IPL 10, Match 5, RCB v DD: Delhi Daredevils Predicted XI

Delhi Daredevils has arguably been the most unlucky team in the IPL over the last 9 years along with their opponents for the first game Royal Challengers Bangalore. Delhi has failed to qualify for the playoffs in the last 4 years and they will definitely look to turn their fortunes around once they meet the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium from 8 pm today. Even before the start of the tournament, they were pegged back by the absence of Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy. De Kock sustained an injury while playing the Test series against New Zealand and was advised to take rest while Duminy opted out of the tournament due to personal reasons. It will be ask for the mentor and the captain Zaheer Khan to rise up to the occasion and his experience will come in handy for the Daredevils So with the Delhi Bangalore clash to commence at the Chinnaswamy Stadium from 8 pm let’s have a look at the Predicted XI of Delhi Daredevils Sam Billings, Sanju Samson, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant, Aditya Tare, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Morris, Amit Mishra, KagisoRabada, Zaheer Khan (c), Mohammad Shami. Sam Billings Delhi Daredevils. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/Getty Images) The hard-hitting right hander from England is expected to open the batting for Delhi in the first encounter against Bangalore. He doesn’t have a too much experience of playing in this competition but was in the playing XI in 5 matches last years. He has the capability to destroy bowling attacks in the powerplay which will surely make a dangerous prospect to deal with. If the right handers gets his eyes in he can really be a match winner on his given day. His free-flowing style and hitting abilities will surely keep him in good stead ahead of their season. In the 5 IPL matches Billings has played, the swashbuckling opener has amassed 88 runs at an average of 22. Aditya Tare Aditya Tare. (Photo Source: Twitter) The Mumbai captain has opened the innings for his previous franchise Mumbai Indians on many occasions and though he didn’t bludgeon his way to any breathtaking innings but looked calm and composed in the middle and relied on his strengths especially in the powerplay overs. With ShreyasIyer missing out due to chicken pox for at least the opening two matches, Tare should be the most sensible option to go with. He is currently a veteran at the domestic circuit and also has the experience of rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the game. He can find the gaps and play the occasional big shots. It remains to be seen whether he dons the keeping gloves or it is handed over to Sanju Samson. In all he has played 32 IPL matches scoring 321 runs at a below par average of 15. Sanju Samson Sanju Samson. (Photo Source: BCCI) The temperamental right hander from Kerala is expected to occupy the No. 3 slot, He is a pretty talented batsman and announced his arrival from this very tournament when he made a mark for himself in the Rajasthan Royals colour. He played some exceptional innings in patches and treated the crowd to some electrifying strokeplay. Despite his exceptional abilities, Sanju hasn’t been a consistent batsman and more often than not have succumbed to the pressure. We all know that he is still in his early 20’s and he has a big future ahead of him but he must start performing consistently as he has been around for the last 3 4 years. Samson has played 52 matches in his IPL career so far and has gone on to smash 1040 runs at an average of 24. He has a good strike rate of 119 to go with the highest score of 76. Karun Nair Karun Nair of Delhi Daredevils. (Photo Source: IANS) Samson and Nair played a lot of cricket together in the Rajasthan Royals franchise and they will look forward to this opportunity to play in the same IPL team yet again. Nair who recently converted his maiden Test century in to a triple century came in to the limelight with some breathtaking innings in the IPL. He is a clean striker of the ball and an effortless player. He has a matured brain but given the fact he had a string of poor scores after his triple century it remains to be seen how the young man responds to the situation. He will definitely be an important member in the middle order and will look to start his campaign on a positive note. In 41 IPL matches, Nair has accumulated 877 runs at an average of 26. He has smashed 7 half-centuries to go with a highest score of 83*. Corey Anderson Corey Anderson. (Photo Source: BCCI) The hard-hitting Kiwi all-rounder can be more than decent option for any team he plays for in the limited overs version. With the bat in hand he has the ability to decimate any bowler on his day and it was evident from an exceptional innings he played for the Mumbai Indians in the 214 edition. It was his innings 95 of 40 off balls which helped Mumbai chase a total of more than 190 in less than 15 overs and qualify for the play offs. He can also