Such is the competitiveness of the VIVO IPL that even the best of teams falter at some stage. We could manage only three wins in as many as 11 matches. Our last match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad ended in defeat after a superb knock by Rishabh Pant. On a pitch that looked slow DD was reeling at 52/3 but Rishabh Pant’s heroics helped DD pile up 187/ 5 in 20 overs. DD had lost their top three batsmen cheaply, but Rishabh Pant took charge and amassed 128 runs in 63 balls. The southpaw smashed the ball to all parts of the ground and his scoops over slips even made Kane Williamson smile in amazement. Rishabh Pant’s 128 is now the highest score by an Indian in VIVO IPL. It is also the highest T20 score by an Indian.
During the SRH innings our bowlers managed to bag only one wicket as Kane Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan’s performance sealed a win for SRH. The two struck a partnership of 176 runs and SRH won the match by 9 wickets with seven balls to spare.
We play our next game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Feroz Shah Kotla. RCB also has six points but they have played one match less and have a better run rate than us. We had faced defeat at the hands of RCB in the first leg of the tournament, but the boys will look to change fortunes this time around.
Key Player Battles
Amit Mishra vs AB de Villiers
Amit Mishra has been the pick of the bowlers for DD this season. He also has the highest number of wickets in T20s at the Kotla. Though he was not part of the playing XI the last time RCB played against DD, but he will be eager to prove his mettle against the like of AB de Villiers and Brendon McCullum. AB was at his destructive best in the first leg against us and had taken RCB across the finish line single handedly by scoring 90 runs off 39 balls. Amit Mishra has been good with the ball with a few clever variations up his sleeve whereas AB has struggled against quality spin bowling in recent times. An interesting battle awaits between two quality players.
Prithvi Shaw vs Umesh Yadav
Prithvi Shaw’s exploit early in the innings have grabbed attention of many. He can give DD a good start and attack the opposition from the word go. His eloquent cover drives and square cuts have been mesmerizing to watch. Umesh Yadav on the other hand has been quite brilliant with the new ball for RCB. He has given them early breakthroughs and has been striking the deck as hard as ever. An emerging player taking on one of India’s bowling spearheads will be a treat to watch.
Trent Boult vs Virat Kohli
Trent Boult who is a world class bowler has done reasonably well with the new ball at all levels. He is our main bowler in the pace department and DD skipper Shreyas Iyer will want him to give them the important wickets of the illustrious batsmen of the RCB lineup. Virat Kohli has been among runs for RCB this season and Boult is probably the only bowler who can stop Kohli. In the first leg Boult had taken one of the best catches in the history of IPL to dismiss Kohli and this time around he will look to unsettle Kohli with his pace and swing and will look to grab his wicket.
It has been a disappointing campaign for us so far. We are currently placed at the bottom of the table and the lads will be hoping to turn things around and climb up on the table and ensure they can end the season on a positive note. Things have been tough for us, but the DD boys are enthusiastic young learners and there is a lot that they can take back from these defeats. With three games to go the players will be looking to rectify things and get going.
DD’s Trump Card
Rishabh Pant entered record books last night when he smashed a terrific century against Sunrisers Hyderabad. His stroke play in this IPL has been second to none and it would not be wrong to call him ‘Mr. 360.’ He has been in great touch for DD this season and was even handed the orange cap in the last match. Pant has come good against the RCB bowling lineup before and in the last three matches against them he has scores of 85, 45, 57 which further proves that he will be a trump card for us going into the game. The southpaw’s unorthodox and unconventional approach towards batting is redefining T20 cricket and DD will hope he can continue to drive the team forward with his big scores!
VIVO IPL Match 45: DD vs RCB, 8 pm IST
VENUE: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.
BROADCAST: Star Sports Network
Such is the competitiveness of the VIVO IPL that even the best of teams falter at some stage. We could manage only three wins in as many as 11 matches. Our last match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad ended in defeat after a superb knock by Rishabh Pant. On a pitch that looked slow DD was reeling at 52/3 but Rishabh Pant’s heroics helped DD pile up 187/ 5 in 20 overs. DD had lost their top three batsmen cheaply, but Rishabh Pant took charge and amassed 128 runs in 63 balls. The southpaw smashed the ball to all parts of the ground and his scoops over slips even made Kane Williamson smile in amazement. Rishabh Pant’s 128 is now the highest score by an Indian in VIVO IPL. It is also the highest T20 score by an Indian.
During the SRH innings our bowlers managed to bag only one wicket as Kane Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan’s performance sealed a win for SRH. The two struck a partnership of 176 runs and SRH won the match by 9 wickets with seven balls to spare.
We play our next game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Feroz Shah Kotla. RCB also has six points but they have played one match less and have a better run rate than us. We had faced defeat at the hands of RCB in the first leg of the tournament, but the boys will look to change fortunes this time around.
Key Player Battles
Amit Mishra vs AB de Villiers
Amit Mishra has been the pick of the bowlers for DD this season. He also has the highest number of wickets in T20s at the Kotla. Though he was not part of the playing XI the last time RCB played against DD, but he will be eager to prove his mettle against the like of AB de Villiers and Brendon McCullum. AB was at his destructive best in the first leg against us and had taken RCB across the finish line single handedly by scoring 90 runs off 39 balls. Amit Mishra has been good with the ball with a few clever variations up his sleeve whereas AB has struggled against quality spin bowling in recent times. An interesting battle awaits between two quality players.
Prithvi Shaw vs Umesh Yadav
Prithvi Shaw’s exploit early in the innings have grabbed attention of many. He can give DD a good start and attack the opposition from the word go. His eloquent cover drives and square cuts have been mesmerizing to watch. Umesh Yadav on the other hand has been quite brilliant with the new ball for RCB. He has given them early breakthroughs and has been striking the deck as hard as ever. An emerging player taking on one of India’s bowling spearheads will be a treat to watch.
Trent Boult vs Virat Kohli
Trent Boult who is a world class bowler has done reasonably well with the new ball at all levels. He is our main bowler in the pace department and DD skipper Shreyas Iyer will want him to give them the important wickets of the illustrious batsmen of the RCB lineup. Virat Kohli has been among runs for RCB this season and Boult is probably the only bowler who can stop Kohli. In the first leg Boult had taken one of the best catches in the history of IPL to dismiss Kohli and this time around he will look to unsettle Kohli with his pace and swing and will look to grab his wicket.
It has been a disappointing campaign for us so far. We are currently placed at the bottom of the table and the lads will be hoping to turn things around and climb up on the table and ensure they can end the season on a positive note. Things have been tough for us, but the DD boys are enthusiastic young learners and there is a lot that they can take back from these defeats. With three games to go the players will be looking to rectify things and get going.
DD’s Trump Card
Rishabh Pant entered record books last night when he smashed a terrific century against Sunrisers Hyderabad. His stroke play in this IPL has been second to none and it would not be wrong to call him ‘Mr. 360.’ He has been in great touch for DD this season and was even handed the orange cap in the last match. Pant has come good against the RCB bowling lineup before and in the last three matches against them he has scores of 85, 45, 57 which further proves that he will be a trump card for us going into the game. The southpaw’s unorthodox and unconventional approach towards batting is redefining T20 cricket and DD will hope he can continue to drive the team forward with his big scores!
VIVO IPL Match 45: DD vs RCB, 8 pm IST
VENUE: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.
BROADCAST: Star Sports Network
