPL by a storm scoring over 500 runs at an incredible strike rate of 187.75), Daredevils find their most interesting prospect. One of the great enigmas of world cricket has been the disparity between Maxwell’s ability and consistency.

If the Australian big hitter fires for Daredevils, he can run away with the match in no time what so ever. DD would hope for a string of such performances from Maxi.

All- Rounders

Morris's all-round ability will be a crucial factor in DD's campaign

Delhi Daredevils have a few good all-rounders in their side. Chris Morris leads the all-rounders' section and a lot will depend on how the South African performs for the Daredevils this season after his inspiring performance in the last season.

His big hitting ability in the death overs provides that extra 10-15 runs that one looks for in crunch games. Apart from his batting Morris can clearly bowl 4 overs and is a wicket-taking option for the skipper. (154 runs, 12 wickets in 9 matches in IPL 2017)

Daniel Christian is another option for the Daredevils, however, the Aussie match-winner might not find himself straight away in the playing 11, given the balance of the side and the limitation of playing 4 overseas players.

From the domestic circuit, the likes of Vijay Shankar who is currently playing for India, Gurkeerat Mann and Abhishek Sharma are expected to deliver for the franchise.

Bowlers

Rabada will be key to DD's bowling success, especially if Shami is ruled out of IPL

Delhi would be really hoping that the Mohammed Shami (who was retained by Right to Match) controversy gets over before the Indian Premier League. If Shami is ruled out of the IPL it would be a huge setback for DD.

Shami is expected to lead the attack along with Kagiso Rabada, both of whom have been impressive in Test matches and would like to take their form into the shortest format of the game.

The New Zealand pacer, Trent Boult is another reputed option for the Delhi Daredevils and can come in handy if the team decides to play a left-arm seamer against a particular opponent.

However, it is the likes of Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel that can very well be the element of surprise. Avesh Khan (8 wickets in 6 T20s) was one of the finds of the ICC U-19 World Cup 2016 and went to India’s tour of South Africa as a net bowler as he impressed skipper Virat with his bowling ability and raw pace.

Amit Mishra (who is the only bowler with 3 IPL hat-tricks) and Shahbaz Nadeem are likely to be captain's go-to option in the spin department in a team which also features Jayant Yadav, Rahul Tewatia and Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane.