IPL 2022: Best starting playing XI of Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals looked very good in the mega auction for IPL 2022 as they got some amazing deals.They had retained Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, and Anrich Nortje and had many areas to cover. But the franchise was successful in doing that. With captain Pant already retained, they didn’t have to go after captaincy material players in the auction.

Delhi Capitals’ best deal was getting David Warner for just INR 6.25 crore. The three-time orange cap holder was expected to go for much more but DC sealed probably the best deal of the auction. The other highlighted picks by the Delhi-based franchise were Mitchell Marsh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shardul Thakur. They also got useful players like Mustafizur Rahman and Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

After re-branding the franchise, the Delhi Capitals have looked very positive and impactful. They have invested in the young players and must be looking to give a longer-run to most of them. They have managed to get a good mixture of experienced and established players with flamboyant and promising youngsters.

Note:- We are considering the strongest XI of DC. Warner might not be available from the start of the season due to the Pakistan tour so Tim Seifert can be his replacement.

Here is the expected starting XI of Delhi Capitals for IPL 2022:

1. David Warner

In the mega auction, the Delhi Capitals bought a stand-out match winner and an IPL megastar. David Warner started his IPL journey with the same franchise when it was called Delhi Daredevils in 2009. He was there for five seasons and was an integral member before going to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The veteran IPL star has been fantastic in the league’s history, winning the orange cap three times. The Australian southpaw has played 150 IPL games scoring 5449 runs at an amazingly brilliant average of 41.6. He was extraordinary for the Hyderabad franchise and was their biggest match-winner.

Warner also led Sunrisers to an IPL title in 2016 as a captain and he scored more than 850 runs in that season leading the team from the front. The pocket-size dynamo will make a comeback to his previous franchise and Delhi will expect a lot from him.

2. Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw was one of the four players who were retained by the Delhi Capitals management before the auction. Getting an opening partner like David Warner will be a blessing for the youngster. Prithvi Shaw has been opening the innings for DC for the last few seasons and his performances have been brilliant.

His opening partnerships with Shikhar Dhawan were very helpful for the franchise. The U19 World Cup winning captain has played 53 IPL games from 2018 and has scored 1305 runs at an average of 24.62. He has scored 10 brilliant fifties opening the innings for DC.

Shaw is a natural stoke-maker and very consistent. The franchise owners and management have shown a huge amount of faith in the Mumbai batter and they will expect him to be as good as he was in the previous seasons.

3. KS Bharat

Kona Srikar Bharat was very impressive when he played for RCB in the 2021 season. Very few must have forgotten the six Bharat hit off Avesh Khan when RCB needed five runs off two balls. Now, things have changed and Bharat will play for the team he thrashed. The keeper batter will feature for the Delhi Capitals in the 2022 season. Delhi Capitals will expect a lot from the Andhra Pradesh batter.

Bharat played eight games for RCB in the 2021 season in which he scored 156 runs and played a gutsy knock of 78 against Delhi Capitals. He has been an essential bloke for Andhra Pradesh in the domestic circuit. Bharat had an amazing 2021 where he also got the maiden call for the Indian Cricket Team for the home Tests against New Zealand. Bharat’s skills can be very useful for DC.

4. Rishabh Pant (c) (wk)

Rishabh Pant is now a well established cricketer. He has cemented his place in the Indian cricket team as their first-choice wicket-keeper in all three formats despite having a competition with so many wicket-keeper batters in India. He is only 24 but has won many games single-handedly for India.

The whole country expects a lot from him and Pant has been instrumental in DC and India’s many wins. The southpaw captained the DC side in the 2021 season for the first time and the team did well qualifying to the playoffs.

Pant is playing IPL from the 2016 season when he got picked by DC just after his heroic performances from the 2016 U19 World Cup. He has played 86 IPL games and scored 1694 runs at a fabulous average of 35.18. Pant also holds the record of highest individual IPL score by an Indian.

5. Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh is in red-hot form since he was given the role of batting at number three by Australian management. He played a vital role in helping Australia seal their first T20 World Cup title in 2021. Marsh is a well-muscled all-round cricketer who can win games both with bat and ball.

Marsh has played IPL for a few teams. He started his IPL journey with Deccan Chargers in 2010. Since then, he has played for Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Marsh has played 21 IPL games and has scored 225 and has picked 20 wickets.

He played his last IPL game in 202o against RCB playing for SRH. His form was always in question before when he featured in the cash-rich league. But this time around, Marsh is in great touch and can do wonders for his side.

