Chennai Super Kings, over the years, have been in the finals eight times while Delhi Capitals once.
The old Chennai Super Kings players, with an uncanny ability to own the big stage at the right time, will start as favorites against a solid line-up of Delhi Capitals led by ‘young contender’ Rishabh Pant, who will be in an exciting form. Promises to be the first IPL qualifier. Dubai on Sunday.
Delhi Capitals were the best team in the league and their 20-point finish at the group stage was a sign of their consistent performance which did not diminish due to the COVID-19 forced break.
Similarly, CSK are now back in the familiar setting of the play-off rounds, something they have done 11 out of 12 times, although losing three matches on the bounce doesn’t make their almighty captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni happy.
On the other hand, DC suffered a setback in their last group league match against Royal Challengers Bangalore by hitting a six off the last ball of Kona India. It didn’t change his pole position, but it did enough to shake him from his stunner.
CSK, over the years, have been to the finals eight times and have won on three occasions which speaks volumes about the team’s ability to be there when it is needed the most.
This is the reason why CSK is not one of those franchises that brings in dozens of new talent like other franchises. Ruturaj Gaikwad is an exception as he can be called a pure CSK product after more than a decade.
Dhoni has a simple cricketing philosophy – relying on tried-and-tested individuals who are battle-hardened and thus has always looked to the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo and Faf du Plessis.
These are players who have been there and done that. Those who can control the stages and conquer pressure situations that often do not result in victory.
Add Josh Hazlewood or Moeen Ali, who are international regulars in that mix and the former India captain knows what kind of combination to park him.
As much is said about team effort, no one knows more than Dhoni that T20 is perhaps a form of cricket where individuals win matches.
Dhoni knows that even though his batting form (96 runs in 14 matches) has deserted him years ago (since 2015-16) and IPL legends like Raina (160 in 12 matches) a shadow of his ever-destructive self Yet it is Gaikwad (533 runs) and du Plessis (546 runs) who have not given solid starts more often and Jadeja (227 runs) provided the final flourish.
Similarly, Shardul Thakur (18 wickets in 14 matches) has conceded runs at a costly economy rate of 8.57 but still the successes are significant. No one knows more than Dwayne Bravo (12 wickets) how batsmen can be fooled by changing the speed of their balls at death.
Hazlewood hasn’t found form but Dhoni has a lot of patience in the players he believes in and is counting on that disastrous first spell from the Aussie which can wreak havoc.
It could be against Delhi Capitals, as despite 10 wins their batting hasn’t exactly inspired the highest level of confidence. Prithvi Shaw (401 runs) and Shikhar Dhawan (544 runs) have started their share but they have not dominated the UAE leg.
Captain Pant (362 runs) put up a fine performance and Marcus Stoinis’ absence due to injury affected his balance as he lacked big hitters except Shimron Hetmyer.
DC’s strength has been their bowling attack – Avesh Khan (22 wickets), Axar Patel (15 wickets), Kagiso Rabada (13 wickets) and Enrique Nortje, who have taken nine wickets but have an economy rate of 5.59 in six matches.
DC’s bowling attack has been right on the money without the cleaners but Pant will hope that the rule of average does not hold them in place and Nortje and Rabada are able to trouble Gaikwad with short deliveries, which has been the Maharashtra batsman’s weak point. .
But yes, even Dhoni will admit that his last season for CSK along with Raina and Rayudu Willow would like to make some tangible contributions.
Even the captain needs to put his hand up as he is no longer able to handle the raw pace.
Teams:
Chennai Super Kings: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, KM Asif, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, N Jagadeesan, Karn Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur. R Sai Kishore, Moeen Ali, K Gautam, Cheteshwar Pujara, Harishankar Reddy, Bhagat Verma, C Hari Nishant.
Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Ripple Patel, Shikhar Dhawan, Shimrom Hetmyar, Shreyas Iyer, Steve Smith, Amit Mishra, Anrique Nortje, Avesh Khan, Ben Dwarshuis, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Kulwant Khejroliya, Lukman Meriwala , Praveen Dubey, Tom Curran, Umesh Yadav, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Marcus Stoinis, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sam Billings and Vishnu Vinod.
The match will start at 7:30 PM IST.
.
Indian Premier League 2021 Qualifier 1: Experienced Chennai lead over Delhi
Chennai Super Kings, over the years, have been in the finals eight times while Delhi Capitals once.
The old Chennai Super Kings players, with an uncanny ability to own the big stage at the right time, will start as favorites against a solid line-up of Delhi Capitals led by ‘young contender’ Rishabh Pant, who will be in an exciting form. Promises to be the first IPL qualifier. Dubai on Sunday.
Delhi Capitals were the best team in the league and their 20-point finish at the group stage was a sign of their consistent performance which did not diminish due to the COVID-19 forced break.
Similarly, CSK are now back in the familiar setting of the play-off rounds, something they have done 11 out of 12 times, although losing three matches on the bounce doesn’t make their almighty captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni happy.
On the other hand, DC suffered a setback in their last group league match against Royal Challengers Bangalore by hitting a six off the last ball of Kona India. It didn’t change his pole position, but it did enough to shake him from his stunner.
CSK, over the years, have been to the finals eight times and have won on three occasions which speaks volumes about the team’s ability to be there when it is needed the most.
This is the reason why CSK is not one of those franchises that brings in dozens of new talent like other franchises. Ruturaj Gaikwad is an exception as he can be called a pure CSK product after more than a decade.
Dhoni has a simple cricketing philosophy – relying on tried-and-tested individuals who are battle-hardened and thus has always looked to the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo and Faf du Plessis.
These are players who have been there and done that. Those who can control the stages and conquer pressure situations that often do not result in victory.
Add Josh Hazlewood or Moeen Ali, who are international regulars in that mix and the former India captain knows what kind of combination to park him.
As much is said about team effort, no one knows more than Dhoni that T20 is perhaps a form of cricket where individuals win matches.
Dhoni knows that even though his batting form (96 runs in 14 matches) has deserted him years ago (since 2015-16) and IPL legends like Raina (160 in 12 matches) a shadow of his ever-destructive self Yet it is Gaikwad (533 runs) and du Plessis (546 runs) who have not given solid starts more often and Jadeja (227 runs) provided the final flourish.
Similarly, Shardul Thakur (18 wickets in 14 matches) has conceded runs at a costly economy rate of 8.57 but still the successes are significant. No one knows more than Dwayne Bravo (12 wickets) how batsmen can be fooled by changing the speed of their balls at death.
Hazlewood hasn’t found form but Dhoni has a lot of patience in the players he believes in and is counting on that disastrous first spell from the Aussie which can wreak havoc.
It could be against Delhi Capitals, as despite 10 wins their batting hasn’t exactly inspired the highest level of confidence. Prithvi Shaw (401 runs) and Shikhar Dhawan (544 runs) have started their share but they have not dominated the UAE leg.
Captain Pant (362 runs) put up a fine performance and Marcus Stoinis’ absence due to injury affected his balance as he lacked big hitters except Shimron Hetmyer.
DC’s strength has been their bowling attack – Avesh Khan (22 wickets), Axar Patel (15 wickets), Kagiso Rabada (13 wickets) and Enrique Nortje, who have taken nine wickets but have an economy rate of 5.59 in six matches.
DC’s bowling attack has been right on the money without the cleaners but Pant will hope that the rule of average does not hold them in place and Nortje and Rabada are able to trouble Gaikwad with short deliveries, which has been the Maharashtra batsman’s weak point. .
But yes, even Dhoni will admit that his last season for CSK along with Raina and Rayudu Willow would like to make some tangible contributions.
Even the captain needs to put his hand up as he is no longer able to handle the raw pace.
Teams:
Chennai Super Kings: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, KM Asif, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, N Jagadeesan, Karn Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur. R Sai Kishore, Moeen Ali, K Gautam, Cheteshwar Pujara, Harishankar Reddy, Bhagat Verma, C Hari Nishant.
Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Ripple Patel, Shikhar Dhawan, Shimrom Hetmyar, Shreyas Iyer, Steve Smith, Amit Mishra, Anrique Nortje, Avesh Khan, Ben Dwarshuis, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Kulwant Khejroliya, Lukman Meriwala , Praveen Dubey, Tom Curran, Umesh Yadav, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Marcus Stoinis, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sam Billings and Vishnu Vinod.
The match will start at 7:30 PM IST.
.