IPL 2023: Reviewing Delhi Capitals’ Poor Season

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Ricky Ponting Delhi Capitals

After skipper Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, things always were going to be tough for Delhi Capitals (DC). And losing 5 games on the bounce at the start of the IPL didn’t help their cause at all.

Delhi Capitals had a poor IPL season as they finished in the 9th position. They managed to avoid the wooden spoon as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) finished with 8 points and Delhi had 10 points at the end of their season.

Several questions need to be asked and several areas need to be looked at post this season for the Delhi management. They might have to take the tough and bold call to let go of some high-profile cricketers and invest in the youth.

David Warner was the sole performer with the bat

A hapless stand-in-captain, David Warner didn’t get any support from his teammates in the batting department. The Australian fiery opener consistently played well in IPL 2023 and mustered 516 runs for the team and finished as DC’s highest run-scorer.

David Warner often found himself stranded at one end and kept witnessing wickets tumbling from the other end. Warner often didn’t have a good strike-rate in the tournament and the lack of support at the other end was one of the sole reasons for that.

Indian batters didn’t perform well at all

The likes of Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey and Aman Hakim Khan had forgettable IPL season. We have often said this in the past that the Indian players really need to step up if a franchise wants to perform well in this cash-rich league.

While Pandey and Shaw scored 160 and 106 runs respectively, Aman Khan could manage to muster only 110 runs.

Anrich Nortje couldn’t deliver as per his expectations

One of the fastest bowlers in this generation, express pacer Anrich Nortje had a hot and cold IPL 2023. He bagged 10 wickets in 10 games and failed to be that intimidating factor which Delhi Capitals needed him to be.

He often was belted for runs as the batters took advantage of his pace. Delhi Capitals will have to take a call whether they would want to continue with Anrich Nortje.

Ishant Sharma found his mojo back

Regarded as a Test bowler, Ishant Sharma wasn’t initially in the plans of Delhi Capitals. But an injury to Chetan Sakariya and the poor form of some other DC bowlers prompted Warner to bring Ishant Sharma to the playing XI.

And the veteran Indian bowler played exceedingly well. In 8 games, Ishant Sharma took 10 wickets and had a good IPL 2023 season.

Also read: IPL 2023: Review Of KKR’s Hot And Cold Performance