Top players to playing 11: Know about Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2020

Delhi Capitals has one of the best assortments of India internationals comprising Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan. Check DC playing 11, squad and full schedule here

Delhi Capitals would look to build upon its last season performance and coach Ricky Ponting would not expect anything less than qualification for playoffs in the 13^th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL 2020). Last season, DC led by Shreyas Iyer finished third in the league.
 
With the inclusion of big Indian cricketers – R Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane – and the likes of West Indian power hitter Shimron Hetmyer in the squad, Ponting has to do a lot of thinking before picking the best playing 11. In fact, Delhi Capitals is the only side in this season who won’t be that much bothered by slow and sticky UAE wickets.

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The Delhi based franchise has three quality spinner in its squad who can spin the web around any opposition. 

Delhi Capitals playing 11 prediction

DC tentative playing 11: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Kasigo Rabada, Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma.
 
Delhi Capitals batsmen
 
Delhi Capitals leadership group would have to figure out whether Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma could fit into the same playing XI in IPL 2020 or not, given all of them are not a regular in India limited over side.

Meanwhile, Capitals has one of the best assortments of India internationals across formats comprising Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan, apart from the three veterans. A good headache for Ponting, who could chip and change its playing 11 depending upon opposition and wickets.
 
Delhi Capitals bowling department
 
On paper, Delhi Capitals bowling lineup also looks astonishing as it has the likes of South African spearhead Kasigo Rabada and IPL's second highest wicket-taker Amit Mishra (157 scalps), along with Axar Patel, whose only fault is that he is playing in Ravindra Jadeja's era, and Mohit Sharma, who was the surprise package during the 2015 ODI World Cup.
 
Check 2020 IPL full schedule here

Delhi Capitals’ key player:
 
For all practical reasons, Ashwin looks a sure-shot starter in the playing 11 against Kings XI Punjab on September 20, as Iyer will then have an option to use his crafty senior off-spinner in the powerplay against a certain Chris Gayle.
 
Ashwin is also someone who can possibly guide the bowlers standing at mid-on or mid-off and in pressure situations, can be the sounding board that a young captain like Iyer would want by his side.
 
Business Standard took a look at the DC squad and picked top five players who can become game-changers:
 

Overall, in 62 matches, Shreyas Iyer has scored 1,681 runs at an average of 30.56 and a strike rate of 126.96. File photo: PTI

Shreyas Iyer, Indian cricket team

• IPL role: Captain, Delhi Capitals
• National role: Middle-order batsman
• Batting style: Right handed batsman 

After taking up the captaincy for DC mid-season during IPL 2018, Shreyas Iyer marched his troops successfully to the playoffs in IPL 2019. After a successful IPL stint, he has been a regular in India cricket team now. Iyer was bought by Delhi Daredevils (Delhi Capitals now) in 2015 IPL players auction for Rs 2.6 crore (the highest amount an uncapped player earned that year).

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Shreyas Iyer IPL record
 
In his debut season, Iyer piled up 439 runs in 14 matches at an average of 33.76 and a strike rate of 128.39, with four fifties. Overall, in 62 matches, he has scored 1,681 runs at an average of 30.56 and a strike rate of 126.96.
 
Prithvi Shaw, Indian cricket team

• National role: Opener in Test matches
• Batting style: Right handed batsman

Prithvi Shaw was in superb form last season and scored 353 runs at an average of 22.06 and a strike rate of 133.71. He is the youngest player to open the innings in the IPL history and joint-youngest player to score an IPL fifty, along with Sanju Samson (18 years and 169 days). Overall, Shaw has played 25 IPL matches so far and scored 598 runs at an average of 23.92 and a strike rate of 141.03, including four fifties, his best score of 99 has come in in 2019 edition of IPL.
 

Photo: IPL Twiiter

Rishabh Pant, Indian cricket team

• National role: Wicket-keeper batsman
• Batting style: Left handed batsman 

After a brilliant last season, Rishabh Pant was sent as a replacement for Shikhar Dhawan during ICC World Cup 2019. However, he failed to make an any impression in the semifinal, which India lost to New Zealand. Since then Pant has been trolled on twitter and other social media platforms due to his shoddy glove work behind the wicket and poor shot selection.
 
