IPL 2023: After the mini-auction, DC’s best-predicted playing XI

IPL 2023: After the mini-auction, DC’s best-predicted playing XI

The Delhi Capitals selected a well-rounded team at the 2022 mega auction in the hopes of ending the Indian Premier League’s title drought. They performed some incredible cricket and advanced to the playoffs. DC, however, was defeated by Mumbai Indians in their final group-stage match, hence they were denied a playoff spot.

In the lucrative 16th edition of the T20 event, Rishabh Pant & Co. backed the bulk of their players to succeed, and they outperformed all but five of them. With a budget of INR 19.45 crore, the Delhi franchise entered the IPL 2023 auction with a full roster. These players were Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt, Manish Pandey, Ishant Sharma, and Mukesh Kumar. Let’s have a look at the starting XI DC might use in the upcoming campaign.

Here is the playing XI of DC after the conclusion of the mini-auction: 

1. David Warner

In the T20 league, David Warner has been a behemoth of a player. In the shortest format, he played in 336 games and amassed an absurd total of 11080 runs at a strike rate of 141.43. The IPL tournament has become his own as the great batter amassed truckloads of runs there.

In the lucrative league’s 162 games, the 36-year-old has amassed 5881 runs with a strike rate of 140.69 while playing. Warner was signed by Delhi Capitals at the super auction in 2022 to bring experience to the batting lineup. He participated in 12 games, scoring 432 runs at a 150.52 strikeout percentage.

The southpaw cleaned up bowling assaults while also calming the team down when things got tough. Warner is a member of Delhi’s management team and can be seen assisting captain Rishabh Pant in making decisions on the field. The Australian hitter is a crucial component of DC’s lineup, and the team’s management is hoping that he performs at his best in the 2023 campaign.

2. Prithvi Shaw

Cricketer Prithvi Shaw is a no-nonsense individual who immediately attacks the opposition. In the lucrative T20 tournament, the 23-year-old has destroyed top-tier bowling lineups with his stroke play. For Delhi Capitals, he has played in 63 games and has scored 1588 runs at a strike rate of 147.75.

The ace batter consistently gave his team fast starts throughout the previous season, scoring 283 runs in 10 games with a 152.97 strike rate. Shaw was firing on all cylinders at one end, so Warner was able to take his time and calm down. In the 16th IPL season, the starting pair continued to work well together.

The 23-year-old has been in excellent form lately, scoring 332 runs at an astounding 181.42 strike rate in 10 games for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022. In the forthcoming IPL season, Shaw would love to repeat the feat for the Delhi team.

3. Mitchell Marsh

In the game’s shortest format, Mitchell Marsh is one of the best all-rounders. The 31-year-old has played in 155 Twenty20 matches, scoring 3693 runs with a strike rate of 129.76. He has taken 70 wickets while bowling at an 8.34 economy rate.

The flashy cricketer was purchased by Delhi Capitals at the 2022 super auction to bolster their lineup. The star all-rounder performed admirably, amassing 251 runs in eight games at a strike rate of 132.80 and claiming four wickets at an economy rate of 8.50.

Marsh’s ability to contribute in both departments brings harmony to the side. The Perth native’s role will be essential in the upcoming IPL season because he is the only cannon seam-bowling all-rounder in the team. The Delhi team would anticipate the right-handed hitter, who has suffered from injuries very frequently in the past, to be entirely healthy for the entire 2023 season.

4. Rishabh Pant (c & wk)

For Delhi Capitals, where he made his IPL debut in 2016, Rishabh Pant has been a key player ever since. The wicketkeeper-batter, who bats in the middle order, has been a game-changer and has destroyed elite bowling lineups with ease.

In 98 IPL games, Pant appeared and amassed 2838 runs at a strike rate of 147.97. The southpaw was equally impressive with the bat in the previous campaign, scoring 340 runs in 14 games at an astounding strike rate of 151.79.

When the 25-year-old was given control of the Delhi team in 2021, he excelled, guiding them to the playoffs. In the previous edition, he was unable to repeat the success. Pant hopes to take the initiative in the IPL 2023 and prove himself by leading DC to its first championship.

5. Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan has a solid reputation in the domestic Indian music scene. The 25-year-old has played in 26 List-A games and has 469 runs scored at a 95.91 strike rate. He has amassed 1071 runs in 84 games of the shortest format with a strike rate of 132.22.

The talented batsman displayed flashes of brilliance in the lucrative T20 league, scoring 532 runs at a strike rate of 137.82 in 46 games. But in the previous season, Sarfaraz wasn’t playing at his best and could only muster 91 runs in six games with a strike rate of 135.82.

The 25-year-spectacular old’s performances have rocked the domestic scene. In the six games he played during the Ranji Trophy season of 2021–22, he amassed an astounding total of 982 runs. In the just finished Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022, Sarfaraz again excelled, hitting 144 runs in five games with a strike rate of 120.00. He may make the 16th IPL season his own because he has been in excellent form.

