Right then, if we thought the Punjab and Kolkata game were just a hiccup for DC, things have gone from bad to worse. The defeats against Hyderabad and Mumbai have not only knit our brows but also hampered the Net Run Rate massively. Ricky Ponting wanted his team to play their best cricket in the second half of the tournament but that’s certainly not happened. The cracks are visible and questions are still left unanswered.
Despite the past 4 games’ results not going in our favour, we can still finish second on the points table and play the Qualifier 1. A win against Bangalore means Delhi finish with 16 points and will get that extra life in the Playoffs. That probably would be the biggest motivation for Shreyas Iyer and his boys before their final league match. We’ll need to mirror our form from the first half of the tournament going into the Playoffs.
The Scenario for Qualification
What if DC loses to RCB? * Inserts a math calculation GIF* If the boys in blue fail to win, RCB retain their second spot. Meanwhile, Delhi will depend on other teams to get the job done for them. However, with KXIP losing to CSK and a big win for KKR last night means that Delhi can still make the top 4 if they avoid defeat by a big margin. Surprised? Thanks to some characteristic cricket in the first 9 games, our destiny still lies in our own hands. We face a Challengers team who have also lost their last 3 games and have not looked comfortable. The fate for RCB and DC are quite similar and hence both teams will come out all guns blazing eyeing that 2nd place.
The Abu Dhabi Conundrum
We’ve never won a game at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Our economy rate is the 2nd highest among other teams at this venue so be it batting or bowling, every department will need to play out of their skin to get a result here on a Manic Monday.
Previous Encounter v/s RCB
Contribution from everyone with the bat including a counter-attacking 53 from Marcus Stonis set it up beautifully for the bowlers to defend 196. Kagiso Rabada led the pack with 4 wickets while Nortje, Ashwin and Axar chipped in with wickets of their own. The latter was named Man of the Match, courtesy his economical spell and 2 important scalps. The Capitals won by 59 runs!
Stat Attack
- Rishabh Pant crossed 2000 IPL runs in the last match against MI. He now chases 3000 T20 runs and is only 51 runs behind it. The southpaw has been one of the highest scorers in the IPL since 2018 and will hope he completes this milestone in this edition. Pant hasn’t fired yet this season and the whole of Dilli will pray his innings, which is due, comes sooner.
- Harshal Patel finally got back in the side against MI. He however bowled just the 1 over. The fast bowler is still searching for his 2 wickets to complete 100 T20 wickets.
Twitter Chatter
Ok come on now #DC. We need a win in the last encounter on Monday. SVP @DelhiCapitals #DCvRCB https://t.co/I7GVego0FZ
— Securitate Vero Proprie (@sidpatankar) October 31, 2020
We #DefinitelyNot giving up so easily.
Have to win the last match,,, We're with u DC,,, come on
— iampartha (@saradar_partha) November 1, 2020
Our XIIth man always, Let’s go!
Stay positive and get qualified #DelhiCapitals Roar Macha
— Tanweer Riaz (@Riaz2Tanweer) November 1, 2020
Ab Roar Machega! 💪
Key Battle
Nortje vs AB de Villiers
The Protea battle will be the one to watch out for. Anrich’s pace and AB’s hitting will surely catch eye-balls. RCB are heavily dependent on their wicket-keeper to deliver the goods in the middle overs. Their strike rate when de Villers around is massively more than when he’s not. AB can single-handedly take the game away from one and hence his wicket will be the most important of the lot.
Form Guide (from right to left)
DC - W, L, L, L, L
RCB - W, W, L, L, L
All things said and done, no match is ever decided on paper. It will take two quality teams and some quality cricket to earn that Qualifier 1 spot. Delhi did the double over RCB last season and will wish they repeat that feat in Abu Dhabi. It’s a virtual quarter-final for the second spot and it will surely be a banger. We have a reason to look forward to a Monday!
Right then, if we thought the Punjab and Kolkata game were just a hiccup for DC, things have gone from bad to worse. The defeats against Hyderabad and Mumbai have not only knit our brows but also hampered the Net Run Rate massively. Ricky Ponting wanted his team to play their best cricket in the second half of the tournament but that’s certainly not happened. The cracks are visible and questions are still left unanswered.
Despite the past 4 games’ results not going in our favour, we can still finish second on the points table and play the Qualifier 1. A win against Bangalore means Delhi finish with 16 points and will get that extra life in the Playoffs. That probably would be the biggest motivation for Shreyas Iyer and his boys before their final league match. We’ll need to mirror our form from the first half of the tournament going into the Playoffs.
The Scenario for Qualification
What if DC loses to RCB? * Inserts a math calculation GIF* If the boys in blue fail to win, RCB retain their second spot. Meanwhile, Delhi will depend on other teams to get the job done for them. However, with KXIP losing to CSK and a big win for KKR last night means that Delhi can still make the top 4 if they avoid defeat by a big margin. Surprised? Thanks to some characteristic cricket in the first 9 games, our destiny still lies in our own hands. We face a Challengers team who have also lost their last 3 games and have not looked comfortable. The fate for RCB and DC are quite similar and hence both teams will come out all guns blazing eyeing that 2nd place.
The Abu Dhabi Conundrum
We’ve never won a game at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Our economy rate is the 2nd highest among other teams at this venue so be it batting or bowling, every department will need to play out of their skin to get a result here on a Manic Monday.
Previous Encounter v/s RCB
Contribution from everyone with the bat including a counter-attacking 53 from Marcus Stonis set it up beautifully for the bowlers to defend 196. Kagiso Rabada led the pack with 4 wickets while Nortje, Ashwin and Axar chipped in with wickets of their own. The latter was named Man of the Match, courtesy his economical spell and 2 important scalps. The Capitals won by 59 runs!
Stat Attack
- Rishabh Pant crossed 2000 IPL runs in the last match against MI. He now chases 3000 T20 runs and is only 51 runs behind it. The southpaw has been one of the highest scorers in the IPL since 2018 and will hope he completes this milestone in this edition. Pant hasn’t fired yet this season and the whole of Dilli will pray his innings, which is due, comes sooner.
- Harshal Patel finally got back in the side against MI. He however bowled just the 1 over. The fast bowler is still searching for his 2 wickets to complete 100 T20 wickets.
Twitter Chatter
Ok come on now #DC. We need a win in the last encounter on Monday. SVP @DelhiCapitals #DCvRCB https://t.co/I7GVego0FZ
— Securitate Vero Proprie (@sidpatankar) October 31, 2020
We #DefinitelyNot giving up so easily.
Have to win the last match,,, We're with u DC,,, come on
— iampartha (@saradar_partha) November 1, 2020
Our XIIth man always, Let’s go!
Stay positive and get qualified #DelhiCapitals Roar Macha
— Tanweer Riaz (@Riaz2Tanweer) November 1, 2020
Ab Roar Machega! 💪
Key Battle
Nortje vs AB de Villiers
The Protea battle will be the one to watch out for. Anrich’s pace and AB’s hitting will surely catch eye-balls. RCB are heavily dependent on their wicket-keeper to deliver the goods in the middle overs. Their strike rate when de Villers around is massively more than when he’s not. AB can single-handedly take the game away from one and hence his wicket will be the most important of the lot.
Form Guide (from right to left)
DC - W, L, L, L, L
RCB - W, W, L, L, L
All things said and done, no match is ever decided on paper. It will take two quality teams and some quality cricket to earn that Qualifier 1 spot. Delhi did the double over RCB last season and will wish they repeat that feat in Abu Dhabi. It’s a virtual quarter-final for the second spot and it will surely be a banger. We have a reason to look forward to a Monday!
