As the countdown to the 2008 Indian Premier League begins, Jonhenry Wilson gets our team profiles rolling with Delhi - a side with a bowling crisis just waiting to happen...

Owner: GMR Holdings
An infrastructure big gun with their headquarters in Bangalore, dabbling in airports, energy, highways, education and evidently a bit of cricket too.

Coach: Greg Shipperd
A former Aussie first-class cricketer who coaches the Victoria Bushrangers when he isn't earning a pretty penny in the IPL. Renowned for his tactical thinking and connection with the players.

Captain: Virender Sehwag
Test cricket's most recent triple-centurion on a resurgent path since curbing his aggression at the start of his knocks. Fast developing as a more than effective off-spinner.

Squad
Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Manoj Tiwary, Mohammad Asif, Daniel Vettori, Dinesh Karthik, Shoaib Malik, Glenn McGrath, AB de Villiers, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Farveez Maharoof, Rajat Bhatia, Shikhar Dhawan, Brett Geeves, Yo Mahesh, Mithun Manhas, Pradeep Sangwan, Mayank Tehlan.

Strengths
Sehwag and de Villiers, both extremely capable of adapting their game to the shortest version, go into the tourney on the back of massive knocks in the Test arena. Their form coupled with Gambhir, fresh from his two tons in the Commonwealth Bank Series, provides a formidable start to an order that also boasts the consistent Malik and Dilshan and homegrown talent Karthik, Tehlan and Marhas. The Daredevils arguably sport the best fielding unit, with livewires de Villiers and Dilshan backed by a sextet of agile young Indians raring to make their mark.

Weaknesses
Nagging injuries to Asif and Maharoof are a major worry. The legendary McGrath will have his work cut out for him if the duo don't stay fit. With no other specialist spinner selected, Vettori's premature departure to join his countrymen on their tour of England doesn't help either. Teams are only allowed to field four overseas recruits, so one fancies the bowling department will take a bit of a knock as those constructing the teamsheet look to beef up the batting with stars from abroad.

Key Player
Using the IPL as a platform for his comeback from an elbow injury, Pakistan speedster Asif has a lot to prove to his franchise and country. With the pace contingent of the squad under question, with McGrath returning to the game after the best part of a year and Maharoof nursing an injury, Asif's contribution is crucial to Delhi's campaign.

Potential Dud
Relatively unknown medium-pacer Geeves will probably find himself carrying the drinks for a large part of the series. With a spare US$50,000, GMR Holdings evidently just made up the numbers with the purchase of the uncapped Aussie.

Why You'll Watch Them
Sehwag and de Villiers in full swing is a wonderment. To witness McGrath's last hurrah. And to see if the powers-that-be are justified in handing Sehwag the captaincy ahead of international skippers Malik and Vettori.

Peculiar Fact
Not to be outdone by the Kolkata Knight Riders' marketing flair, the Daredevils garnered the services of Bollywood star Akshay Kumar when they launched their website in late March.

Jonhenry Wilson

Follow every ball of the Indian Premier League live on Cricket365 from April 18.