Delhi Capitals will open their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1.
Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has also joined the bandwagon as he named Delhi Capitals’ playing XI and also made a bold prediction that they won’t qualify for the playoffs.
With Rishabh Pant being injured following a car crash last December, the Capitals were seeking an able candidate for the leadership role and they handed over the job to veteran opener David Warner earlier this month.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “What could be Delhi's XI? You can get David Warner to open alongside Prithvi Shaw. You can keep Mitchell Marsh at No. 3 because you will not send either David Warner or Prithvi Shaw at No. 3.”
While picking the middle order, Aakash Chopra got confused as he was uncertain about their wicketkeeper option in the absence of Pant.
"Then you will have to have Manish Pandey at No. 4. Remember that there is no keeper thus far. Then Rilee Rossouw or Rovman Powell at No. 5. At No. 6, Sarfaraz Khan or any other keeper. We don't even know who is going to keep. I am thinking Sarfaraz Khan but I don't know," he said.
Choosing their bowling attack, Chopra stated, “Then Akshar Patel at No. 7. After that, Kuldeep Yadav and three pacers among your four bowlers. That's what I am thinking because Mitchell Marsh is not bowling. In the three pacers, you can have Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, and either Mukesh Kumar or Ishant Sharma.”
Looking at their possible playing XI, Aakash Chopra eventually cited that DC would not qualify for the playoffs.
"Only three teams (from the original franchises) have not lifted the trophy so far - Punjab, Delhi and RCB. Delhi have also come close, all teams come close sometime or the other, but I don't think they will come close this time," he said.
While the IPL 2023 season is slated to get underway on March 31, Delhi Capitals will open their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1.