Renowned commentator, Aakash Chopra recently picked his ideal playing XI of Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020. He carried out this exercise of picking the ideal playing in a video uploaded on Facebook.
Aakash Chopra named Shikhar Dhawan as the number one choice for the opening position. Dhawan performed brilliantly in the last season against Delhi Capitals and would be hoping for a similar show this year as well. Chopra went with Prithvi Shaw as the second opener alongside Dhawan. Though Delhi has the choice to pick Rahane as well but the commentator reckons that the team would go for Shaw and Dhawan as their first-choice openers.
At number three is Shreyas Iyer. The former Indian cricketer opined that Shreyas Iyer will be the standout performer for Delhi Capitals this year. Considering the fact that Iyer plays beautifully against spin, the skipper is expected to come out all guns blazing this year.
It will be followed by Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer at number four and five respectively. Both of them play an aggressive brand of cricket and would be handy in the middle overs for the side. Akash Chopra chose Alex Carey as the wicket-keeper in the side. He also made this decision keeping in mind his proficiency against spin.
In the all-rounders’ department, Chopra picked Axar Patel ahead of Marcus Stoinis. Given that all the above six players cannot bowl, Axar Patel is likely get preference over Stoinis in the side. At number 8, is Ravi Ashwin. Aakash Chopra reckons that Ashwin is likely to perform well in the UAE conditions and could be handy with the bat as well.
Chopra went with Amit Mishra as the leg-spinner in the side. Amit Mishra is the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL and has been a vital cog in the team over the years.
In the pace department, Akash Chopra has picked Ishant Sharma and Kagiso Rabada as the two-seamers in the team. Both the bowlers performed brilliantly last season. It would be interesting to see how they bowl in tougher conditions this year.
Aakash Chopra’s Ideal Delhi Capitals Playing XI:
Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Alex Carey, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada
