IPL 2018: 5 reasons why Delhi Daredevils can lift the trophy
We are just under a week away from the start of the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League and teams have begun preparing for what could be considered a new start for many of them.
One of those sides that have looked to bring in a new group of players and build a strong core is the Delhi Daredevils, who according to many had the best auction along with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in January.
Here's a look at 5 reasons why the productive time at the auctions has increased their chances of winning a maiden IPL title in 2018:
An all-round setup
One of the first things that strikes anyone who looks at the Delhi Daredevils squad is that it has very few holes in it.
They have gone for a group of players capable of performing dual roles and have got players who suit the T20 game.
But most importantly, the Daredevils have got alternatives for most positions and hence the depth of this squad is perhaps the best among any side.
They can either open with Colin Munro or Jason Roy alongside Gautam Gambhir. In the middle order, they could either play with Chris Morris or Daniel Christian.
In Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, they have solid middle-order Indian batting options. If something happens to the former, in Naman Ojha, they have a back-up.
In the bowling department, they could play Trent Boult or Kagiso Rabada or even both if a green top is served, perhaps at a place like the Eden Gardens.
Among the spin bowling options, they have Amit Mishra, Shahbaz Nadeem, Jayant Yadav, and Sandeep Lamicchane. Three out of the four could play at Chennai, if the pitch is dry.
So the Daredevils have got most of their bases covered and it now remains to be seen how they rotate and get the most feasible combination that would take them all the way.