IPL 2019: Strongest possible XI for Delhi Capitals

The IPL franchise, Delhi Daredevils, was rechristened as Delhi Capitals (DC) last month. The Delhi-based franchise hasn't won a single IPL trophy in its 11 seasons. The owners wanted to position Delhi Daredevils as a new brand, hence the name change.

DC had a brilliant trade window as they poached Shikhar Dhawan from SRH. In return, they gave away Shahbaz Nadeem, Vijay Shankar and the young Abhishek Sharma to SRH.

Dhawan's presence will bring more stability to their attacking batting line-up.

Delhi Capitals had a purse of Rs. 25.50 crore this time, second only to the Kings XI Punjab. And the franchise continued their smart run in the auction IPL auction too.

They have bought in-form players like Hanuma Vihari, Colin Ingram, Axar Patel and Keemo Paul in the auction. The rechristened franchise is now looking like a force to reckon with.

They have plugged the gaps and they look like a whole team now. The exuberance of youth along with the experience of the senior members will definitely make DC one of the title contenders this season.

Here is a look at the strongest possible XI for Delhi Capitals.

#1 Prithvi Shaw - India

Shaw impressed everyone in the IPL last season with his explosive batting style

Prithvi Shaw has been a revelation in the cricketing world since his exploits in the ICC Under-19 World cup in January. The 19-year-old batsman made his debut in the IPL last season and scored 245 runs from his nine games, at an impressive strike-rate of 153.13 and including two half-centuries.

The right-handed batsman made his international debut in Tests couple of months ago. He has scored 237 runs from this three matches at an average of 118.50. The interesting aspect about this is that he has scored his Test runs at a staggering strike-rate of 94.05.

Shaw will only get better with time, and will be a trump-card in DC's maiden IPL trophy quest.

#2 Shikhar Dhawan - India

Dhawan is going back to Delhi after 10 years in IPL

Shikhar Dhawan played for Delhi Daredevils in the first season of the IPL. After that, he went on to play for Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers and SRH.

Dhawan will straightaway fit into the opening slot for Delhi Capitals. The Delhi-based cricketer is one of the successful players in IPL history, scoring 4057 runs from his 143 games. He has also amassed 32 half-centuries in his 11-year IPL career.

The left-handed batsman's presence will help Shaw to play his natural game right from the word go.

#3 Colin Munro - New Zealand

Colin Munro is in ominous form this year in T20s

Colin Munro is arguably the best T20 batsman in the world at the moment, and is the leading run-scorer in the format in 2018.

The New Zealand batsman has played 47 matches so far, scoring 1529 runs at an impressive strike-rate of 151.38. He has scored one century and 12 fifties from his 47 innings.

The New Zealand batsman will likely push South African batsman Colin Ingram out of the playing 11 due to his imperious form. Ingram was bought by Delhi Capitals for 6.6 crore INR.

Munro has played T20s all across the globe and has maintained his consistency throughout. He represented T20 franchises like Balkh Legends (APL), Hampshire and Trinbago Knight Riders (CPL) this year.

Though the New Zealand batsman struggled with the bat in the 2018 IPL season, his current form will help him get a slot in the DC top order. But he will have to settle for the one-down position as Shaw and Dhawan will open the batting.

Munro has batted in the one-down slot in the past and will look forward to replicating his good form in the IPL.

#4 Shreyas Iyer - India (Captain)

Shreyas Iyer will continue as the captain of the Delhi Capitals

The Delhi Capitals (DC) team management has confirmed that Shreyas Iyer will continue to lead the side in IPL 2019 as well. The right-handed batsman has impressed everyone with his swashbuckling performances in the previous editions of the IPL.

In the last season, the Mumbaikar scored 411 runs from his 14 games, which included four half-centuries. He led the young side impressively too.

The 24-year-old will try his level best to lead his side to their maiden IPL triumph.

#5 Rishabh Pant - India (wicket-keeper)

Pant had a successful 2018 IPL season for Delhi Capitals

Rishabh Pant was one of the star performers of IPL 2018. The wicket-keeper was the 2nd leading run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 684 runs from his 14 games.

