IPL 2023: 3 changes Delhi Capitals can make for match against RCB

Delhi Capitals are having a horrid campaign in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). DC have been mediocre with both bat and ball in IPL 2023 and as a result, they have succumbed to four consecutive losses. If David Warner & Co. do not get their act together soon, they could face an early exit from the marquee tournament.

Capitals are slated to face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday, April 14 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. They need to be at their best to conquer the star-studded Bangalore side. As the Delhi franchise bid to do so, the team management could make certain changes in the make-up of the side.

3. Phil Salt - As first-choice wicketkeeper-batter and a replacement for Rovman Powell

Rovman Powell has been a destroyer with the bat and has decimated bowling attacks with his power-hitting might. He displayed his batting prowess in the last IPL edition and smashed 250 runs in 14 matches at a stunning strike rate of 149.70. Therefore, Delhi retained the West Indies batter for the 2023 season.

However, Powell has been a pale shadow of his vintage self in the ongoing editions and has managed only seven runs in three games. Given the right-handed batter has been dismal with his outings, the think tank could look to draft Phil Salt in his place. 

Salt has been a bankable name in the shortest format of the game and smashed 4118 runs in 180 T20 matches at a superb strike rate of 149.79. Moreover, the Bodelwyddan-born has a safe pair of hands behind the stumps. Therefore, the inclusion of the flamboyant cricketer will provide the much needed fire-power to the Delhi batting line-up. Moroever, given Abhishek Porel has also been poor with the bat, scoring just 28 runs in three outings, Salt could be the first-choice wicketkeeper of the Delhi side at Porel's expense.

2. Slotting in Axar Patel at number five

Axar Patel has been a proven performer in the Indian Premier League. He has featured in 126 matches in the marquee event and racked up 1243 runs at a strike rate of 131.53. On the batting front, the 29-year-old has bagged 102 wickets at an economy 7.27.

Axar walked into the 16th edition of the cash-rich league with his batting form being in his favour, as he aggregated 264 runs in five innings at an average of 88.00 in the Test series against Australia. The southpaw has managed to replicate his red-ball form in the ongoing IPL edition, knocking the wind out of top-quality bowling attacks.

Axar has hammered 108 runs in four matches of the ongoing season at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 168.75. Interestingly, his runs have come lower down the order. Given the kind of form he is in, the team management would ponder over slotting him at number five which would allow the ace batter to have more game time to help Delhi post a daunting total on the board.

1. Ripal Patel for Yash Dhull

Yash Dhull is one of the exciting prospects in the Indian domestic circuit. When Delhi Capitals locked horns with Mumbai Indians, DC drafted the youngster into the playing XI but the move did not pay off as the 20-year-old could only manage two runs.

Given Delhi Capitals already have Manish Pandey in the middle order, the think tank might decide against playing another anchor batter in Dhull and play Ripal Patel instead, who is known for playing an aggressive brand of cricket and has destroyed bowling attacks for fun in the domestic circuit.

The Nadiad-born has featured in 26 T20 matches and plundered 358 runs at a magnificent strike rate of 152.99. He is a no-nonsense cricketer and could be a valuable addition to the side. And if Delhi decide to push Axar higher in the batting line-up, they could hand over the finishing duties to Ripal.