Losing Rishabh Pant, their captain and wicket-keeper, will force the Delhi Capitals to change their tactics regarding their strongest playing XI for IPL 2023. Not only captain Pant was one of their best batters, but also donning the gloves allowed DC to play an extra Indian batter or Indian bowler.
Not DC are in a predicament – playing Sarfaraz Khan as the wicket-keeper, and while he’s been in good domestic red-ball form, Sarfaraz is no match for the other wicket-keeping option DC have in Phil Salt, who has been in tremendous form in T20, but will occupy the overseas slot, and that would mean either Mitchell Marsh or Rovman Powell to be benched.
Ahead of the IPL 2023 auction, DC also traded away Shardul Thakur to KKR. In the IPL 2023 auction, the Capitals, who finished one win away from playoffs in IPL 2022, bought Rilee Rossouw (INR 4.6 Cr), Philip Salt (INR 2.0 Cr), Manish Pandey (INR 2.40 Cr), Ishant Sharma (INR 50L), Mukesh Kumar (INR 5.5 Cr) – however, none of them seems a first-choice starter, barring injury and unavailability of their retained players.
Here is Delhi Capitals (DC) predicted, strongest XI for IPL 2023:
Openers: David Warner (C), Prithvi Shaw
Warner will lead the side in the absence of Pant, and will occupy one overseas slot. Despite his recent troubling form and injury issues, Warner remains one of the best openers in the tournament, and forms perhaps the most destructive opening combo with Shaw, who will have to put his off-field issues aside and focus on the main matter at hand.
Prithvi Shaw will also want to make a case for a recall to the Indian side through IPL 2023.
Middle-order: Mitchell Marsh, Sarfaraz Khan (wk), Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav/Manish Pandey
Mitchell Marsh was almost flawless with his timing and power-hitting in the recent ODI series against India, wherein he finished as the Player of the Series, scoring 194 runs at a strike rate of 131 (in the ODI series), cracking 12 sixes and 24 fours.
For the wicket-keeping option, at the moment, it looks like Sarfaraz will get the nod both Marsh and Rovamn Powell provide belligerent hitting and form.
Since DC also don’t have a proper, experienced off-spin option, they are likely to once again stick with Lalit Yadav as the all-rounder, hoping that Lalit has improved both his batting and bowling smarts from last season. Manish Pandey, the experienced Indian batter, but who’s been out of touch in the IPL, is in contention but might be benched for Lalit.
All-rounders: Axar Patel
Axar Patel is the key component of the DC team, and he’s been that of the Indian team as well: the left-hander is a smart operator with the ball and has made significant progress in his batting.
Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya/Ishant Sharma, Anrich Nortje
While DC may have a volatile batting department, they have depth and strength in their bowling department. Along with Axar, Kuldeep, who is on a resurge since last IPL, form a potent spin duo, while the pace attack, led by Nortje, will comprise Khaleel, Sakariya. Then there is the experienced Ishant and the young and upcoming talent Mukesh Kumar. Lungi Ngidi, though a brilliant T20 bowler, is likely to start the tournament on the bench.
Delhi Capitals’ strongest playing XI for IPL 2023:
David Warner (C), Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, Sarfaraz Khan (wk), Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya/Ishant Sharma, Anrich Nortje
Delhi Capitals Final Squad For IPL 2023:
David Warner, Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, Mitchell Marsh, Sarfaraz Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Yash Dhull, Rovman Powell, Pravin Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Vicky Ostwal, Aman Khan, Phil Salt, Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Manish Pandey, Rilee Rossouw
