IPL 2018: Rating the teams after their opening games

Delhi Daredevils: 4/10

Gambhir couldn't save DD's sinking ship

After the conclusion of the IPL auction earlier this year, DD had covered all their bases in terms of squad depth and variability. This year, they have a proven captain in Gautam Gambhir and their players are privy to invaluable tutelage from the legendary Ricky Ponting.

However, they could not pull off a win in their first game of the season against Kings XI Punjab at Mohali on Sunday (April 8). After being put in to bat first, the DD skipper exuded class at the top of the order and scored an impressive fifty.

However, no other batsman managed to cross 30 runs and it seemed as if Delhi were 20-30 runs short after they reached a total of 166-7 at the end of 20 overs.

However, it was still a substantial effort and Punjab could’ve been pulled into a tricky situation in the chase, had DD bowled with complete precision and single-minded focus.

KL Rahul’s willow was too difficult for them to control though, and the right-hander ended up scoring a half-century in just 14 deliveries at the top of the order. His incredible knock, which is now registered as the fastest 50 in the history of the tournament, broke the back of the DD bowling.

A bowling line-up consisting of Mohammad Shami, Trent Boult, and Amit Mishra should be able to make a difference in T20 cricket. However, the trio was smashed all around the park, first by Rahul, and then by Karun Nair.

Gambhir and Co. ultimately capitulated to a 6-wicket defeat with an over to spare in the second innings. Rishabh Pant came in to bat at Number 5 and that seemed to put him under additional pressure. Shreyas Iyer seemed uncomfortable at one-down and Vijay Shankar was promoted to Number 4. The ploy that DD were employing clearly didn’t work on the day.

They might want to make few changes in their batting line-up for the next game and find a way to constrain the run-flow with the ball, especially in the first six overs.