From Delhi daredevils to Delhi capitals, this is the transformation of a completely different side. With the blend of young talents, this Delhi based franchise has made the possible which was impossible to believe that even great players like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir or David Warner couldn't manage to achieve. Under the leadership of the young player, Delhi capitals have qualified for the playoffs in 2019 after a long time and in the next season of IPL 2021 they have entered the finals for the first time in the history.
So with the start of new decade and the another season, Delhi capitals have the fair chance to lift the maiden IPL trophy this time around with a strong team and back-ups of the players they have in their camp. Before the season starts, they are already the favourites and easily make it to the finals one more time like the last time. Having said, let us take a look at the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for Delhi Capitals in the season.
Delhi Capitals full squad for IPL 2021: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Woakes, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Lalit Yadav, Pravin Dubey, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma, Avesh Khan, Steve Smith, Umesh Yadav, Ripal Patel, Vishnu Vinod, Lukman Meriwala, M Siddarth, Tom Curran, Sam Billings.
Strengths – Genuine Fast Bowlers
Although, Delhi capitals have a complete line-up but it is somewhere their bowling side makes this team look completely invincible over others in the league. The purple cap winner of last season in UAE Kagiso Rabada will get the support of another overseas player Anrich Nortje to lead the Delhi Capitals fast bowling department.
Retaining the two overseas fast bowlers, Delhi Capitals have much depth into the fast bowling with the likes of Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Chris Woakes to support the frontline fast bowlers.
Opportunities – Chance for Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan
With still the situation of pandemic is not very much good in India, the boards and sponsors have decided to conduct the upcoming league in the six venues only this time around. Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata will host the matches with safety protocols of players and match officials.
Players like Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane and Axar Patel have the opportunity to prove themselves for the upcoming T-20 tournaments in 2021 and 2022. Not just from the big tournaments point of view or upcoming series, these players' performances also helped their Delhi capitals to finally become the champions of IPL 2021 season.
Threats – Delhi Capitals have not much depth in spin-bowling
With enough depth in the fast bowling, Delhi Capitals have limited options in the spin-bowling division. Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra are two experienced players who will be going to lead the spin division alongside young Axar Patel.
In the last season, both experienced players were injured and hardly performed and in the absence of them Axar Patel had a great season with the bowl. Apart from these three there is not much depth in the spin-bowling of Delhi Capitals which may create some issues on the spin-friendly Indian pitches.
Weakness – Batting could've more stronger like bowling
With more depth into the bowling line-up and Shreyas Iyer ruled out of the season. Delhi Capitals batting is not the same as earlier but with Steve Smith in the middle order there is no other player who can play according to the circumstances.
There are more pinch hitters into the Delhi Capitals line-up like Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan. With Shreyas Iyer this team looked very settled but without him that space is justified by the player like Ajinkya Rahane. As Shreyas Iyer hitting abilities are completely different from Ajinkya Rahane.
