IPL 2021: Rating the bench strength of each team

Delhi Capitals (7.5/10)

Probable Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravi Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma.

Major Bench Strength Players: Avesh Khan, Pravin Dubey, Amit Mishra, Chris Woakes, Umesh Yadav, Vishnu Vinod, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Steve Smith.

With Marcus Stoinis, Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje being the top three overseas picks, either Steve Smith or Shimron Hetmyer can then be fitted in the playing XI. In terms of other reserve batters, Sam Billings is a fitting candidate to bat anywhere in the top seven. Someone like a Vishnu Vinod can also be chipped mainly as a backup wicket-keeper batsman, in case if there’s a need.

In the bowling department, DC is well known to heavily rely on the two overseas pacer strategy and that’s the reason why both Chris Woakes and Tom Curran can be understood as those reserves. In the spin department, the experience of Amit Mishra will be extensively used on the spinning pitches and someone like Umesh Yadav along with Avesh Khan can be viewed as a cover for Ishant Sharma.

All in all, the DC camp might have a solid core of front-line proponents but in terms of backup, the team does get scraggy. However, to continue with their successful overseas pace bowling idea, the team has got some exuberant reserves.