Mentally, we’re still in Chennai. Sunday’s thrilling showdown, one in which the DC boys squeezed out two points from a Super Over win is still on our minds and for good reason. An absolute humdinger of a contest could have gone either way, but Axar Patel’s darts and Rishabh Pant’s audacious reverse sweeps ensured that we left Chennai with two wins in two games.
Physically though, the DC squad has arrived in Ahmedabad and is ready for the Royal Challenge on the 27th of April and three more games at the world’s largest cricket stadium after this one.
Delhi Capitals have had the upper hand against Virat and Co. in the past and will be looking forward to their 5th consecutive win. It's going to be an intense battle as both teams will also look for the spot at the top of the table.
The Rise of Avesh Khan and the Return of Axar Patel
The Indore Express Avesh Khan has been a menace for the opposition batsman in IPL 2021. Delhi Capitals’ unsung hero has amassed 11 wickets in just five games so far, including a game-changing 3-fer in the previous game, and has been a real revelation this season. He currently occupies the second position on the Purple Cap list, a true testament to his rise this season. DC will hope that he can keep his form and his tail up as we go into the four games in Ahmedabad.
Axar Patel came into the side and provided instant impact with a brilliant performance against the Sunrisers. The left-arm orthodox bowler picked up 2/26 in his quota of four overs before bowling a match-winning Super Over to become the only spinner in IPL history to bowl a Super Over for the winning side. His return provides much-needed balance and impetus to the DC XI, and he will look to deliver on the high expectations from him on his home turf.
Stat Attack
Prithvi Shaw has been providing the team with quickfire starts this IPL, and he did so again with 53 in the previous encounter. However, he got out just 8 short of reaching 1000 IPL runs. If Shaw gets there against RCB, he will become the second-youngest player to get to the milestone. Who was the youngest, you ask? His skipper Rishabh Pant.
Speaking of the skipper, Rishabh is just one four away from completing 200 fours for DC in the IPL while Shikhar Dhawan is two fours away from the very same landmark. Whoever gets there first, will be only the second batsman after Virender Sehwag to get there.
Key Battles
Rishabh Pant vs Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel has picked up a staggering 15 wickets in just 5 matches so far. Except for the one blemish against CSK with Jadeja taking him to the cleaners, he has been very effective at the death too with 73% of his scalps coming in overs 16 to 20. Rishabh Pant will be the main enforcer for DC in the final phase of the game and he will want to put Harshal off his plans with some big hitting.
Kagiso Rabada vs AB de Villiers
Mr. 360 has been demolishing bowling attacks in the IPL for a decade now and IPL 2021 is no different. It will be paramount to get him out early or the death overs could become a run fest for RCB. His fellow countryman Kagiso Rabada hasn’t found his lethal best in this edition of the tournament yet, but against RCB and de Villiers would be a great time for him to show his true potential and run-through batting line-ups like we’ve seen him do ever so often.
Amit Mishra vs Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell is an X-factor player who can change the complexion of the game in a matter of a few overs. It will be very important to keep him as quiet as possible, and Amit Mishra, who has dismissed the Aussie 4 times in the IPL before, will be our biggest weapon against him.
With four games lined up in the space of just eight days since the one on the 25th, it’s going to be a hectic week or so for the Capitals. They’ve already bagged a win against Hyderabad, and if they can begin the Ahmedabad challenge royally, it will set the tone for the week ahead!
Mentally, we’re still in Chennai. Sunday’s thrilling showdown, one in which the DC boys squeezed out two points from a Super Over win is still on our minds and for good reason. An absolute humdinger of a contest could have gone either way, but Axar Patel’s darts and Rishabh Pant’s audacious reverse sweeps ensured that we left Chennai with two wins in two games.
Physically though, the DC squad has arrived in Ahmedabad and is ready for the Royal Challenge on the 27th of April and three more games at the world’s largest cricket stadium after this one.
Delhi Capitals have had the upper hand against Virat and Co. in the past and will be looking forward to their 5th consecutive win. It's going to be an intense battle as both teams will also look for the spot at the top of the table.
The Rise of Avesh Khan and the Return of Axar Patel
The Indore Express Avesh Khan has been a menace for the opposition batsman in IPL 2021. Delhi Capitals’ unsung hero has amassed 11 wickets in just five games so far, including a game-changing 3-fer in the previous game, and has been a real revelation this season. He currently occupies the second position on the Purple Cap list, a true testament to his rise this season. DC will hope that he can keep his form and his tail up as we go into the four games in Ahmedabad.
Axar Patel came into the side and provided instant impact with a brilliant performance against the Sunrisers. The left-arm orthodox bowler picked up 2/26 in his quota of four overs before bowling a match-winning Super Over to become the only spinner in IPL history to bowl a Super Over for the winning side. His return provides much-needed balance and impetus to the DC XI, and he will look to deliver on the high expectations from him on his home turf.
Stat Attack
Prithvi Shaw has been providing the team with quickfire starts this IPL, and he did so again with 53 in the previous encounter. However, he got out just 8 short of reaching 1000 IPL runs. If Shaw gets there against RCB, he will become the second-youngest player to get to the milestone. Who was the youngest, you ask? His skipper Rishabh Pant.
Speaking of the skipper, Rishabh is just one four away from completing 200 fours for DC in the IPL while Shikhar Dhawan is two fours away from the very same landmark. Whoever gets there first, will be only the second batsman after Virender Sehwag to get there.
Key Battles
Rishabh Pant vs Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel has picked up a staggering 15 wickets in just 5 matches so far. Except for the one blemish against CSK with Jadeja taking him to the cleaners, he has been very effective at the death too with 73% of his scalps coming in overs 16 to 20. Rishabh Pant will be the main enforcer for DC in the final phase of the game and he will want to put Harshal off his plans with some big hitting.
Kagiso Rabada vs AB de Villiers
Mr. 360 has been demolishing bowling attacks in the IPL for a decade now and IPL 2021 is no different. It will be paramount to get him out early or the death overs could become a run fest for RCB. His fellow countryman Kagiso Rabada hasn’t found his lethal best in this edition of the tournament yet, but against RCB and de Villiers would be a great time for him to show his true potential and run-through batting line-ups like we’ve seen him do ever so often.
Amit Mishra vs Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell is an X-factor player who can change the complexion of the game in a matter of a few overs. It will be very important to keep him as quiet as possible, and Amit Mishra, who has dismissed the Aussie 4 times in the IPL before, will be our biggest weapon against him.
With four games lined up in the space of just eight days since the one on the 25th, it’s going to be a hectic week or so for the Capitals. They’ve already bagged a win against Hyderabad, and if they can begin the Ahmedabad challenge royally, it will set the tone for the week ahead!
