Delhi Capitals (DC) have entered the danger zone; one misstep and things get tricky for them. A defeat might not see them out immediately, but plenty of things will have to go their way in order to get them through the group stage. But things going their way haven’t quite happened lately. They have three defeats in their last four completed games. Although rain bailed them out against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), when the team could only accumulate a paltry 133-run total in the first innings, any game that isn’t a win for them is essentially a defeat.
After a five-game winning streak that got them off to a blistering start, Delhi wouldn’t want things not to work out in the end. They face Gujarat Titans (GT) at their home tonight, and could it get worse than this? GT are only one win away from a ticket straight to the playoffs. And given how poorly DC have performed at their home venue, with zero wins in four games, GT can easily get that ticket in this game.
Team Overview:
A lot of GT’s success this year is owed to their top three batters: Jos Buttler, Sai Sudharsan, and Shubman Gill. However, Buttler will leave them before the playoffs. Kusal Mendis comes in for him, fresh from his decent form in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for Quetta Gladiators (QG). The rest of their overseas players, including Rashid Khan, Sherfane Rutherford, Kagiso Rabada, and Karim Janat, have linked up with the team; in fact, many of the players never left the country to begin with. GT will look to ensure they have a player in firing form before Buttler leaves. They will also want to find a replacement for Kagiso Rabada, because he has a World Test Championship (WTC) final on the horizon to focus on. Like his countrymen, Rabada will also leave his IPL team on May 25.
The disruption hit DC hard as well. And given the precarious state they are in, their overseas players not returning or staying till the end of the tournament might be the final nail in their coffin. Mitchell Starc has decided not to return to the country, which leaves DC without a solid pace option. They have signed Mustafizur Rahman in his place; lethal as he might be, he will be unavailable for the all-important game against GT. Tristan Stubbs is a part of the WTC final squad for South Africa, which means DC’s middle order will be further weakened once he leaves.
Delhi Capitals’ top five accumulated only 27 runs in their game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and the entire team crumbled for 133. Such a timid batting display can only make things worse for DC. Abhishek Porel has joined Karun Nair in downward-spiraling form. The last time he scored in excess of 30 was against LSG in Lucknow, and his string of low scores is hurting DC deeply at the top.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Having played six IPL games against DC, GT have won three. DC broke their two-year losing streak against GT in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Weather and Pitch Report:
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and DC scored a combined total of 394 runs in the last game played here, which rightly shows the kind of batting surface Delhi has on offer. But that isn’t all. The ground has also been one of the better venues this season in terms of bowling average, especially for spinners.
Prediction:
DC have everything at stake, but they will need more than what they have to offer right now to outdo Gujarat Titans.
Where to Watch:
India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
UK: Sky Sports, SkyGo
USA: Willow TV
Australia: Kayo TV, FoxTel Go
Bangladesh: T Sports, Toffee app
New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ
Afghanistan: ATN
South Africa: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog
MENA: Cricbuzz
