IPL 2019 | SWOT analysis - Delhi Capitals

However, nothing great hasn’t happened for the team from Delhi after the inaugural year. They have changed captains, players, coaches, support staff but the fans are still waiting to see the team lifting the IPL trophy. There have been a lot of talk regarding Delhi’s strategy of going with young guns over the last two-three seasons. Even last year when Gambhir decided to stop playing for the team, it was a 23-year-old youngster Shreyas Iyer who shouldered the responsibility of the team. The Daredevils (as they were called earlier), however, had a disappointing end to the season with only five wins from 14 matches. With only 10 points, they finished below Kings XI Punjab at the last position on the points table. 

Meanwhile, the franchise has changed its name from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals. They have a new logo and a new colour as well. But, what they need is the performance from the new recruits and ones those who were retained by the team which is now jointly owned by the GMR group and JSW. Coach Ricky Ponting and the newly-appointed advisor Sourav Ganguly will have to forget the past record as a duo in IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders and concentrate on making a strong outfit ready before their first game against at the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Delhi Capitals took a huge decision by trading three players including India all-rounder Vijay Shankar to Sunrisers Hyderabad for local lad Shikhar Dhawan. But, this might prove one of the best decisions of the franchise considering the left-hander’s ability to score runs at a brisk pace at the top of the batting order. He understands the game as well as the pitch at the Kotla where he has played cricket during his formative years. The left hand-right hand opening combination of experienced Dhawan and a young Prithvi Shaw might be the key to their success this year.

Bowling remains the biggest weakness for the team considering the fact that there are not a lot of Indian pace bowlers in the squad of the Capitals for the upcoming season who have been impressive. The addition of Ishant Sharma has brought in some experience but in the shortest format of the game, the Delhi pacer has been terrible. His economy rate is more than eight and from 76 games, he has only 58 wickets under his belt. Sharma becomes the weak-link as the team has to depend heavily on the foreign recruits Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult which will make it difficult to bring in surprise package Sandeep Lamichhane into the playing XI. Although the spin department looks a bit settled with Axar Patel and Amit Mishra because of their previous exploits in IPL, the attack will lack variation as both will get the ball to turn away from the right-handers. Again, because of his advancing years and lack of fitness Mishra can be a liability on the field as well. 

But, it will be a great chance up for grabs for skipper Iyer who has been in and out of the Indian team in spite of his batting talent and run-scoring abilities. He was handed the captaincy in the previous season after Gambhir left and this will be a big chance for the Mumbai lad to lead the team from the front in the 12th edition. Now, with some experience of leading the Delhi team last year and his state team – Mumbai this year, the 24-year-old batsman must have got a bit more idea of how to marshal his troops in big games. 

Again, as we have discussed earlier that Delhi Capitals doesn’t have a great pace attack and it will be the biggest threat to lose both the Kiwi left-armer and South African pacer during the important final stage of the league. The Indian bowlers like Nathu Singh and Avesh Khan with the experienced Ishant will have a tough ask to restrict the opponents in that scenario.

Ideal starting XI