The DC Men in Blue celebrated their playoff qualification in style, holding their nerves to get over the line in a thrilling last-over win against the Mumbai Indians. The 4-wicket win meant we did the double over the defending champions, and another test awaits us we return to Dubai.
Rishabh Pant and Co. come back to where it all started, with the Delhi Capitals taking on the Chennai Super Kings in the reverse fixture of their first game of IPL 2021. That memory will be a happy one for our boys, who made light work of a stiff target that night to win by 7 wickets.
We have had the edge over CSK in recent times, winning our last 3 encounters against the Men in Yellow. But speaking to us before the game, Ravichandran “The Master” Ashwin was aware beating CSK would be no easy feat.
“The way Ruturaj Gaikwad has been batting has been absolutely wonderful to watch. I’ve enjoyed every single moment of how he’s had to bat. And it’s going to be a challenge, right? CSK bat deep, bat aggressively. They batted aggressively against us at the Wankhede as well. It’ll be at the Dubai stadium. So the pitch has been good at Dubai, so I’m expecting quite a good batting dish out game. Looking forward to the challenge.”
Time to Solidify Position in the Top Two
Having already secured qualification, the next aim for our boys is to assure themselves of a top-two finish. With it, comes the added buffer of another chance to qualify for the finals, and in a tournament where any team can beat any other team on its day, that luxury could always come in handy.
For that, they’ll look to continue the same determination and belief they have shown throughout the season. We had one of our most complete performances when we played SRH in Dubai a couple weeks ago, and the team will look to replicate it going into the game on Monday.
Stat Attack
A starting spot for Gabbar will mean he features in the 300th T20 match of his career. Just 3 fours on the night will see him bring up a century of fours against CSK too.
With another 3-fer in the last game, Avesh Khan further decreased the gap between him and Harshal Patel for the Purple Cap. With 21 scalps to his name, he already holds the honour of picking the most wickets by an Indian for DC in a season.
Key Battles
Nortje vs Rocket Raja
On the back of a stellar ton, all eyes will be on Ruturaj Gaikwad to see what else he has up his sleeve in IPL 2021. But he will meet his match in Anrich Nortje, and the express pace from Anas could ruffle a few feathers in Dubai.
KG vs Faf
Faf du Plessis is one half of CSK’s outstanding opening duo, and the task to keep him quiet will fall on our KG. The South African speedster has dismissed him twice in just 13 balls in the IPL and will look to send his fellow countryman packing early on Monday.
The Magician vs DJ Bravo
Shrey was the man who got us home with a composed knock under pressure, and he could be the one to tackle the in-form West Indian when we take on CSK. The mercurial all-rounder has been a man reborn this season, stifling batsmen with his slower ones and cutters on slow UAE pitches. If Iyer can get going against Bravo, it could unsettle the CSK bowling attack and tilt the scales in our favour.
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The DC Men in Blue celebrated their playoff qualification in style, holding their nerves to get over the line in a thrilling last-over win against the Mumbai Indians. The 4-wicket win meant we did the double over the defending champions, and another test awaits us we return to Dubai.
Rishabh Pant and Co. come back to where it all started, with the Delhi Capitals taking on the Chennai Super Kings in the reverse fixture of their first game of IPL 2021. That memory will be a happy one for our boys, who made light work of a stiff target that night to win by 7 wickets.
We have had the edge over CSK in recent times, winning our last 3 encounters against the Men in Yellow. But speaking to us before the game, Ravichandran “The Master” Ashwin was aware beating CSK would be no easy feat.
“The way Ruturaj Gaikwad has been batting has been absolutely wonderful to watch. I’ve enjoyed every single moment of how he’s had to bat. And it’s going to be a challenge, right? CSK bat deep, bat aggressively. They batted aggressively against us at the Wankhede as well. It’ll be at the Dubai stadium. So the pitch has been good at Dubai, so I’m expecting quite a good batting dish out game. Looking forward to the challenge.”
Time to Solidify Position in the Top Two
Having already secured qualification, the next aim for our boys is to assure themselves of a top-two finish. With it, comes the added buffer of another chance to qualify for the finals, and in a tournament where any team can beat any other team on its day, that luxury could always come in handy.
For that, they’ll look to continue the same determination and belief they have shown throughout the season. We had one of our most complete performances when we played SRH in Dubai a couple weeks ago, and the team will look to replicate it going into the game on Monday.
Stat Attack
A starting spot for Gabbar will mean he features in the 300th T20 match of his career. Just 3 fours on the night will see him bring up a century of fours against CSK too.
With another 3-fer in the last game, Avesh Khan further decreased the gap between him and Harshal Patel for the Purple Cap. With 21 scalps to his name, he already holds the honour of picking the most wickets by an Indian for DC in a season.
Key Battles
Nortje vs Rocket Raja
On the back of a stellar ton, all eyes will be on Ruturaj Gaikwad to see what else he has up his sleeve in IPL 2021. But he will meet his match in Anrich Nortje, and the express pace from Anas could ruffle a few feathers in Dubai.
KG vs Faf
Faf du Plessis is one half of CSK’s outstanding opening duo, and the task to keep him quiet will fall on our KG. The South African speedster has dismissed him twice in just 13 balls in the IPL and will look to send his fellow countryman packing early on Monday.
The Magician vs DJ Bravo
Shrey was the man who got us home with a composed knock under pressure, and he could be the one to tackle the in-form West Indian when we take on CSK. The mercurial all-rounder has been a man reborn this season, stifling batsmen with his slower ones and cutters on slow UAE pitches. If Iyer can get going against Bravo, it could unsettle the CSK bowling attack and tilt the scales in our favour.
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