After a dismal performance which led to the debacle of IPL 4, Delhi Daredevils are back with fire of vengeance and fightback in their heart. The two time semi-finalist from the heart of the country will be looking to put their names back into the league of top notch sides in IPL. Delhi has always been a side with great squad so what makes the difference this time around? What are the weapons in Daredevil’s arsenal this time which can make them a title-contender in IPL5?

1. Balanced squad:

With an average of 25.5 years Delhi has a relatively young squad at the same time mid 20s are always a number of balanced age when you are young as well have apt amount of experience. Age is not the only aspect of making this team balanced but the right players for right requirements is what makes this team a dangerous competitor. For the opening pair Delhi has one of the most dangerous pair in the form of Sehwag and Warner but this was also the case when Gauti was still part of Delhi. I guess the biggest weapon of destruction for Daredevils is going to be their middle order trio of Pietersen, Jayawadene and Ross Taylor. These three names can send a chill down the spine of any bowler or opposition. Naman Ojha the wicket-keeper batsmen is an able performer at any position while the addition of Doug Bracewell & Andre Russell makes a stronger looking list of all-rounder along with experienced Irfan Pathan. Also Delhi’s bowling department looks like a very exciting zone with Aaron, Umesh Yadav and Morne Morkel leading the attack.

2. Thinking team:

Delhi Daredevil this time is a team full of past and present captains which adds to the thinking ability of the team and hence tackling of difficult situation an easy task. Sehwag along with being the captain of the Franchise is also the deputy to Dhoni in the national side. Mahela is present Sri Lankan national team captain and now the newly crowned vice-captain of Daredevils and he is not the only national captain in the side as he joined by New Zealand swashbuckling captain Ross Taylor. If we go on Kevin Pietersen has also had a brief stint as captain of England side. So with four captains in the side this idea surely sounds nice but can also be a major reason of clash of ideas. But if shown the right direction their experience and captaincy skills will not only help the whole squad but will help the franchise to scale new heights.

3. Fans make a team:

Delhi is always known as ‘Dil walo ki Dilli’ (Delhi is a place of people with amazing hearts) and when Dil is on Delhi Daredevils there is no looking back. After a little bit of hiccup during the last IPL when some fans might have chosen a route away from the illustrious Feroz Shah Kotla stadium this time a rejuvenated Daredevils franchise has taken it upon themselves to not only bring those lost fans back but to make whole of Delhi support their IPL franchise. Delhi Daredevils must have already gained many followers with the launch of four Superfans which easily represents ‘Who needs a famous celebrity when you can find stars among common people’. And this thought process might take Daredevils a long way as I truly believe a team is as big as the support it gets from their fans.

4. Gift of Experience:

No doubt the addition of Taylor, KP & Mahela has taken the experience quotient of Daredevils to a new level but players like Umesh Yadav & Varun Aaron who were uncapped players last time have now already made their debut with the senior team. Experience is something which a player utilises to mould his career, experience is what gives a face to a players career and experience is what the whole movie is made of when the player is in the stadium. So experience with national side is going to do Aaron & Yadav great good and hence it contributes to a better looking bowling attack.      

5. Other Artillery:

• Players coming into IPL with rich vein of form on the international circuit. Players like KP, Mahela, Taylor, Umesh Yadav & Morkel are in the purple patch of their career. Many of you must be thinking i am shying away from talking about Sehwag frankly speaking I am not because he one kind of players who hits a purple patch in driest of the desserts. Or as TA Sekhar says “He is saving it for the IPL”
• Eric Simons at the helm of backroom staff is a positive step towards a bigger picture. Simons has been closely involved with Indian national side and Delhi Daredevils in the past years which makes him a coach who wouldn’t need time to adjust to Indian conditions, Indian players or as a matter of fact to India. And his bowling expertise can do wonders to comparably young bowling attack.
• Delhi Daredevils are taking interaction with the Delhites to a new level. Last year they opened the first and only IPL team to own a sports bar when they got a space at Indira Gandhi International airport. This time around along with the launch of Superfans, Daredevils have come up with a catchy theme song ‘Khele Front Foot Pe’, new interactive web-site, soon to launch Daredevils Superfans fashion line and many competitions for their fans which has left Delhi buzzing much before the IPL even started. I guess there is not going to be only a 29-30 member squad but a squad full of 17 million Delhites.

So as it can be seen there have been many changes in this Delhi Daredevils franchise and all seems to be for the good. Now its for us living in Delhi to come out of our lazy monotonous daily schedule to bring life to this year’s IPL and push & pull the Daredevils to the top the IPL exactly where Delhi belongs. Or as it is said its time ‘Hum Khele Front Foot Pe’.