IPL 2019: Delhi Capitals (DC) Team Rating by AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics

Delhi Capitals have get an overall team rating of 8.3 out of 10 making them one of the strong contenders for IPL 2019.

Delhi Capitals are one of the three teams who are yet to taste the IPL trophy success. It is not that they don’t have a potential squad. It is just that barring few individual performances, they haven’t been able to click together as a team.

Coming to IPL 2019, we analyzed the Delhi Capitals’ strengths and weaknesses for IPL 2019 in our previous article. Don’t forget to check that out.

In this article, we will be focusing on rating the Delhi Capitals IPL 2019 squad in different categories, viz., Openers, Middle-order, All-rounders, Spinners, Pacers and Key backups in each category.

Please Note:

• We feel a perfect team combination would consist of two openers, three middle-order batsmen, one batting all-rounder, one bowling all-rounder, two spinners, two pacers and good backups in each category.
• Each department would have a maximum rating of 10. A rating of 8 for key players and 2 for backups.

Right then, without wasting any time, let’s look at the Delhi Capitals team rating for IPL 2019.

OPENERS:

Benchmark: David Warner (SRH)

Two Main Openers for DC: Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw

Good Backup Openers: Colin Munro

Decent Backup Openers: Manjot Kalra and Ankush Bains

Delhi Capitals are one of the few teams to boast two primary Indian openers in the form of Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw.

Getting Shikhar Dhawan back in their squad was one of their best moves in the auction last year. 

Shikhar Dhawan has been a consistent performer in the IPL over the years. He never had an extraordinary IPL, but always had a good IPL if you look at his previous performances. Last year, he scored 497 runs from 16 innings at an average of 38.23 and a strike rate of 136.91. Overall, Shikhar Dhawan gets a rating of 3.5 out of 4.

Prithvi Shaw, on the other hand, is already considered as the next big thing. He didn’t have a breathtaking IPL like Rishabh Pant did as he scored 245 runs from 9 innings at an average of 27.22 and a strike rate of 151.12. However, this could be the year Shaw makes a mark as a T20 batsman. Shaw gets a rating of 3 out of 4.

Coming to the good backup option, Colin Munro is already a T20 sensation. He may not have had a great IPL last year, but he has all the potential to make a mark in IPL 2019.

Apart from him, Manjot Kalra and Ankush Bains are decent openers. Thus, DC get a rating of 2 out of 2 in the backup opener category.   

Overall, Delhi Capitals Openers Rating: 8.5/10

MIDDLE-ORDER:

Benchmark: Virat Kohli (RCB) and AB de Villiers (RCB)

Three Solid Middle-order Players for DC: Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Colin Ingram/ Colin Munro

Good Backups: Hanuma Vihari and Colin Munro/ Colin Ingram

Decent Backups: None

Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer would once again have a major role in carrying the burden of Delhi Capitals’ middle-order.

Rishabh Pant was outstanding last time as he made a total of 684 runs from 14 innings at an average of 52.61 and a strike rate of 173.6. He had a good IPL 2017 too and is currently in scintillating form. Thus, he gets a rating of 2.75 out of 3.

Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, captained the Delhi Capitals side really well. Although he didn’t have as good IPL as Rishabh Pant, he did well too. Overall, he scored a total of 411 runs from 14 innings at an average of 37.26 and a strike rate of 132,58. Thus, he gets a rating of 2.5 out of 3.

Colin Ingram will be making his IPL debut this season. Considering his form in Mzansi Super League and some other T20 leagues, he would be the player to watch out for. He gets a rating of 1.5 out of 2.

Coming to the backups, Delhi Capitals haven’t done a good job. They just have Hanuma Vihari and Colin Munro in the backup department. They should have had a couple of more middle-order options.  Anyway, DC get a rating of 1.25 out of 2 in middle-order backups.

