Delhi Capitals IPL 2021 Part II Preview

The Delhi Capitals were the team to beat in the first half of the 2021 IPL and resume the competition at the top of the table. Despite losing their captain Shreyas Iyer before the start of the campaign, the 2020 finalists won six of their eight games in phase one of this season, and have assembled one of the most balanced sides in the tournament.

Season Recap

The Delhi Capitals got off to an excellent start to their campaign with two wins in their first three games thanks to two excellent knocks of 85 and 92 from Shikhar Dhawan against the Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings. 

Rishabh Pant’s side also got some revenge for the 2020 IPL final with a comfortable victory over the Mumbai Indians before holding their nerve in a super over to beat the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Delhi suffered their second defeat of the season by only one run against RCB at Ahmedabad, but ended the first half of the season with two commanding victories over the Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings which were powered by the pyrotechnics of Prithvi Shaw at the top of the order.

Best performer

There have been plenty of positives for Rishabh Pant’s side in the first half of the campaign, but the biggest plus point has been the form of Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw as an opening partnership. Both batters are amongst the top four run-getters so far in the tournament, and the pair have continued to provide the Capitals with fast starts in the powerplay.

Amongst the bowlers’ Avesh Khan has had a breakthrough season for the Capitals and is currently second in the Purple Cap standings with 14 wickets at an economy of 7.7.

Biggest area of concern

While there hasn’t been much to worry for Ricky Ponting as coach, the death overs bowling has been a struggle at times this season as DC failed to defend 58 in the last five overs against the Royals, while AB de Villiers smashed 23 runs in the final over off Marcus Stoinis in Delhi’s defeat against RCB.

Team News

The major boost for the Delhi Capitals for the second half of the campaign is the return of Shreyas Iyer following his shoulder injury in March that initially ruled him out of IPL 2021. Although Rishabh Pant will continue as captain due to Iyer’s lack of match practise, the Mumbai batters’ return to the side adds to the depth and quality of this Delhi team at the top of the order.

The other squad change for the Capitals includes the addition of Australian fast-bowler Ben Dwarshius as a replacement for Chris Woakes.

Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan