IPL 2018

Iyer and the task of fixing DD's problems

by Vishaal Loganathan • Last updated on

Shreyas Iyer, who took over the mantle of captaining the Delhi franchise from Gambhir, has plenty of problems to deal with. Photo credit - Delhi Daredevils © Cricbuzz

It's just his first game as captain, but already Shreyas Iyer has plenty of things to deal with. Thenewly-appointed captainof the Delhi Daredevils squad has not only the burden of resurrecting DD's campaign, he also has to ensure that he rallies his team's charges and makes them believe in the miracles he's hoping to create with the team.

Here are some of the issues Iyer has to immediately address as his team struggles to keep themselves in the hunt in IPL 2018.

Drop Gautam Gambhir?

Gautam Gambhir may have done something heroic by stepping away from captaincy and letting a younger leader take charge of the ship, but the problem regarding his form still remains. The left-hander has managed just one good score, that came in the side's opening match, and has an array of single digit scores since then.

With Prithvi Shaw showing some spirit with the bat in his last game, and if Jason Roy is fit, there could be a case for DD to go in with the duo and dropping Gambhir to the bench in the process. Delhi have struggled to get quick starts in the batting powerplays this edition, and dropping Gambhir could solve a major issue for them.

However, Delhi are likely to give Gambhir some rope, atleast to see how he does now that captaincy is off his shoulders.

Glenn Maxwell's lack of form.

The Australian has played five games for DD this season, but his aggregate is yet to reach the three figure mark. For a player who acts as the link between the top and lower orders, Maxwell needed to hit the ground running in this IPL. That he has not has snowballed into DD's problems.

Maxwell is still a big name, and dropping him won't be something the think-tank will be thinking of. However, they will want to ensure they get him to play at his prime. One of the options, Iyer has at his disposal would be to give the right-hander a promotion. Maxwell has, in the past, said that he would love batting up the order, and granting such a wish might just get the best out of him. That would mean Iyer drops down one position and plays at four. Not such a bad proposition given his form, but would DD want to tinker with the one thing that's working for them?

Who's the bowling trump card?

Despite boasting of some great variety, DD have struggled to make an impact with the ball. Trent Boult has been their go-to bowler, but without a spinner running through sides, the Delhi franchise was always going to struggle.

Amit Mishra, the experienced leg-spinner, has faltered, while the likes of Shahbaz Nadeem and Rahul Tewatia have played only bit parts so far. In Liam Plunkett and Avesh Khan, DD found two other pacers who could be weapons for them, but they will quickly need for one of their spinners to put their hand up.

Bowler-heavy again?

In the last game, DD went in with the extra bowler and that almost paid them immediate dividends. However, they could have won the game had they enjoyed the cushion of an extra batsman.

This is where Iyer faces a conundrum. Does he stick to the combo that played in the last game against KXIP, or does he put faith in the extra batter.

The fact that Mishra is not doing so well with the ball could just sway him into playing an extra batsman. The likes of Gurukeerat Singh Mann or Abhishek Sharma could just be the throw of dice that revives DD.

Should he decide to go in bowler-heavy again, he will hope his batsmen, including himself, stand up stronger than before.

© Cricbuzz

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