On Sunday, the Royals slipped to second place after holding the top spot for five weeks.
Overview
The Kotla stadium in Delhi has seen its fair share of excitement and action during the IPL 2024 season. For batsmen, it’s been a paradise, but for bowlers, it’s been quite the challenge. So far, the average first-innings score at this venue has been a whopping 249, with an overall run rate of 11.38 – the highest among all venues this season, across three matches.
Delhi Capitals (DC) have certainly made the most of their home advantage, clinching victories in their last two games, largely thanks to Jake Fraser-McGurk’s spectacular performances. The opening duo for DC has been formidable, averaging 57.33 with a blistering strike rate of 292.
These strong starts have provided the perfect platform for batsmen like Tristan Stubbs, Rishabh Pant, and Axar Patel to maintain the momentum. Stubbs has been particularly impressive with a strike rate of 186 against both pace and spin, while Pant is enjoying one of his best IPL seasons yet. Axar’s left-handed batting has also been a valuable asset for the team, regardless of where he bats in the order. These are all positive signs for DC, who are in need of victories in their remaining three league games, though they face tough competition from the Rajasthan Royals.
Rajasthan Royals have been a force to reckon with in IPL 2024, boasting a formidable bowling lineup. They currently hold the best bowling statistics of the season, with pacers maintaining an economy rate of 8.22 and averaging 23.57. Additionally, their ability to take early wickets has been commendable, averaging three wickets per game in the first six overs. With experienced spinners and a strong top order, they pose a significant challenge to any opponent.
However, one area of concern for the Royals is their lower-middle order, which has struggled to finish games. Players like Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell have shown glimpses of power-hitting but have failed to consistently deliver. Even Dhruv Jurel, apart from one notable half-century, has found it tough. The middle order, from positions 5 to 8, has an average of only 20.93. This highlights the importance of DC’s spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar, who will need to capitalize on this weakness. Nevertheless, DC’s pace-bowling unit has been underwhelming this season, conceding an average of 10.35 runs per over.
The upcoming clash promises to be an intriguing battle between DC’s strong batting lineup and RR’s formidable bowling attack. Both teams will be eager to secure a crucial victory to boost their playoff hopes.
Team Updates and Key Players Strategy
Delhi Capitals : Ishant Sharma has recovered from his injury, but the decision on David Warner’s availability will be made on match day. DC will also consider whether to include Prithvi Shaw or Kumar Kushagra, with the latter likely to be chosen. Shaw has struggled against swinging deliveries, averaging only 11.75 in his last four games. Rasikh Salam, known for his ability to take wickets, is expected to be the key player for DC.
Expected Playing XII:
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Abishek Porel
- Shai Hope
- Tristan Stubbs
- Rishabh Pant (capt, wk)
- Axar Patel
- Kumar Kushagra
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Lizaad Williams
- Mukesh Kumar
- Rasikh Salam
Rajasthan Royals : Barring any unforeseen circumstances, RR is likely to field the same team with no injury concerns. The potential substitution of Jos Buttler for Yuzvendra Chahal could be a key move.
Expected Playing XII:
- Jos Buttler
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Sanju Samson (capt & wk)
- Riyan Parag
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Rovman Powell
- Dhruv Jurel
- R Ashwin
- Trent Boult
- Avesh Khan
- Sandeep Sharma
- Yuzvendra Chahal
Recent Track Record
Delhi Capitals : [DC] :[ L , W , W , L , W]
Rajasthan Royals : [RR] :[ L , W , W , W , W]
In the limelight
Beyond the IPL buzz, there’s a captivating showdown brewing between two prominent wicketkeeper-batsmen in India’s T20 World Cup squad – Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson .
Both players are on the brink of reaching the 400-run mark, poised for potentially their most outstanding IPL seasons yet. Remarkably, Pant and Samson boast strikingly similar statistics. Pant has amassed 398 runs with a strike rate of 158.56, while Samson trails closely behind with 385 runs and a strike rate of 159.09. Their ball-per-boundary ratios also stand neck and neck, with Pant at 4.56 and Samson at 4.57.
However, the notable distinction lies in Samson’s prowess against spin bowling in IPL 2024. His strike rate of 150.92 between overs 7-16 is unmatched among all players in India’s World Cup squad. This could be attributed to Samson’s consistent presence at No. 3 in the batting order, affording him more opportunities to settle before the middle overs. Yet, statistics reveal a contrasting tale since 2019, where Samson’s average drops to 18.78 when batting after the 11th over, whereas Pant thrives in such scenarios.
Pitch Conditions and Statistics
Expect another batsman-friendly pitch resembling a highway. Dew is not expected to play a significant role, and batting conditions are unlikely to change throughout the match. The weather forecast indicates a hot and dry evening.
Important Stats:
- Kuldeep Yadav has proven to be a thorn in Jos Buttler’s side, dismissing him three times in nine innings. Despite this, Buttler maintains a strike rate of 138.09 (accumulating 87 runs off 63 balls) against the wrist spinner.
- Delhi Capitals have been prolific in hitting sixes this season, averaging 14.83 sixes per innings, the highest among all venues.
- In all three matches played in Delhi this season, the team batting first has emerged victorious, posting scores of 220 or more each time.
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