6. Rovman Powell

Rovman Powell is a hard-hitting Caribbean batter. The Jamaica-born batter became the third West Indies player after Chris Gayle to score a T20I hundred. Before making it to the West Indies international side, his performances in domestic cricket were splendid.

He was Jamaica’s key player in the domestic tournaments of the West Indies. He is a serious big-hitter. Powell was in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2017 but he did not get a chance to play. Hopefully, he will get a longer run with the Delhi Capitals side.

He has the experience of playing franchise cricket as he has featured in other T20 leagues like the other Caribbean cricketers. He has played for Jamaica Tallawahs, Dhaka Dynamites, Peshawar Zalmi, and Multan Sultans.

7. Axar Patel

Axar Patel is playing IPL for a lot of years now and has made a name for himself. The left-arm orthodox bowler can be reliable with the bat too. Axar started his IPL journey with Punjab Kings in 2013. He was very impressive in his second IPL year playing for Punjab Kings.

He served Punjab Kings from 2014 to 2019 and the franchise used to back him a lot. Rather, Axar was the only retained player of PBKS before the 2018 IPL auction. The Delhi Capitals were successful in picking the all-rounder in the 2019 IPL auction. His equation with the DC keeper Rishabh Pant is also loved by the cricket fans.

They are one of the best keeper-bowler duo in the league. He has played 109 IPL games and has scored 953 runs. He has 95 IPL dismissals to his name as well. In three years playing for DC, Axar has been fantastic and the Capitals will expect a lot from him in the next season too.

8. Shardul Thakur

The LORD Shardul Thakur will play for the Delhi Capitals in the 15th edition of the IPL. Shardul did a splendid job for CSK for four years and was one of the favorite players of MS Dhoni in the team.

Thakur is a multi-dimensional cricketer and his heroic performances for the Indian cricket team are seen by all of the cricket fans. He has now become an essential member of the Indian cricket team. Delhi Capitals bought Thakur for INR 10.75 crore. Almost every team wanted him in their squad and most of the teams had no hesitation to bid for him in the 2022 IPL mega auction.

Shardul has played 61 IPL games and he has 67 wickets to his name. His cricket career has been like a roller-coaster ride. He has faced many ups and downs in his career. He will surely be an important member of the Delhi Capitals.

9. Anrich Nortje

The lethal pacer from South Africa was a part of the mighty DC fast bowling lineup in IPL 2021. He alongside Kagiso Rabada and Avesh Khan formed a brilliant bowling lineup. Nortje was probably the fastest bowler amongst all available in 2021 IPL.

He will continue his services for the Delhi-based franchise as they retained him ahead of the mega auction. Nortje has played 24 IPL games and has picked 34 wickets at a bowling average of 20.56. He was there in the KKR squad for the 2020 season but they decided to release him after that.

For this season, they were not able to pick Kagiso Rabada and Avesh Khan so all the responsibilities now will be on Anrich Nortje. He will be a trump card for DC and his role will be vital.

10. Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav as a cricketer has not had many memories to cherish in recent times. He was even not able to find a place in KKR’s playing XI. The only chinaman bowler to play for India will hopefully get well utilized by the Delhi Capitals franchise.

Once, Kuldeep Yadav was the first-choice spinner for India in limited-overs cricket and he was having the time of his life. The UP wrist-spinner has played 45 IPL games and picked 40 wickets. He is playing IPL since the 2016 season and he served KKR for years.

He played for KKR between 2016 and 2021. His T20I records for India are great having played 23 T20Is and picked 41 wickets at a dream average of 14.22. The Delhi Capitals franchise needed a quality wrist-spinner after the departure of Amit Mishra and they have invested in Kuldeep Yadav.

11. Chetan Sakariya

Chetan Sakariya had a dream year in 2021. He got an IPL contract from Rajasthan Royals and impressed everyone with his effective left-arm pace bowling and his Wakanda celebration.

After the half of IPL 2021 was postponed, he got a call for the Indian cricket team for the Sri Lankan tour and he made both his ODI and T20I debuts for the country.

Sakariya has now moved to the Delhi Capitals franchise and they will love to have a player like him in their squad. He will accompany Anrich Nortje and will take the responsibility for DC’s fast bowling for the 2022 season. Chetan played 14 games for Rajasthan last season and picked 14 wickets at a bowling average of 30.43.