Pant could have even won the orange cap had Delhi Capitals qualified for the knockouts. He averaged 52.61 runs per match, scoring his runs at an impressive strike-rate of 173.60.

Pant scored five fifties and one century from his 14 IPL innings. He also made his international debut post the IPL success, and has scored one century and two fifties from his 12 Test innings so far.

Pant will be the wicket-keeper for the Delhi Capitals franchise.

#6 Chris Morris - South Africa

Chris Morris is one of the best all-rounders in the world in the shorter formats of the game

Chris Morris has had a bit of a start-stop career in the Indian Premier League (IPL) so far. His frequent injuries and international commitments have hampered his progress in the tournament, but the South-African all-rounder has managed to impress everyone with both bat and ball whenever he has played.

Morris has played 52 IPL games since 2013, scoring 485 runs at an impressive average and strike-rate of 37.31 and 166.67 respectively. He has also taken 55 wickets from his 52 innings with a strike-rate of 19.75.

Morris's ability to accelerate runs towards the end of the innings has helped Delhi Capitals post huge totals on multiple instances in the past few years.

#7 Axar Patel - India

Delhi Capitals bought Axar Patel for five crore INR in the auction today

Axar Patel had a disappointing last season with Kings XI Punjab as he could manage only three wickets and 80 runs from his nine IPL games. That was a stark contrast to his 2017 IPL performance where he took 15 wickets and scored 227 runs.

Kings XI Punjab released the left-arm spinner during the transfer window. However, the Delhi Capitals picked the star all-rounder for a whopping five crore INR.

Axar's all-around abilities will bring balance to the star-studded Delhi line-up.

#8 Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra helped DC end their IPL 2018 campaign on a high with a string of impressive performances

Amit Mishra has been one of the most consistent performers of the Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008. The leg-spinner has played 136 IPL matches so far, taking 146 wickets at an impressive average of 24.17.

The 36-year-old cricketer was not at his usual best in the initial phase of the tournament last year. However, he got back to his form towards the end of the season, and eventually took 12 wickets from his 10 games.

With Delhi not buying any leg-spinners in the auction, Mishra is likely to keep his place in the playing 11 for the next season.

#9 Kagiso Rabada

Rabada is one of the best fast bowlers in the world at the moment

Rabada's injury right before the last IPL tournament severely jeopardized Delhi Capitals' ambitions of winning the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL). However, the now fit South African fast bowler will come into the playing XI directly for the upcoming season.

Rabada is the number one Test fast bowler in the world at the moment. He is also the 4th-ranked ODI bowler in the ICC rankings.

The 21-year-old's ability to regularly reach 150 kmph will trouble any batsman on even a batting wicket. With not many express fast bowlers from India, Rabada could be the X-factor in Delhi's success this season.

#10 Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma is the linchpin of the Indian Test fast-bowling unit

The 30-year-old fast bowler hasn't yet lived up to his potential in his IPL career. He has played 76 games so far, taking 58 wickets at a below-par average and economy rate, and unsurprisingly could not find any takers in last season's auction.

However, the lanky fast bowler is in the form of his life in international cricket. He is the leader of the power-packed Indian fast bowling Test unit, and that was probably what made DC buy him for a price of 1.1 crore INR in today's auction.

As there are no other experienced Indian fast bowlers in the Delhi Capitals squad, Ishant will be playing as the third fast bowler in the team.

#11 Trent Boult

The experienced Trent Boult can lead the Delhi Capitals' bowling department

Trent Boult had an impressive 2018 IPL. He was the fifth leading wicket-taker of the tournament, taking 18 wickets from his 15 games.

Boult did not have a consistent bowling partner last time because of Rabada's injury. With the South African back in the team, Boult-Rabada could form a potent opening pair in the upcoming season.

The New Zealand fast bowler has immense experience, and could lead Delhi's bowling unit to success.

On paper, Delhi Capitals look like one of the most threatening teams in the IPL this season. Time will tell whether they translate their potential into success.