Going to be really hard for DC to patch the cracks in their side: Dirk Nannes

Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indian (MI) kick start their respective Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaigns at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. DC are going to be without many of their international stars like David Warner and Mitchell Marsh among others, while MI do not have such issues going into this game.

Former Australia and Netherlands fast bowler Dirk Nannes believes DC have a lot of cracks in their side without their international stars and are going to be struggling in terms of their depth.

The massive problem for Delhi are the outs for the game. They've got massive outs - Warner, Marsh, Nortje, Mustafizur, Lungi - rich international names that are missing.,” Nannes said on Cricket.com.

“So, it's going to really hard for them to patch the cracks and do their best they can. So, they're going to be struggling in terms of their depth. That's one of the challenges of Ricky Ponting's role is to try and make these players who are coming into the side believe that they belong.

“One of the benefits for Delhi is that Ponting is good at that. There are huge gaps to fill and need these 'maybe players' to step up and perform.”

Having said that, Nannes further adds that he backs MI to win the game comfortably, despite their poor track record when it comes to the opening game. They have lost all their opening game since IPL 2013, but Nannes feels they will turn it around this time.

“MI are going to win comfortably. DC have too many holes to fill. Some of the losses that Mumbai have taken in the first round over the years has been baffling,” Nannes said. 

“They find ways to lose games that they shouldn't lose. You wonder whether they are under-prepared coming into a game. They have got an uncanny knack of doing that. Looking at the two sides, there's too much quality in the Mumbai side and they are going come out with a win.”

Nannes also reckons that a lot of pressure will be relieved off Rishabh Pant given that he has explosive players all around him.

“There is a lot on his shoulders. Having someone like Ponting will bring out his best game. You look at his numbers and you see that his strike-rate is down,” Nannes who played one ODI and 17 T20Is said.

“The quality always rises to the top and you think with some able bodies around him, with the Warners and the Marshes around him, these guys are going to be flying along. 

“He's not going to have any scoreboard pressure when he comes to the crease a lot of the time. He will be allowed to construct an innings and go on to make a dynamic innings we expect out of him. I think he has got a really exciting season ahead because of the cattle he's got around him.”

Speaking of Pant’s counterpart Rohit Sharma, Nannes reckons he will come good again this season.

“In T20 cricket the more experienced the player, the better the quality output you're going to get. Someone like him, like a fine wine. He understands his game exceptionally well.

“He is such an explosive player, he is so familiar with the role. He is playing on pitches that are incredibly familiar to him. Every single year he seems to be ageless. He is going to do it again.”