IPL 2018: 3 things Delhi Daredevils should do to win their match against Kolkata Knight Riders
Having won their first match in IPL 2018 by defeating defending champions Mumbai Indians after two consecutive defeats in their starting two matches, a confident Delhi Daredevils will look forward to their second win in IPL 2018, when they take on struggling former champions Kolkata Knight Riders.
For Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir it will be a sort of a reunion, as he returns to Eden Gardens to take on his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, with whom he was associated from 2011-2017 and led them to two IPL trophies under his captaincy in 2012 and 2014 respectively.
Having Gautam Gambhir as a skipper will be a huge advantage for Delhi Daredevils, as he has better knowledge of conditions at Eden Gardens and would know the strength and weaknesses of his former franchise in and out, and will have many strategies up his sleeves in order to help Delhi Daredevils overcome his former franchise.
So, in this article, we will look at 3 things or strategies Delhi Daredevils can adopt to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders in today's match:
#3 Play an extra seamer in place of Vijay Shankar
Just like Ravindra Jadeja in case of Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils team management need to explain the role of Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar in Delhi Daredevils playing line up.
As per the look of things, it looks like Delhi Daredevils have selected Vijay Shankar as an all-rounder who will play the finisher's role with the bat and chip in few overs when main bowlers have an off-day. But, the way Vijay Shankar struggled against the variations of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the final of Nidahas Trophy which almost cost India the match means that Vijay Shankar needs to improve a lot to don the finisher's hat for Delhi Daredevils.
And also, skipper Gautam Gambhir does not have much faith in Vijay Shankar's bowling as Vijay Shankar yet to bowl in this IPL despite the main bowlers going for runs in two of the three matches played by Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2018 so far.
With a strong batting line-up down till Chris Morris at No. 7, it won't be a bad idea for Delhi Daredevils to play an extra seamer like youngster Avesh Khan who impressed everyone with his quick pace in his only IPL match last year, in place of Vijay Shankar against Kolkata Knight Riders.
With Eden Gardens surface being more suitable for fast bowlers with quick pace, Avesh Khan's quick pace and bounce could trouble Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen, especially the West Indian duo of Sunil Narine and Andre Russell who mostly struggle against short pitch bowling at quick pace.