IPL 2020, KXIP vs DC: Delhi Capitals are clearly the team to beat in the tournament. (Source: File)After a super-over win over mighty Mumbai Indians, KL Rahul’s Kings XI Punjab [KXIP full squad] have another giant task today when they take on the table-toppers Delhi Capitals [DC full squad].
Having lost two tight games they should have won at the start of the season, KXIP managed to get on the right side of the results in the last couple of games, although it was too close for comfort by their own admission.
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Needing seven off the last two overs with nine wickets in hand, they should have wrapped the game against RCB much before the last ball and even in the IPL’s first double Super Over against Mumbai Indians on Sunday night, the KL Rahul-led side could have closed it out in regulation time.
Delhi are clearly the team to beat in the tournament and have gained in confidence with a close win against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday night. While Prithvi Shaw needs to be back among the runs after a couple of ducks, his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan elevating his game bodes well for the team that has won seven out of the nine matches it has played.
Probable XIs:
KXIP: KL Rahul (C,wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, M Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami
DC: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Tushar Deshpande, Kagiso Rabada Anrich Nortje
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Daniel Sams, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Tushar Deshpande, Kagiso Rabada
Kings XI Punjab (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w/c), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, James Neesham, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh
Rishabh Pant is expected to be back today, and that also means the return of Shimron Hetmyer into the playing XI.
The fact that KXIP have struggled this season despite having the tournament's top two run-getters in openers Rahul (525) and Mayank Agarwal (393) best sums up their erratic run. On a positive note, the successful return of Chris Gayle has reduced the burden on the shoulders of the star openers, especially allowing Rahul to play more freely.
DC Predicted XI: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Tushar Deshpande, Kagiso Rabada Anrich Nortje
KXIP Predicted XI: KL Rahul (c/wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, M Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami
Gowtham could play a vital role for KXIP, not only with the ball, but also with contributions in the lower order. KXIP have let Ravichandran Ashwin go to Delhi Capitals this year. Gowtham, therefore, might have a crucial role to play this season.
Kris Srikkanth, the former India captain and selection committee chief, has slammed MS Dhoni’s "ridiculous" calls for Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing IPL and asked what "spark" did he see in the under-performing Kedar Jadhav. Srikkanth was referring to Dhoni’s remark that the youngsters in the CSK squad did not show the spark needed to challenge the seniors and break into the playing XI. "I will never accept what Dhoni is saying about this process," Srikkanth told Star Sports Tamil.
After a superb win against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday night, Shreyas-Iyer-led Delhi Capitals marched to the top spot on the points table of the Indian Premier League. The defending champions Mumbai Indians are at the second spot after being beaten by Kings XI Punjab on Sunday. They are followed by Royal Challengers Bangalore, who are at the third spot. KKR remains at four. CSK remains at the bottom of the table. [Read More]
Kolkata Knight Riders have finally found their mojo with the late inclusion of tearaway pacer Lockie Ferguson and they would look to avenge their first leg rout by the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore when the two sides clash in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. It needed KKR nine games and a change of captaincy to realise the true potential of the Kiwi pacer, and when the Eoin Morgan-led side finally brought him in, he blew away Sunrisers Hyderabad with his relentless pace and variations. [ READ MORE ]
The two teams have faced each other 25 times in the IPL so far, and KXIP has dominated the fixture by winning it 14 times. Earlier this season, KXIP (157/8 in 20 overs) beat KXIP (157/8 in 20 overs) in the Super Over in Dubai on September 20.
It was the KXIP who have thrashed Delhi by 10 wickets in IPL 2017 when Daredevils were all out for just 67 runs. This was one such match as the hosts, after choosing to bowl, scythed through a hapless Delhi side, who were having one of the worst IPL campaigns to date. In fact, their 67 all out was the worst ever in a completed IPL first innings, all thanks to Sandeep Sharma’s 4/20. In the second innings, Martin Guptill helped himself to a quickfire half-century to take his side to a 10-wicket win.
With an envious bowling line-up, Delhi have shown they can defend even below-par totals. Playing in the absence of an injured Rishabh Pant, time is running out for Ajinkya Rahane to make an impact.
Shikhar Dhawan is coming into this game on the back of his maiden IPL hundred. The left-hander scored an unbeaten 101* against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to guide DC to a win. Before the CSK game, Dhawan had scored 57 and 69* against Rajasthan Royals (RR) and MI. The DC opener has been timing the ball well and his side will want him to continue his merry ways.
Mohammad Shami was brilliant with the ball in the Super Over against MI. The senior KXIP and India pacer defended five runs against Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma and gave KXIP one more shot to win the game. Earlier in the match, he had also picked two wickets. In their last game against DC, Shami was KXIP’s pick of the bowler, having scalped three wickets, and he will once again be someone that his side will bank on.
DC have been one of the most consistent sides of the season and having won seven games out of nine, they are occupying the top spot in the points table. As they take on KXIP, Shreyas Iyer and Co will be looking to consolidate their position. The last time these two sides squared off, they played out the IPL 2020’s first Super Over. While DC came out on top on that occasion, KXIP will be looking to secure their third win on the bounce.
KL Rahul needs one six to complete 100 IPL sixes.
Chris Gayle is 65 runs away from completing 1000 IPL runs for KXIP.
Shikhar Dhawan requires 63 runs to complete 5000 IPL runs.
Prithvi Shaw needs 6 fours to complete 100 IPL fours.
Fresh from their two Super Overs thriller against Mumbai Indians (MI), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will square off against Delhi Capitals (DC) - a side against whom they earlier were involved in a Super Over-finish - in Match 38 of the IPL 2020 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
KXIP had their share of ups and downs in the tournament so far, but the KL Rahul-led unit held its nerves to seal two successive wins - first against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and then against MI.
Hello and welcome to another Live Blog on the buildup of Delhi Capitals vs Kings XI Punjab match which is going to be another tight game as the KL Rahul's team is seeking path to recovery in the ongoing season and the Shreyas Iyer's side looks determined to be on top of the table.