“You don’t have a gun finisher” – Aakash Chopra on Delhi Capitals’ weaknesses heading into IPL 2024

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels Delhi Capitals don’t have a gun finisher, which could be their Achilles Heel for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. The Capitals had brought Harry Brook in IPL 2024 auction but the England batter decided to opt out of the tournament due to a personal reason.

The franchise has a potent top order but don’t have a finisher in their squad. Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel are expected to bat for the Capitals at number six and seven respectively but they are not known for their pyrotechnics.

“I see their lower-middle order as their biggest weakness. It has become a perennial issue. They will try to get the top order to also do the finisher’s role, that their top four or five batters do the jobs of No. 6 and No. 7 as well,” Aakash Chopra elaborated said on his YouTube Channel.

“Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel are the names written at Nos. 6 and 7 at the moment, or else Kumar Kushagra. They are good players but you don’t have a gun finisher. They had Rovman Powell and Rilee Rossouw, who could bat up the order. They are not thinking about the No. 6 and No. 7 slots at all,” the former India opener added.

The Capitals have a potent Indian bowling line-up in Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar but the former Delhi player feels their overseas pace battery could be an issue

“Their Indian fast bowling is decent because you see Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar there. They have Rasikh Salam as well. Overseas becomes a bit of an issue. They actually spent a lot of money to buy Jhye Richardson,” he said.

Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out with an injury whereas Chopra reckons there will be question marks on Anrich Nortje’s fitness.

“So among the overseas, they have Jhye Richardson and Anrich Nortje, because Lungisani Ngidi has gotten injured. We are not entirely sure of Nortje’s fitness. So could overseas fast bowling be an issue because you will want to play Nortje but what if he is not fully fit? So that could be a potential issue,” Chopra noted.

Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against Punjab Kings at Mohali on March 23.