IPL 2022 – Picking Delhi Capitals best playing 11 and team analysis
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Rishabh Pant is an easy choice at number 5
One of the big points of contention following the conclusion of IPL 2021 was the mega auction of IPL 2022. The concept of a mega auction has its obvious benefits. It is a definite crowd puller, a fantastic day for the broadcasters and provides the franchises with plenty of social media content. Similarly, for the media houses and for certain players, those few seconds – sometimes minutes – of paddle raising can turn their lives around.
However, for franchises like Delhi Capitals the mega auction is a bit of a problem. Over the last few seasons, DC managed to build a genuinely strong T20 team. They managed to cover all their bases and have decent backups too. The core of their team was built with young Indian players who will play for the next decade. They were among the best teams and going deep into the competition.
And then came the IPL 2022 mega auction. No Shreyas Iyer, no Shikhar Dhawan, no Avesh Khan and no Kagiso Rabada. Delhi were among the worst hit by the reshuffle and will now have to begin from scratch, while still retaining slight familiarity with Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel and Anrich Nortje.
IPL 2022 – Delhi Capitals team analysis
It is certain that all four retained players will start for Delhi Capitals when the first match of the IPL rolls around. Pant, now full time captain, is enjoying life in Indian whites. The way he dispatched the Sri Lankan bowlers on a difficult track showed his confidence as well as form are the best they have ever been. He will take up a key spot in the middle order while doing triple time as the team’s wicketkeeper.
Axar Patel will reprise his previous role as the team’s all rounder who will bat in the lower middle order and be required to use the long handle to finish innings while bowling economical spells with the ball. The mercurial Shaw will open the batting with the returning David Warner. Both men can score at a rapid pace and if they get going together, fans may well see the most entertaining opening pair in IPL 2022 here.
Iyer’s departure weakens the top order but that provides an opportunity to yet another former India U-19 star in recent youth ICC World Cup winning captain Yash Dhull. The youngster is making a strong case for his inclusion in the lineup after a Ranji hundred and Delhi Capitals may well take a punt with him.
Pant should bat at four and control the innings from there, leaving Mitchell Marsh at 5. They may yet walk out interchangeably and if Marsh – who can contribute with his medium pace – does not bowl, coach Ricky Ponting may promote him to number 3. Someone who will bowl is Rovman Powell but what Delhi would want from him most in IPL 2022 is replication of the power hitting he displayed against India in a recent T20 series.
Numbers 7 and 8 will be shared between Axar and Lalit Yadav. The latter is someone the Delhi Capitals franchise has faith in and is a decent IPL bet who can contribute with both, bat and ball. In case, Delhi Capitals prefer a more established spin bowling option, they may choose to sacrifice Lalit Yadav for Kuldeep Yadav. The Chinaman is looking to rediscover the form which saw him become an India regular and thus Delhi have to treat him with care.
Kuldeep’s case will be strengthened by the acquisition of Shardul Thakur. One of India’s most enigmatic lower order batters who almost always puts his hand up with the bat, in the most difficult circumstances and has the happy knack of breaking partnerships. Thus, it was hardly surprising to see him bag a handsome INR 10.75 crore in the IPL 2022 mega auction.
Nortje will be the lead quick and the loss of Avesh Khan means the final slot will be a toss up between Chetan Sakariya and Khaleel Ahmed. Both are left arm quicks giving Delhi good balance. However, the former’s death bowling ability should ideally give him the nod.
Delhi Capitals have good backups too. On the batting front, they have the highly impressive Sarfaraz Khan. He has been in unbelievable form in domestic cricket. Former Emerging Player winner Mandeep Singh and now India’s Test backup keeper Srikar Bharat are also options. Tim Seifert is the only overseas alternative.
In Lungi Ngidi and Mustafizur Rahman Delhi have similar replacements for Nortje and Sakariya. Kamlesh Nagarkoti will be the understudy to Shardul Thakur.
IPL 2022 – Delhi Capitals predicted 11
David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Yash Dhull, Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Mitchell Marsh, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya.
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Arinjay Ghosh
(77 Articles Published)