DC are currently fifth in the 10-team standings, with 12 points from as many games.
DC are currently fifth in the 10-team standings, with 12 points from as many games.
Delhi Capitals will need to solve their opening puzzle quickly and find a capable partner to complement David Warner if they want to return to the top four in the IPL here on Sunday with a win against Chennai Super Kings. Along with those who are on the verge of elimination.
DC are currently fifth in the 10-team standings with 12 points since their eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in their previous match.
On the other hand, defending champions CSK are mathematically still in the tournament though their chances of making the play-offs are almost non-existent.
The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side are placed in the last position with just six points from 10 matches and need to win all their remaining games and depend on the results of other matches to progress to the next stage.
But with the tournament going into the business end, DC faces a bigger problem – a capable opening partner for Warner.
Prithvi Shaw has failed to live up to his brilliance this season, scoring just 259 runs in nine matches at an average of 28.77. Mandeep Singh did not perform well in his place in the last match and scored just 18 runs in three matches.
And it remains to be seen whether DC choose Shaw again for Warner, who will be the best fit for the team in any case.
Warner continues to be DC’s top scorer this season, scoring 356 runs in eight matches with an unbeaten 92 against SRH in the previous match.
Captain Rishabh Pant and Mitchell Marsh have made a start but have failed to replicate it in big scores and it is time for the pair to rise to the occasion.
After a string of low scores, West Indies big hitter Rovman Powell has finally found his groove and would like to continue in the same vein.
On the bowling front, spinner Kuldeep Yadav (18 wickets) and pacers Khaleel Ahmed (14), Shardul Thakur (10) and Mutafizur Rahman (8) have all taken wickets but they are on the higher side of the economy rate. ,
Kuldeep, in particular, has been phenomenal for DC, picking up wickets with his newfound confidence.
The return of paceman Enrique Nortje has only done a dunk in DC’s bowling attack.
CSK, on the other hand, have been badly hit by injuries and the poor form of some of their key players throughout the season hasn’t helped them either.
While CSK lost key players Deepak Chahar and Adam Milne throughout the season, the poor form of opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja added to the team’s troubles.
Ambati Rayudu, Dhoni, Shivam Dubey and Moeen Ali have played some good innings but they lack consistency as only Devon Conway has come to light with the bat shining through. The Kiwis have scored 144 runs in three matches at an average of 72.
On the bowling front, Mahesh Thiksana, Mukesh Choudhary and Dwayne Bravo have been between the wickets but runs have leaked.
And CSK’s bowling unit will be looking for an inspiring performance from any of their bowlers for the rest of the tournament.
Teams:
Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (Captain), Ashwin Hebbar, David Warner, Mandeep Singh, Prithvi Shaw, Rovman Powell, Enrique Nortje, Chetan Sakarya, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mustafizur Rahman, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Lalit Yadav , Mitchell Marsh, Praveen Dubey, Ripple Patel, Sarfaraz Khan, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhul, KS Bharat and Tim Seifert.
Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (Captain), Ravindra Jadeja Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Mitchell Santner, Chris Jordan, Adam Milne, Devon Conway, Shivam Dube, Dwayne Pretorius, Mahesh Thikshana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Tushar Deshpande, KM Asif, C Hari Nishant, N Jagadeesan, Subranshu Senapati, K Bhagat Verma, Prashant Solanki, Simarjit Singh, Mukesh Choudhary.
Match starts at 7:30 PM,