IPL 2020: DC's predicted playing XI

All-rounders: Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin

Axar Patel will have to contribute with the bat as well in IPL 2020

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis will be the 6th bowler and third-choice pacer for DC in IPL 2020. He was in excellent form in the Big Bash League, and will be expected to replicate the same form albeit lower down the order.

Axar Patel will come in at No. 7, and will have to contribute with the bat apart from bowling his 4 overs. The all-rounder is capable of bowling in the powerplay and restricts the flow of runs in the middle overs, making him perfect for this role.

Ravichandran Ashwin hasn't done enough with the bat in the IPL to qualify as an all-rounder, but that might change this year. The former Kings XI Punjab captain will be a valuable addition to the team owing to his experience and leadership, and the move to acquire him might turn out to be a masterstroke.

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Bowlers: Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra is the leading wicket-taker among spinners in IPL history

The pace bowling slot alongside the ever-present Kagiso Rabada will be a toss-up between Ishant Sharma, Daniel Sams and Anrich Nortje.

The Indian Test spearhead is expected to pip the other two to the role given his success in IPL 2019, which means that DC's first-choice XI this year might consist of only three overseas players. Ishant and Rabada will share the new ball and bowl at the death, and the former will have to be at his best at the fag ends of innings.

Rounding off DC's IPL 2020 playing XI is veteran leggie Amit Mishra, who is expected to be preferred ahead of Nepal spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. The 37-year-old is the team's most potent wicket-taking threat, and will be ably complemented by Ashwin and Axar.

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DC's Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2020:

Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Amit Mishra