Delhi Capitals IPL 2023 Preview

The Delhi Capitals will be without their talisman and captain in IPL 2023 as Rishabh Pant has been ruled out for the entire season following his unfortunate accident earlier this year. Delhi missed out on a top-four spot by just two points in 2022, and Pant’s absence significantly weakens the Capital’s chances of reaching the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. However, the 2020 IPL finalists still have plenty of firepower with bat and ball in the squad and could spring a surprise under the leadership of David Warner in 2023.

Player to watch out for: Prithvi Shaw

With Rishabh Pant out of action, Prithvi Shaw assumes a bigger role as the lead Indian batter in the side. Although Shaw has been continually overlooked by the selectors for the Indian national team, the hard-hitting batter has been on a tear in the domestic season for Mumbai. Shaw slammed 332 runs at a strike rate of 181.4 in the 2022/23 Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy and will be looking to translate that form into the IPL season for the Delhi Capitals.

Strengths

Although Delhi will be without Pant for the entirety of IPL 2023, the Capitals still have an explosive batting line-up filled with dynamic power hitters. Prithvi Shaw and David Warner formed one of the most lethal opening combinations in the IPL last season, and the pair complement each other perfectly, with Shaw accustomed to taking on the pacers in the powerplay and Warner milking the spinners and playing the role of the anchor.

Additionally, Mitchell Marsh is one of the most fearsome ball-strikers against pace in white-ball cricket and enjoyed a terrific ODI series against India in March, while Rovman Powell had an outstanding season for the team in 2022, scoring 250 runs at a strike rate of 150.

Weaknesses

Although the Capitals have plenty of talent on offer in their 2023 squad, the absence of Rishabh Pant leaves a gaping hole on multiple fronts. Pant’s injury forces them to play a more one-dimensional batter such as Manish Pandey or Lalit Yadav at number four, while also leaving the side short on wicket-keeping options, with part-time keeper Sarfaraz Khan in line to take the gloves for the entire season.

With the ball, the Capitals have one of the premier fast bowlers in the world in Anrich Nortje and a fine spin pairing of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav but are lacking quality in terms of their domestic pace options. Left-armers Khaleel Ahmed and Chetan Sakariya have struggled with injuries throughout their careers, while highly-rated youngster Kamlesh Nagarkoti has an IPL economy rate of 9.5.

Probable Playing XI

David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Sarfaraz Khan, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Anrich Nortje