6. Rovman Powell

In the T20 circuit, Rovman Powell has held a prominent position. The 29-year-old, who is well-known for his power striking, can destroy any bowling assault on his best day. In the shortest format, he has played in 153 games and has amassed 2668 runs at a strike rate of 133.33.

The West Indies batsman also displayed his batting prowess during the 2022 Indian Premier League season. He was given the responsibility of being the finisher, and he excelled at it, scoring 250 runs at a strike rate of 149.70 in 14 games.

Powell has recently been in excellent form. He amassed 281 runs for Jamaica Tallawahs in 13 games during the Caribbean Premier League 2022. The star player’s team won the championship thanks in large part to his batting prowess. He also ignited the Abu Dhabi T20 league with his heroics, scoring 196 runs with a strike rate of 245.00 in seven games. In the 16th IPL season, the destructive batter will be keen to put on a show with the bat.

7. Axar Patel

Axar Patel has a track record of success playing white-ball for India. The 28-year-old has played in 37 T20 Internationals and has taken 34 wickets with a 7.48 economy rate. He has batted well, scoring 171 runs at a 132.55 strike rate.

The Gujarati-born player has repeatedly demonstrated his all-around strength in the lucrative league. With his flawless lengths and lines, he has choked hitters, taking 101 wickets in 122 games for an economy of 7.25. Axar has also played significant innings when batting in the bottom middle order, scoring 1135 runs at a 128.83 strike rate.

In the previous IPL season, the southpaw was excellent with the bat, smashing 182 runs at a fantastic strike rate of 151.67. Axar, though, had poor ball control and was limited to six kills over those games. DC will be counting on its star all-arounder to perform at his peak in the upcoming campaign.

8. Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav played poorly for Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, taking just five wickets in a combined total of 14 games. At the 2022 mega auction, Delhi Capitals paid INR 2 crore to secure the Indian spinner, giving him the responsibility of directing the spin attack. The 28-year-old had a wonderful chance to prove himself.

The wrist spinner with the left arm was outstanding for his new team. Kuldeep was the innings’ main wrecker in the middle stages, confusing batters with his variety. He played in 14 games, picked up 21 wickets, and had an 8.44 economy rate.

This year, Kuldeep has also made an incredible impression on the world stage. The talented spinner has played eight ODIs and claimed 12 wickets with a 4.95 economy. Aside from that, he had a stunning return to Test cricket, taking eight wickets in the opening match of the just-completed two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The Kanpur-native would aim to light up IPL 2023 with his bowling prowess.

9. Khaleel Ahmed

A reliable performer on the home circuit is Khaleel Ahmed. The 25-year-old has participated in 50 List-A games and has 73 wickets to his credit with an economy rate of 5.07. He has performed admirably in the lucrative T20 tournament, taking 48 wickets in 34 games with an 8.49 economy.

Khaleel was acquired by Delhi Capitals for INR 5.25 crore at the 2022 mega auction. The money was well spent because the left-arm pacer was terrific and caused mayhem with the ball. He participated in 10 games, taking 16 wickets at an 8.04 economy.

At the beginning of the innings, the pacer made the ball talk and gave his team early wickets. At the very end of the inning, Khaleel played flawlessly and stopped the flow of runs. In the 2019 edition, he would be delighted to continue the fantastic work for the Delhi franchise.

10. Anrich Nortje

Anrich Nortje is one of the few fast bowlers who can consistently bowl at or over 150 kph. With his ferocious pace, the 29-year-old has decimated batting lineups and emerged as a key component of the South African bowling lineup. He has taken 35 wickets at an economy of 7.11 in 29 T20 Internationals.

In the 2020 and 202 seasons, Nortje excelled for the Delhi franchise, taking 34 wickets in 24 games. Due to his outstanding performances, DC decided to keep him for the 15th IPL season. The speedster, meanwhile, wasn’t particularly effective with the ball. Despite taking nine wickets in six games, the right-arm fast bowler surrendered runs at a startling 9.72 rate.

The pacer was South Africa’s main offensive weapon with the ball during the T20 World Cup 2022. Nortje participated in the championship for five games and claimed 11 wickets at a remarkable economy rate of 5.37. In IPL 2023, the express pacer will want to maintain his strong run of play and give Delhi Capitals game-winning performances.

11. Mukesh Kumar

Mukesh Kumar’s spectacular performances have ignited the domestic Indian circuit. The 29-year-old has had great success in first-class cricket, taking 123 wickets in 33 games at an average of 21.49. In the shortest format, he has performed well as well, taking 25 wickets in 23 games for an economy of 7.20.

In five matches for Bengal during the Ranji Trophy 2021–22, Mukesh took 20 wickets, making him fairly exceptional. The talented bowler lit up the Irani Cup 2022 with his bowling prowess and took five victims throughout the match. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022, he maintained his strong performance by taking nine wickets in six games with an economy of 4.91.

He received an international call-up for the ODI series against South Africa as a result of his outstanding performances in the domestic arena. The Delhi Capitals were impressed with the Bengal pacer and went to great lengths, investing INR 5.5 crore to secure his services at the IPL 2023 auction. The Bihar native will be anxious to demonstrate his talent in the forthcoming campaign of the lucrative league.