Finally, he lost his place in India playing 11 and replaced by K L Rahul. The major setback came to him during the five-match T20 International in New Zealand, when he was not selected for a single match. The hard hitting southpaw would like to make a strong statement in IPL 2020 with a strong show. A good IPL 2020 would make his case strong for 2021 ICC T20 World Cup in India.
 
Shimron Hetmyer, West Indies cricket team

Batting style: Left-handed batsman, middle order
 
Shimron Hetmyer was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 4.2 crore last season but failed to make any impression. Ahead of the IPL 2020 auctions, RCB released him and later bought by Delhi Capitals for whopping Rs 7.75 crore. Delhi Capitals has been in desperate need to have an overseas player in the middle order after it released Colin Ingram ahead of auctions. Hetmyer would be rearing to make a mark in the world’s richest cricket league. During the limited over series against India in 2019, he sent Indian bowlers to leather hunt.
 

Last season, Kagiso Rabada took 25 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 14.72 and an economy rate of 7.82. File photo: PTI

Kagiso Rabada, South Africa cricket team

Bowling style: Right arm medium-fast
 
Kagiso Rabada has been a go to bowler for Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2019. He showed superb bowling skills during super over against Kolkata Knight Riders as he bowled Yorkers at will and defended 10 runs. However, he has to leave for South Africa mid-season due to injury. Last season, he took 25 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 14.72 and an economy rate of 7.82.

Here is the full schedule of Delhi Capitals:

Delhi Capitals Full Schedule
Date	Match	Time	Venue	Day
20-Sep-20	DC vs KXIP	7:30 PM IST	DUBAI	Sunday
25-Sep-20	CSK vs DC	7:30 PM IST	DUBAI	Friday
29-Sep-20	DC vs SRH	7:30 PM IST	ABU DHABI	Tuesday
3-Oct-20	DC vs KKR	7:30 PM IST	SHARJAH	Saturday
5-Oct-20	RCB vs DC	7:30 PM IST	DUBAI	Monday
9-Oct-20	RR vs DC	7:30 PM IST	SHARJAH	Friday
11-Oct-20	MI vs DC	7:30 PM IST	ABU DHABI	Sunday
14-Oct-20	DC vs RR	7:30 PM IST	DUBAI	Wednesday
17-Oct-20	DC vs CSK	7:30 PM IST	SHARJAH	Saturday
20-Oct-20	KXIP vs DC	7:30 PM IST	DUBAI	Tuesday
24-Oct-20	KKR vs DC	3:30 PM IST	ABU DHABI	Saturday
27-Oct-20	SRH vs DC	7:30 PM IST	DUBAI	Tuesday
31-Oct-20	DC vs MI	3:30 PM IST	DUBAI	Saturday
2-Nov-20	DC vs RCB	7:30 PM IST	ABU DHABI	Monday

Full list of Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2020 players, along with their salaries:

Player	Team	Retained/bought/traded	Price (Rs cr)
Ajinkya Rahane	DC	Traded in	5.25
Alex Carey	DC	Bought	2.40
Amit Mishra	DC	Retained	4.00
Avesh Khan	DC	Retained	0.70
Axar Patel	DC	Retained	5.00
Chris Woakes	DC	Bought	1.50
Harshal Patel	DC	Retained	0.20
Ishant Sharma	DC	Retained	1.10
Jason Roy	DC	Bought	1.50
Kagiso Rabada	DC	Retained	4.20
Keemo Paul	DC	Retained	0.50
Lalit Yadav (uncapped)	DC	Bought	0.20
Marcus Stoinis	DC	Bought	4.80
Mohit Sharma	DC	Bought	0.50
Prithvi Shaw	DC	Retained	1.20
R Ashwin	DC	Traded in	7.60
Rishabh Pant	DC	Retained	15.00
Sandeep Lamichhane	DC	Retained	0.20
Shikhar Dhawan	DC	Retained	5.20
Shimron Hetmyer	DC	Bought	7.75
Shreyas Iyer	DC	Retained	7.00
Tushar Deshpande (uncapped)	DC	Bought	0.20