IPL 2019 Squad Analysis: Delhi Capitals
If there is one team that has been consistently underperformed over the eleven years of the IPL, it is the Delhi-based franchise. They are the only remaining side not to have ever qualified for an IPL final.
Though they have had players of high calibre such as Virender Sehwag, Kevin Pietersen, David Warner, Gautam Gambhir, Mahela Jayawardene, Irfan Pathan and Ashish Nehra dawn their colours, Delhi has never looked like a champion side in the making.
Also Read: IPL 2019 Squad Analysis - Sunrisers Hyderabad
Delhi had topped the IPL points table in 2012. But their joy was shortlived as they lost once to the second-placed KKR in Qualifier 1 and then to the winner of the Eliminator CSK.
Owing to their underwhelming returns in the tournament, the Delhi Daredevils attempted a masterstroke by buying back their long-lost veteran opening batsman Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir had become an IPL legend ever since he left the DD. He successfully led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to two IPL title wins in 2012 and 2014.
While Gambhir did start off well for Delhi with the bat by scoring a 55 off 42 in their opening match of IPL 2018, he failed to continue his batting form ahead and was not even able to reach the 20-run mark in the five games to follow.
After a slump in form, Gambhir quit captaincy and subsequently got dropped from the playing XI by new captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting.
Shreyas Iyer did a great job, both with the bat, as well as captain of the Delhi based franchise last season. He impressed many with his high risk-high return captaincy decisions. Iyer was one of the leading run scorers in the IPL 2018 and he provided the much-needed support to the exceptionally talented Rishabh Pant.
This year, Delhi Capitals would be eyeing the IPL Trophy with more desperation than ever before, as they have so far resorted to a change in franchise name as well as change in leadership by appointing an Indian team future star.
Looking at the recent retentions, releases, and trades, and the much talked about IPL Auction, let us look at what else Delhi Capitals need to look forward to doing during the 2019 IPL.
The Releases
There were a few releases that might have come as surprises to the fans, as the Capitals let go of flamboyant all-rounder Maxwell who underperformed for them last year and ostentatious England opener Jason Roy.
Though leaving out Maxwell could prove to be a decent move, looking at his salary cap of ₹9 crores, but releasing Roy does come as a bit of a shocker. He did fairly well for them in 2018, also winning them a couple matches single-handedly with the bat.
DC have retained Kiwi power hitter Colin Munro, who did not fare very well for them last season, and certainly not better than the released Jason Roy. However, it seems like they wanted to avoid the headache of picking two openers out of the pool of three deserving candidates such as Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw and Jason Roy.
Munro, however, has a lot of experience of batting at number 3 and would be comfortable doing that too if need be. However, he is not expected to be part of their starting XI.
DC's IPL 2018's hot pick, Gautam Gambhir was also released by the franchise, something that was not as big a shock, as they had indicated that picking him was not a good choice. When he was dropped from the playing XI, soon after he quit captaincy, the management made it very clear that their hopes from the southpaw had gone in vain.
They also released India's premier fast bowler Mohammed Shami. This seems to be a justifiable move considering that Shami's record in T20 cricket has been ordinary and he has never looked lethal with the ball in the shortest format.