IPL 2023: David Warner's DC seek maiden title with lack of Indian pacers

Rishabh Pant's absence considerably reduces Delhi Capitals' chances in upcoming edition of Indian Premier League as fear factor associated with franchise won't be re this time round.

What could affect Ricky Ponting-coached side even more is lack of quality Indian pacers in team, which will start its campaign against Luckw Super Giants on April 1.

While Mitchell Marsh and Kuldeep Yadav's form will boost DC's morale, t being able to find an ideal Indian replacement for Pant will certainly give think tank sleepless nights.

One thing that could turn out to be a disadvant for Delhi Capitals is 'Impact Player' rule as some of ir veterans are t up to scratch in terms of being an X-factor eir with bat or ball.

To be honest, DC's success will depend more on ir four overseas players than Indian talent that's re in its cupboard.

Here's a SWOT analysis of side:

Strengths

presence of three foreigners with ability to win games singlehandedly is DC's biggest plus point. Mitchell Marsh could be enforcer in powerplay and his power-hitting in top three is something that DC will bank upon. If he could slip in an over or two, all more better.

David Warner, since time he started playing IPL has rarely had a bad season save one where he fell foul with Sunrisers Hyderabad manment.

Anrich rtje is one of scariest pacers in world cricket and with an aver speed of 150 clicks, he will be dangerous on most days, although re is a likelihood that batters would use his pace to good effect on smaller grounds.

Weaknesses

Rishabh Pant's absence cant be compensated and head coach Ricky Ponting during media session was very clear that he can't "joke" or "gloss over" fact that Pant is irreplaceable in this set-up as a . 4 batter and also a leader.

problem in Pant's absence is lack of an Indian second wicketkeeper, something recruiters perhaps failed to factor in during auction, as one could have envisd a horrific accident for world's numero u keeper-batter.

DC has Phill Salt in its roster and he is a very useful T20 cricketer with a good record in little cricket he has played in sub-continent (Pakistan). But paying an overseas keeper means that DC will t be able to use a specialist foreign bowler in playing XI while fielding. 

Hence it is imperative that keepers like Barinder Vivek Singh or Luvnith Sisiodia do well in trials and give m an option to play a foreign bowler like Mustafizur Rahaman, who is brilliant at death.

Opportunities

For Prithvi Shaw, this edition could be an acid test as he has chance to get rid of all negative perceptions that have followed him since he found stardom as an India U-19 captain five summers back.

His contemporary Shubman Gill has become a star in senior team set-up and Shaw, who is supremely talented, would love to make best use of it. Ponting feels that his ward is working hard eugh and he could see a spark in him like never before. This could be a season of redemption for Shaw.

Threats

Pace bowling is one department where DC is really short on quality in terms of Indian players. With Avesh Khan going to LSG and Shardul Thakur traded to KKR, DC will have to depend on rtje and Mustafizur in pace and seam bowling department. 

Khaleel Ahmed, who is coming back from surgery, hasn't exactly done eugh to earn confidence of anyone while Ishant Sharma's best days are behind him.

'Impact Player' rule will be used differently by different outfits but truth be told, DC do t have eugh players with X-factor in its ranks. 

One player, who could be used as super-sub is veteran Ishant as it would be difficult to keep him on field for more than a span of eight overs and let him bowl his quota of four. Those who have seen Ishant at training are aware that his pace has dropped considerably and fitness is certainly t up to mark. This is more to do with t playing eugh domestic games.

Ponting is impressed with what he saw in Aman Hakim Khan, a Mumbai boy with a modest record in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) but rated highly.

With an ecomy rate of 8.15, he is more of a bits and pieces bowler, who has been used as a pinch-hitting floater by Mumbai in SMAT, where he has also opened alongside Shaw.

But in DC, role will be different and IPL will bring its own set of pressures.