give the captain some crucial overs upfront and at the death and despite going for runs he has the ability to break partnerships and is an attacking bowler. He will definitely love to have a memorable debut fort the Daredevils. In 16 IPL matches, Anderson has smashed 379 runs at a strike rate of 136. His 95 not out during that epic encounter against the Rajasthan Royals remains his highest IPL score. Shashank Singh Delhi Daredevils. (Photo Source: BCCI) The 21 year old all-rounder is expected to get a look in for the opening game of the tournament in the selection. With so many players out of the tournament, it seems an unlikely prospect for Delhi to leave out Shashank. The 21 year old all-rounder has the capability to play some lusty blows in the lower middle order and can also play the 2nd fiddle to a more experienced batsmen. In 11 T20 matches he has scored 186 runs at a staggering strike rate of 166 and also bagged two wickets. Chris Morris Chris Morris of South Africa. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images) The South African all-rounder lends an ideal balance to a limited overs side with his abilities with both bat and the ball. While he is primarily a bowler, he can also execute some lusty blows towards the death overs. He can give the captain some crucial overs upfront and also bowls well at the death. He has the tendency of bowling some loose balls on occasion but he should be an obvious pick for Delhi’s opening encounter. He is a pretty dangerous batsman lower down the order and his IPL record proves it. In 39 matches, Morris has scored 285 runs at a mind boggling strike rate of 166. He has also bagged 41 wickets in those matches at an impressive average and a strike rate. Mohammed Shami This Indian legend went for 4 crores to the Delhi side.(Photo Source:Delhi Daredevils) Shami will certainly be one of the players to watch out for the match after missing out on the last leg of India’s long home season. He has been injury stricken since the 2015 World Cup and will definitely look to come all guns blazing. He has the ability to generate genuine pace to go with the prodigious swing. He is a terrific new ball bowler but with the old ball he is just phenomenal and is one of the best exponents of reverse swing in world cricket currently. He will certainly take IPL as an opportunity to get the ideal match practise for the Champions Trophy title defence in June. He also has the ability to ply some lusty blows lower down the order. He literally pack a punch and can use the long handle to good effect. His IPL record hasn’t been great and the star fast bowler has only bagged 19 wickets in 31 outings at an unimpressive average of 46. Amit Mishra Amit Mishra celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Surjeet Yadav/IANS) The leggie has been a veteran in the domestic circuit but all over these years he has failed to realise his potential on a consistent basis. He has been in and out of the national team and hasn’t put up inspired performance consistently. He knows his art to perfection and has the ability to bamboozle any batsman with his big leg breaks and googlies. He is also among the only 2 bowlers in IPL after Yuvraj Singh to bag two hat-tricks in the IPL. He has gone for runs on many occasion but has been a wicket taker for his franchise. In 112 matches, Mishra has scalped out 124 wickets at an impressive average of 23 and at an economy rate of 7.27. Zaheer Khan Rahul Dravid & Zaheer Khan sport the new DD training jersey. (Photo Source: Twitter) The left-arm seamer needs no introduction. He is undoubtedly the greatest left arm fast bowler India has produced but it remains to be seen how the retired international cricketer responds to a situation where he hasn’t played many matches in the recent past. It will certainly be a big worry for DD but given the experience, Zaheer has he might well prove to be a lethal weapon even at this age. Being the mentor and captain of the side gives you that added responsibility but the same roles were also played by Shane Warne when Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural IPL when nobody gave them any chance prior to the tournament. In 89 matches, Zaheer has bagged 92 wickets at an average of 26 and an economy rate of 7.56. Kagiso Rabada South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images) The 21-year-old South African pacer will definitely be one of the players to watch out for in his debut IPL match. Rabada was bought at the IPL auction for a whopping 5 crores and he will definitely look to prove he is worth every penny. Rabada is a slippery customer and swings the ball at pace. He is a sensational new ball bowler and knows to deliver the wickets at cruch situations of the game. Despite not having the experience of playing in IPL, Rabada has played in India before and was instrumental in giving the Proteas a sensational come from behind victory in the opening encounter of the 5 match series. So the young man from South Africa might prove to be the X-factor for Daredevils in this season.