IPL 2018: Top takeaways for the eliminated teams

#4 Delhi Daredevils

Pant in action

Delhi started the campaign on a dismal note yet again, as they too lost five out of their first six matches. However, there was no remarkable comeback around the corner and Delhi soon found themselves out of contention for a playoff spot.

There was, however, some saving grace as they won their last two matches, playing party poopers to Mumbai in the process. In the bowling department, Trent Boult was the lone ranger, taking 18 wickets at a slightly expensive 8.84 runs per over. However, the finds of the season were the three young Indian warriors - Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Prithvi Shaw.

Pant is the current holder of the Orange Cap, with 684 runs at an average of 52.31 and a humongous strike rate of 173. His innings of 128* against SRH was undoubtedly the best innings in this IPL. Shreyas Iyer did a remarkable job as captain after Gautam Gambhir stepped down, winning four matches out of eight - not bad numbers for a mid-season captain. He was consistent with the bat as well, scoring 411 runs at a strike rate of 132.

In the nine matches in which he got chances, Prithvi Shaw did a promising job, amassing 245 runs at a decent average of 27.2 and a healthy strike rate of 153 - appreciable numbers for an 18-year old. The three can form the core of the Delhi outfit for nex season and will have to be instrumental if Delhi Daredevils are to shed their tag of the perennial underachievers of IPL.