Xtra Time Web Desk: Delhi Capitals has been one of the most improved teams in the Indian Premier League in recent times ever since the franchise rebranded itself ahead of the 2019 season. The franchise consecutively made it to the playoffs in the last two editions of the cash rich league, including the final in IPL 2020 in UAE. Unfortunately DC will be missing their captain Shreyas Iyer due to an injury. Shreyas dislocated his shoulder during the recently concluded series against England. The DC management named Rishabh Pant as the leader of the side for the IPL 2021 season. The franchise has once again formed a strong squad with back up options available in each department. The runners up of IPL 2020 retained 19 players from last season apart from buying eight cricketers from the mini auction including three overseas cricketers. The franchise brought England all rounder Tom Curran (5.5 crore), Sam Billings (2 crore) and Australian batsman Steve Smith (2.2 crore). They also added India pacer Umesh Yadav to their squad this season.
Strengths:
The biggest strength of Delhi Capitals is their fast bowling department with the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje with the former winning the Purple Cap of IPL 2020 season. The Proteas fast bowler will once again spearhead the DC attack along with compatriot Anrich Nortje. Both the Proteas quicks wreaked havoc last season in UAE. The franchise will also get the services of World Cup winning England bowler Chris Woakes. The fast bowler has been retained by the franchise despite him pulling out of last season citing personal reasons. The likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis and captain Rishabh Pant will add firepower to the batting in the middle order.
Weakness:
One of the main drawbacks of Delhi Capitals will be the absence of Shreyas Iyer. The Mumbai batsman played a pivotal role in the middle overs, maneuvering the innings. It goes to be seen if the added responsibility of captaincy will hamper Rishabh Pant’s batting or not. Another concerning area for Delhi Capitals is the absence of an Indian wicket-keeper apart from Pant. Sam Billings can come in as a replacement but in that case you are wasting a overseas player’s place. With Nortje, Rabada, Hetmyer almost guaranteed for a place in the playing XI, it will be interesting to see who the fourth foreigner will be for Delhi Capitals this season.
Key players:
Rishabh Pant, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Marcus Stoinis & Shikhar Dhawan
Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2021
Rishabh Pant (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Woakes, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Lalit Yadav, Pravin Dubey, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma, Avesh Khan, Steve Smith, Umesh Yadav, Ripal Patel, Vishnu Vinod, Lukman Meriwala, M Siddarth, Tom Curran, Sam Billings
