IPL 2019: Three tactical changes that Delhi Capitals need to make to qualify for the playoffs

When Delhi Capitals came into the IPL 2019, no one had expected anything special from them. This was probably the consequence of the first horrifying and forgettable 11 years, where they had suffered thunderous criticism and humiliation due to the kind of performance they had.

However, things changed for them in IPL 2019. With the return of local lad Shikhar Dhawan, they made their batting order rock solid and compact. They decided to stick with their core bowling and made only a few additions. Finally, the players stepped up to repay the faith.

DC started its campaign on a bright note, winning 2 of their first 3 matches. Their middle and lower order dented their hopes of winning a few matches, but they recovered to defeat RCB, KKR, and SRH in 3 consecutive matches and climbed to the second points of the points table.

However, there have still been a few chinks in their armor, which they need to mend in order to become a better team. Let us take a look at a few of them.

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#1 Make Colin Munro open the innings

Delhi Capitals have failed to make the most of the powerplay. Prithvi Shaw has been inconsistent, whereas Shikhar Dhawan has failed to provide a fiery start. We all know that Colin Munro, Rishabh Pant and Chris Morris are power hitters. Unfortunately, Munro has batted at No. 3 and the latter two down the order.

Making Munro open with Shaw to follow at No. 3 will help them make the most of the powerplay, and this will also give Shikhar Dhawan some time to settle down. Also, Shaw has faced trouble in tackling swing. He is a good player of spin. If he bats at No. 3, he will be playing at the most ideal spot possible.

Shreyas Iyer will follow and Pant and Morris can be saved for the fireworks in the last 6-7 overs.

#2 Play an extra genuine bowler in place of Keemo Paul

Keemo Paul has been preetty inconsistent in IPL 2019

Keemo Paul has been very inconsistent throughout the season. Apart from his 3-wicket haul against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he hasn't done anything special. Instead, he has been pretty expensive. His batting has been disappointing. If a player is a bowling allrounder, he is expected to at least contribute some runs or support his partner. But Paul has been able to manage just 10 runs in the 5 matches.

Therefore, Shreyas Iyer can play an extra spinner in the form of Sandeep Lamichhane. This will further strengthen their spin department, which consists of Amit Mishra and Axar Patel. He has been impressive, with 5 wickets in 4 matches. Trent Boult, who has played just 1 match, can also be chipped in. He had 18 wickets in the last season, but surprisingly, he hasn't got any chance in this season.

Bringing any of these 2 will give DC the assurance of 4 overs. As the team already possesses enough depth in their batting lineup, dropping Keemo Paul will only do good for the team.

#3 Give more opportunities to benched players

Trent Boult was the leading wicket taker for DC in IPL 2018

Delhi Capitals possess a strong bench strength, but they haven't been given match time. Hanuma Vihari, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, and Trent Boult are some of the deserving players, who can prove to be match winners for the team.

Trent Boult was the leading wicket-taker for the team in IPL 2018. Shockingly, he has struggled to even find a spot in the playing XI this year. There have been many underperformers and inconsistent players in the DC lineup, most notable ones being Keemo Paul, Axar Patel, and Ishant Sharma.

The franchise has invested a lot in Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel. They deserve a chance and are the perfect players to replace Ishant Sharma. Vihari was outstanding against Australia and England. He can be a long term solution to DC's woes, provided that he is groomed. He will be the best player to replace a struggling Axar Patel.