Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab, 7th Match

Delhi Daredevils — hardly a feared outfit
 Series: Indian Premier League, 2016 Venue: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi Date & Time: Apr 15,  08:00 PM  LOCAL

Delhi Daredevils twekers Amit MIshra and Pawan Negi hone their skills on the eve of the match against Kings XI Punjab.

 Indian Premier League — 2016

KXIP has had the better of the exchanges between them

One team that has consistently failed to inspire any confidence in its supporters for the past three editions of the Indian Premier League is Delhi Daredevils.

Consider this: In 2013, DD finished ninth. In 2014, it was eighth and last year, it was seventh. In these seasons, DD played 44 matches, lost 33 and won just 10!

This year, too, it has started with a defeat. In its first home game of the season on Friday, DD takes on Kings XI Punjab, which is also looking for its first win after the opening loss at Mohali against Gujarat Lions.

On paper, Kings XI appears a far better side than DD. A formidable batting line-up and a reasonably good attack combine to make Kings XI one of the dark horses in the race for a place in the play-offs. Even if one goes by their head-to-head record, Kings lead DD 9-7. Though last year Kings finished last, they boast of a few match-winners, something that Daredevils lack.

Baffling choices

It is baffling to find the kind of players DD opted for in the auction. If it was indeed serious about winning the IPL, its selection of players did not reflect it.

Its batting line-up comprising Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer and Karun Nair, to go with flamboyant opener Quinton de Kock and all-rounder J-P. Duminy, is far from intimidating.

To top it all, the think-tank of the team, headed by coach Paddy Upton, considered it value-for-money to invest a whopping Rs. 8.5 crore on Pawan Negi and another Rs. 7 crore on Chris Morris.

The bowling at the disposal of skipper Zaheer Khan, himself a spent force, looks a shade better. A perpetually injury-prone Mohammed Shami, fellow right-arm pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile — bought for Rs. 4.25 crore each — apart from leg-spinners Amit Mishra and South Africa’s Imran Tahir along with Shahbaz Nadeem, Negi and Jayant Yadav form the unit.

DD, which has lost more matches in the competition than any other, does not promise to improve its record a great deal this season. Lacking in resources, the side cannot expect even a mentor like Rahul Dravid to cast his magic.

This is not to say DD is not going to win matches. Given the nature of the format, every team wins at least a couple of matches.

Like in 2014, out of the 14 matches, DD won just two! This year, too, the number is likely to be low for DD looks a perfect candidate to be among the also-rans.