Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has praised Delhi Capitals’ top order for the upcoming Indian Premier League. The Capitals will have David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Tristan Stubbs, and Shai Hope as their six top batters.
David Warner, who led the franchise in the previous season, top-scored for Delhi Capitals with 560 runs in 14 matches. Furthermore, Rishabh Pant will return for the Capitals as a captain, which will be a big boost to the team.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “They have a destructive top order. Prithvi Shaw just hits. He has even hit six fours in an over. He did that against Shivam Mavi. Form – things have changed a lot from last year to this year. If David Warner wishes to hit, he does that very well. He didn’t make up his mind to do that last year.”
“Mitchell Marsh also drives his car in the flying gear. After that, Rishabh Pant. I have named him Rishabh ‘destructive’ Pant in any case. If I keep Tristan Stubbs at No. 5, his batting also stuns everyone. So the top five are absolutely mind-blowing,” the former India opener added.
On the other hand, the Capitals also have a potent spin battery as they have Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Yadav recently scalped 19 wickets in four Test matches against England and has been in terrific form.
“Their second strength is that their spin department is good. They have two very good spinners. They have an eight-over bank – four overs each from Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, both of whom are doing very well,” he said
While admitting that the third spinner is not Delhi Capitals’ strength, Chopra feels the franchise has their spin bowling bases covered with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav.
“The third spinner becomes a little weak area at times. They use Lalit Yadav at times and Pravin Dubey on other occasions. However, if you have two spinners who will play all matches and are both Indians and wicket-takers, I would say you can keep spin among their strengths,” Chopra stated.
Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against Punjab Kings at Mohali on March 23.
