Virender Sehwag's side enter IPL4 as one of the rank outsiders.

Man for man they simply do not compare to the Delhi squad which reached the semi-final in 2008 with a long list of superstars, including Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Glenn McGrath, AB de Villiers and Daniel Vettori.

All the big names except for Sehwag have been jettisoned. The problem for Delhi is that have not been replaced by cricketers of equal stature. Bids for Dilshan, de Villiers, Dirk Nannes and former captain Gautam Gambhir all failed.

Strengths

The opening partnership of David Warner and Sehwag is as potentially explosive as any in the tournament, though arguably Delhi might benefit from having a more contrasting pair at the top of the innings.

After the openers, the Delhi batting lacks big names and desperately needs the lesser lights, such as Unmukt Chand, Colin Ingram and Aaron Finch to spring some surprises.

The Delhi all-rounders can be expected to make useful contributions. Robert Frylink is a hero back home in South Africa and Van der Merwe and Pathan should produce a few runs and wickets.

Weaknesses

Delhi's bowling is over-dependent on their one world-class seamer, South African Morne Morkel, whose pace and height can trouble the best players.

Apart from Morkel, Delhi are banking on a trio of bowling all-rounders in James Hopes, Andrew McDonald and Irfan Pathan.

Pathan has a lot to do to justify his $1.9m price tag. Though he took 15 wickets in last year's IPL, he leaked 9.32 runs per over - by far the worst economy rate of any of the major wicket takers.

There are also worries about his fitness. He missed the whole of the last 12 months with injury and tweaked a hamstring in his one comeback match.

Key men: Virender Sehwag, Morne Morkel

2010 position: Fifth

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