Before the 2015 Indian Premier League starts on April 8, The National will preview each of the eight teams.
Delhi Daredevils
Overview
The Daredevils have never been short of star power. Players such as Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Kevin Pietersen, AB de Villiers, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratane Dilshan, David Warner, Morne Morkel, Daniel Vettori, Ross Taylor, Aaron Finch and Glenn McGrath have graced their roster through the years. Yet, success has proved elusive.
The Delhi franchise are the only team, from the original group of eight, yet to reach a final. The closest they came was in the 2009 tournament, held in South Africa, when the Daredevils, led by Gambhir, De Villiers and Nannes, reached the last four, winning 10 of their 14 matches to finish at top of the league table.
However, in their semi-final, against the Deccan Chargers, they imploded. The two openers, Gambhir and Warner, were out without scoring and then Nannes and Co were smashed mercilessly by Adam Gilchrist, who made a 35-ball 85 and reached his 50 off only 17 balls.
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Since then, it has been mostly downhill for the team, though they have spent lavishly every season. Delhi have reached the semis only once since, in 2012, and have finished at the bottom of the table in the last two seasons, winning a mere five of 30 matches in those two campaigns.
Disappointed with those results, the team owners decided to build a new team for this season and bought 14 players at auction, including the most expensive player of this year, Yuvraj Singh.
South Africa’s JP Duminy has been named captain and, with a South African, Gary Kirsten, heading the coaching staff, the owners will be hoping the Daredevils will finally start living up to their name.
There is no doubtingYuvraj, bought for a whooping 160 million Indian rupees, or Dh9.4 million, an IPL record, is a match-winner and he seems determined to prove he is worth the money, as well as a place in the India ODI team. The southpaw is hoping the IPL will be his vehicle back into international cricket.
Rising star Srikar Bharat, 21, the first wicketkeeper to score a triple century in the Ranji Trophy will be keen to make his mark in the IPL.
Other star names
JP Duminy – The Daredevils’ top run-scorer in 2014, the South African has been handed the captaincy this time and the Proteas star could relish that extra responsibility.
Quinton de Kock – The South Africa wicketkeeper failed to find a regular spot in 2014, playing only seven matches, but he should be a regular feature at the top of the order this season.
Mohammed Shami – Fresh from his exploits at the World Cup, where he finished with 17 wickets, the India quick will be hoping to deliver for Delhi as well after a disappointing 2014, when he picked up only seven wickets in 12 matches at an average of 52.71.
Imran Tahir – The Daredevils’ most successful bowler in 2014 with nine wickets from six games at an average of 19.00, the South African could be contender for the Purple cap this time, especially after his success at the World Cup, where he finished with 15 wickets on unhelpful tracks.
Zaheer Khan – Delhi’s third most expensive purchase at auction, the former India speedster should be looking forward to bowling in tandem with Shami and proving he still has some fire left in him.
Angelo Mathews – The Sri Lanka captain was Delhi’s second most expensive buy at the February auction (INR75m). Like Yuvraj, he can deliver with both bat and ball.
Coach Gary Kirsten
Previous seasons: 2014 – 8th, 2013 – 9th, 2012 – 3rd, 2011 – 10th, 2010 – 5th, 2009 – 3rd, 2008 – 4th
The National's verdict: On paper, the Daredevils seem to have assembled a pretty formidable squad, and if the players can play to their potential, Delhi could be challenging for a top-four finish.
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