IPL 2020 preview: Delhi firm favourites with power-packed squad under Shreyas Iyer

Delhi Capitals might not have won the title to date, but their squad overhaul before last season, along with the perfect guidance under Shreyas Iyer, has made them firm favourites. To date, they have never reached the final of the tournament, having reached the playoffs on four occasions.

<p>Delhi Capitals (DC), too, are one of the teams yet to win the title. However, do you know that they are the only side to have never qualified for the final?</p>

Delhi Capitals (DC), too, are one of the teams yet to win the title. However, do you know that they are the only side to have never qualified for the final?

<p>DC, interestingly, have never managed to qualify for the final, despite having reached the playoffs on four occasions. They did reach the playoffs last season, and it was mostly due to the squad overhaul it underwent before the season, followed by a smart shopping in the auction. Consequently, we analyse the team and their chances this season.</p>

DC, interestingly, have never managed to qualify for the final, despite having reached the playoffs on four occasions. They did reach the playoffs last season, and it was mostly due to the squad overhaul it underwent before the season, followed by a smart shopping in the auction. Consequently, we analyse the team and their chances this season.

<p><strong>Heavy team with a title-winning managerial ship:</strong> As said above, DC had done smart shopping in the auctions before last season. With a core of Indian talent, they mostly focused on overseas talent during the auction this season and roped in five flamboyant players. Furthermore, trading in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane is sure to do them wonders. Moreover, with the managerial skills of Ricky Ponting, who won the title with Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2015, the side has been tipped as the dark horse for this season.</p>

Heavy team with a title-winning managerial ship: As said above, DC had done smart shopping in the auctions before last season. With a core of Indian talent, they mostly focused on overseas talent during the auction this season and roped in five flamboyant players. Furthermore, trading in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane is sure to do them wonders. Moreover, with the managerial skills of Ricky Ponting, who won the title with Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2015, the side has been tipped as the dark horse for this season.

<p><strong>Players to watch out- Ashwin:</strong> Although pacer Kagiso Rabada was their star last season, having finished as their highest wicket-taker, things would be different this season. With the tournament being held in the UAE, spinners would be in demand, as veteran Ashwin, in all likeliness, would deliver. He was also the second-highest wicket-taker for Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) last season, while the slow tracks in UAE are sure to help him perform better.</p>

Players to watch out- Ashwin: Although pacer Kagiso Rabada was their star last season, having finished as their highest wicket-taker, things would be different this season. With the tournament being held in the UAE, spinners would be in demand, as veteran Ashwin, in all likeliness, would deliver. He was also the second-highest wicket-taker for Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) last season, while the slow tracks in UAE are sure to help him perform better.

<p><strong>Rishabh Pant: </strong>It was due to Rishabh Pant's furious gameplay, DC managed to qualify for the playoffs last season, supported well by captain Shreyas Iyer. While Iyer would be important again this season, Pant, too, is likely to keep up with the same momentum, as he would also eye a spot in the national side that is due to tour Australia in November.</p>

Rishabh Pant: It was due to Rishabh Pant's furious gameplay, DC managed to qualify for the playoffs last season, supported well by captain Shreyas Iyer. While Iyer would be important again this season, Pant, too, is likely to keep up with the same momentum, as he would also eye a spot in the national side that is due to tour Australia in November.

<p><strong>Iyer:</strong> The captain is always watched out for and things would be the same with Shreyas Iyer as well. It was owing to his charming captaincy, followed by his captivating batting, DC managed to do spectacles. The side would once again be relying on his assistance, as he could be a surprise package this term, both as a batsman and a captain.</p>

Iyer: The captain is always watched out for and things would be the same with Shreyas Iyer as well. It was owing to his charming captaincy, followed by his captivating batting, DC managed to do spectacles. The side would once again be relying on his assistance, as he could be a surprise package this term, both as a batsman and a captain.

<p><strong>Squad:</strong> Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Shimron Hetmyer, Daniel Sams, Keemo Paul, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Sandeep Lamichhane.</p>

Squad: Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Shimron Hetmyer, Daniel Sams, Keemo Paul, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Sandeep Lamichhane.

<p><strong>2020 prediction: </strong>For the first time, with more strength than weaknesses, the team is a firm favourite to not just qualify for the playoffs, but even the final. All it needs to do is to click as a unit, and under the ingenious managerial ship, along with a sharp skipper, DC have the best chance to lift the title this term. It would need a miraculous underperformance from the side to fall out this time.</p>

2020 prediction: For the first time, with more strength than weaknesses, the team is a firm favourite to not just qualify for the playoffs, but even the final. All it needs to do is to click as a unit, and under the ingenious managerial ship, along with a sharp skipper, DC have the best chance to lift the title this term. It would need a miraculous underperformance from the side to fall out this time.