Since switching their name from the Delhi Daredevils, they have modified their standings. The Delhi Capitals emerged mostly due to a shift in management and the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, who led the team to a final and a semifinal. The franchise’s rebirth saw them become a constant top-four contender for years, but lightning struck twice in the last two years, and they have yet to make an impact. Their new captain, David Warner, has won one of their six games this season, and they have yet to find their best-playing lineup.
Issues within the team, as well as their failure to identify their starting XI with huge names misfiring, have been among the many factors that have led to them being essentially the first team to be eliminated from the competition. If there was ever a time to look into the complexities of Delhi’s poor performance this season, it is now.
1) A complete batting failure
It is unjust to single out a player when the squad has failed; except for David Warner, no one has fired at the top rank. Prithvi Shaw‘s continuous failure often cost them without bothering the scores. Although the batting didn’t work out, they could have experimented with Axar Patel batting higher than his regular position because he was in the best shape of his life heading into this season’s IPL. Their skipper, David Warner, has frequently run out of partners, leaving him left at one end and scoring at a significantly low strike rate. They last found a replacement for Shreyas Iyer two years ago, costing them heavily. Delhi should consider bringing some seasoned batters at the top in the next auction. Prithvi Shaw, Lalit Yadav, and Axar Patel, who are among the most experienced players on this team, should take responsibility.
2) David Warner’s captaincy.
Even though his striking has been one of the most talked about elements of the Delhi Capitals season, some of his captaincy decisions and squad selections should raise eyebrows. Mukesh Kumar’s perseverance when he wasn’t playing well and not selecting some of the most experienced bowlers, such as Ishant Sharma, Kamlesh Nagarkotti, Lungi Ngidi, and Chetan Sakariya, was perplexing. Along with the poor pace bowling quartet, their spin bowlers could have been better than other teams’ spinners. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel could have been more effectively utilized and were also taken for runs. Kuldeep’s mystery aspect appears to have vanished. Warner‘s captaincy and team selection decisions should be scrutinized.
3) Rishabh Pant’s absence.
Rishab Pant’s accident was one of the most tragic events in recent memory. Since bursting onto the scene as a chubby middle-order batter for the Delhi Daredevils and then becoming captain, the lad has been an international sensation. He was their captain last season and has been one of their top performers since his debut. Pant’s aggressive style as a captain and batting this season should have been more noticed. He has been a part of 98 matches for the Delhi Capitals and amassed 2838 runs with 15 fifties and a century at a strike rate of almost 150. His absence is undoubtedly one of the primary causes behind Delhi’s terrible season. Hopefully, he’ll be back on his feet soon.
4) Lack of allrounders
Limited-overs cricket requires more all-rounders than any other format of the game. Delhi had three all-rounders in their team heading into this season. They had Mitch Marsh, Axar Patel, and Lalit Yadav on their team. If a team is filled with allrounders, their chances of winning a match skyrocket, and this is exactly how international teams have won world cups, and franchisees have won leagues. With barely any all-rounders in the lineup, the team is doomed if even one player has a terrible day. The capitals should start planning for next season and offer their new players as many opportunities to express themselves and prove their worth as possible.
5) Oversized Egos
This could be speculative, but it would not raise eyebrows if proven true. With the calibre of coaching personnel at the helm, Delhi’s performance this season is unexplainable. Inside are Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson, Sourav Ganguly, and Praveen Amre. With such big names on the coaching staff and the club unable to put up a fight, it’s only natural that there are some disputes between the captain and the management. Someone must get it right with the perplexing team combinations and captaincy decisions.