Overall, Delhi Capitals Middle-order Rating: 8/10

ALL-ROUNDERS:

Benchmark: Andre Russel (KKR) as a batting all-rounder and Sunil Narine (KKR) as a bowling all-rounder 

Batting All-rounder for DC: Axar Patel

Bowling All-rounder for DC: Chris Morris

Batting All-rounder Backup: None

Bowling All-rounder Backup: Jalaj Saxena, Sherfane Rutherford, and Keemo Paul

It is pretty much clear from the squad that Delhi Capitals do not have a solid batting all-rounder. The only options they have are Axar Patel and Chris Morris; both being bowling all-rounders.

Axar Patel didn’t do that well last season as he could take only 3 wickets from 8 innings at an average of 72.66 and a strike rate of 8.28. As a batsman, he made 80 runs from 8 innings at an average of 13.33 and a strike rate of 115.94. This, Axar Patel, gets a rating of 2.75 out of 4.

Chris Morris is a fantastic bowling all-rounder, and has been a successful player in the IPL in the last few years. Last year he played only 4 matches owing to an injury. But, for his potential and previous performances, he gets a rating of 3.5 out of 4.

Coming to backups, Delhi Capitals do not have anyone as the batting all-rounder whereas they have Jalaj Saxena, Sherfane Rutherford, and Keemo Paul as bowling all-rounders. Thus, DC get a rating of 1.5 out of 2 in all-rounder backups

Overall, Delhi Capitals All-rounders Rating: 7.75/10

SPINNERS:

Benchmark: Rashid Khan (SRH)

Two Main Spinners for DC: Amit Mishra and Sandeep Lamichhane

Good Backup Spinners: Axar Patel

Decent Backup Spinners: Rahul Tewatia

Spin bowling is one of the strengths for Delhi Capitals. They have two fantastic spinners in the form of Sandeep Lamichhane and Amit Mishra.

Sandeep Lamichhane has been breathing fire in all the T20 tournaments he has been representing. Last year, he played only 3 matches in the IPL, but took 5 wickets at an economy rate of 6.83. For his potential and global performances, he gets a rating of 3.5 out of 4.

Amit Mishra, on the other hand, has been one of the successful spinners in the IPL. He had a good IPL 2018 too taking 12 wickets from 10 innings at an average of 22 and an economy rate of 7.13. He gets a rating of 3.25 out of 4.

Rahul Tewatia and Axar Patel provide for good backup options. Thus, DC get 2 out of 2 in spin bowling backups.

Overall, Delhi Capitals Spinners Rating: 8.75/10

PACERS:

Benchmark: Jasprit Bumrah (MI)

Two Main Pacers for DC: Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult   

Good Backup Pacers: Avesh Khan and Ishant Sharma

Decent Backup Pacers: Harshal Patel, Bandaru Ayyappa and Nathu Singh.

Delhi Capitals boast two superb pace bowlers in the form of Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult. 

Trent Boult was excellent last time as he took 18 wickets from 14 innings at an average of 25.88 and an economy rate of 8.84. Thus, he gets a rating of 3.5 out of 4.

Kagiso Rabada didn’t play last time, but is already a hot property in world cricket. In IPL 2017, he took 6 wickets from 6 innings at an average of 31.33 and an economy rate of 8.81. For his potential and recent form, he gets a rating of 3.25 out of 4.

Both these pacers can be very lethal on their given day, and it would be a difficult task if Delhi Capitals had to choose between the two considering overseas players restrictions.

Coming to good backups, Delhi Capitals have Avesh Khan and Ishant Sharma. While both aren’t as good as other bowlers, they provide for good backup options. DC also have Harshal Patel, Bandaru Ayyappa and Nathu Singh as pace bowling backups.

Thus, DC get a rating of 1.75 out of 2 in pace bowling backups. 

Overall, Delhi Capitals Pacers Rating: 8.5/10

CONCLUSION:

Delhi Capitals have the squad to upset any team. Their strengths are their openers and spinners. If they get their combinations right, they have the potential to win the IPL 2019 trophy.

Assuming all players are available, an ideal Playing XI for Delhi Capitals would be:

Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Colin Ingram, Chris Morris, Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult and Avesh Khan.

Overall, Delhi capitals (DC) get a team rating of 8.3/10 for IPL 2019.

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