IPL 2024: Delhi Capital (DC) strongest predicted playing XI

DC Strongest Predicted playing XI: In what promises to be an electrifying showdown, the Delhi Capitals (DC) are gearing up to take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their third match of IPL 2024. The stage is set at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, marking its return to hosting IPL fixtures after five years, on Sunday, March 31.

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The two teams have had divergent fortunes in their opening encounters. CSK, the seasoned champions, have displayed formidable form, securing victories against Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Gujarat Titans with ease. Meanwhile, DC finds themselves on the back foot after suffering defeats in their initial matches, struggling both to defend a target and to chase one down.

CSK appears to be riding high with confidence, boasting an undefeated lineup that seems to excel in every aspect of the game. On the flip side, DC is looking to tweak their strategy and lineup in a bid to address the shortcomings observed in their earlier outings in IPL 2024.

DC strongest playing XI

Openers

David Warner, Mitchell Marsh

David Warner is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in IPL history, having clinched the Orange Cap thrice. Expectations are high for another stellar season from him as he focuses solely on the shorter format after retiring from Test cricket and ODIs. With Rishabh Pant back in the squad, Warner is relieved of captaincy duties, allowing him to solely concentrate on his performance on the field. Despite missing out on a big score in the first match, Warner showed his prowess with innings of 29 off 21 and 49 against RR.

The combination of left-right opening batsmen is always advantageous, and Warner has been partnered by his fellow Australian Mitchell Marsh in the last couple of matches. Marsh provided solid starts, scoring 23 and 20 runs in the same number of deliveries (12) in both games. Although Marsh didn’t bowl in the second game against RR after conceding 52 runs in his four overs previously, his bowling prowess in the T20 format makes him a valuable asset. Expectations are high for him to deliver his best performance in the upcoming clash.

Middle-Order

Yash Dhull, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs

Ricky Bhui has been struggling with underwhelming scores of 3(7) and 0(2) in the two games so far, indicating a rough patch for the batsman. There’s a strong likelihood of him being replaced by 21-year-old Yash Dhull.

Rishabh Pant, despite his slow start by his own lofty standards, is gradually recovering from his injury, more so mentally than physically. It’s anticipated that he will need some time to regain his peak form.

Abishek Porel, who served as an Impact Player in both of DC’s matches, made a significant impact in the first game with a brisk 10-ball 32, although he couldn’t replicate the performance in the second match. Nevertheless, it’s expected that DC’s team management will stick with him.

Tristan Stubbs, the South African batter, showcased his capabilities against RR, albeit in a losing effort. The team management is likely to show faith in him moving forward, providing the youngster with a boost of confidence from his performance.

All-Rounders

Axar Patel, Sumit Kumar

Axar Patel is currently regarded as one of the top all-rounders in Indian cricket and plays a pivotal role for the Capitals. Known for his left-arm spin, he not only breaks partnerships but also contributes crucial runs down the order. At times, his batting prowess suggests he could even handle a higher position in the lineup.

However, Sumit Kumar, the other all-rounder in DC, had a forgettable debut IPL game, scoring just 2 runs off 9 deliveries and conceding 19 runs in his eight deliveries. Despite being included in the XI, he didn’t get the chance to showcase his skills in either batting or bowling.

Bowlers

Anrich Nortje, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav

Both Mukesh Kumar and Anrich Nortje didn’t feature in DC’s opening match, and their performances against RR left much to be desired. Both bowlers ended up with almost identical figures of 1/49 and 1/48 in their four overs, respectively. Despite this, the team management is expected to support them, believing in their ability to bounce back strongly in the upcoming match against CSK.

Kuldeep Yadav’s journey to becoming one of the top spinners in cricket is truly inspiring. While with KKR, he faced challenges maintaining consistent form and was often overlooked. However, a positive change occurred when he joined DC in 2022, where he has since become a crucial part of the team. In the 2022 edition, the left-arm wrist-spinner claimed 21 wickets in 14 games, and last year, he secured 10 wickets with an economy rate of less than 7.50, demonstrating his improved skills.

DC strongest Predicted Playing XI

Impact Player: Khaleel Ahmed

David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Yash Dhull, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Sumit Kumar, Anrich Nortje, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav

Player	Position
David Warner	Batsman
Mitchell Marsh	All-rounder
Yash Dhull	Batsman
Rishabh Pant	Captain, WK
Abishek Porel	All-rounder
Tristan Stubbs	Batsman
Axar Patel	All-rounder
Sumit Kumar	All-rounder
Anrich Nortje	Bowler
Mukesh Kumar	Bowler
Kuldeep Yadav	Bowler