GUWAHATI: A confident Delhi Capitals take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 11 of IPL 2020 after two morale-boosting wins. For Delhi, the South African pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje has looked sharp with the new ball while spinners Axar Patel and Amit Mishra have performed splendidly in the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin, who suffered an injury in the team’s first outing and is likely to miss the match against Sunrisers.
Hat-trick of wins or a maiden loss? First win or third defeat? Either way, something’s got to give as Delhi Capitals (DC) square off against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 11th match of the Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Tuesday.
Having secured back to back wins – first against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and then, against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – DC, facing SRH, will be keen to complete a hat-trick of wins and retain the top spot in the points table.
SRH, on the other hand, are eyeing their first win of the IPL 2020 following their defeats at the hands of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Will SRH’s top three fire against DC’s bowling riches?
While there were a few good individual batting performances from SRH, they have not yet fired as a unit. The likes of David Warner, Jonny Bairstow and Manish Pandey will now be up against DC bowlers, who have found ways to pick wickets and guide their team to twin wins.
Will SRH overcome the DC bowling battery? Or will DC continue their merry ways and complete a hat-trick of wins? We have a fascinating contest on our hands and here are top five picks who could determine the course of the match.
Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw scored a cracking half-century to set up DC’s second successive win where they beat CSK by 44 runs. The attacking right-handed batsman will once again be crucial for his side as they face SRH in Abu Dhabi. The DC opener can hit the ground running, playing those punchy drives, and can also go aerial to clear the ropes. If he fires, expect DC to score big.
David Warner
Following his side’s seven-wicket loss against KKR, SRH skipper had said that he takes full responsibility for not batting out the overs. David Warner has time and again proven himself – as a batsman and as a leader – and the left-hander will be out to make amends as SRH seek their first win of the IPL 2020.
Jonny Bairstow
While he scored a fine 61 in SRH’s season opener against RCB, Jonny Bairstow could not score many against KKR as his side suffered their second defeat in a row. But, like he has shown in the past, Bairstow can be extremely destructive, and as SRH seek to post a big total on the board, the Bairstow-Warner partnership is vital.
Kagiso Rabada
Two wickets in the first game. Three wickets in the second. Add to it, that stunning Super Over performance to take DC home. Kagiso Rabada has not put a foot wrong in the IPL 2020, and as DC, who are targetting their third win on the bounce, face the likes of Warner, Bairstow and Manish Pandey amongst others, the team will expect Rabada to continue his good run of form.
Manish Pandey
The right-hander scored a fifty against KKR following a 34-run innings in his team’s first game against RCB. But, if SRH were to win, then Manish Pandey, along with Warner and Bairstow, must get the big runs. If that happens, SRH will be in with a chance to open their account on the points table.
Wild Card
Anrich Nortje
Anrich Nortje was remarkable with the ball in hand against CSK, making good use of variations, including the slower ones, returned with the figures of 2/21 in DC’s win. The right-arm speedster has formed a good partnership with his countryman Rabada has formed a good partnership, and like Rabada, Nortje remains someone DC will bank on in the game against SRH.
Stats
DC at this venue: Played 1, Lost 1
SRH at this venue: Played 2, Lost 2
Approaching Milestones
- Rishabh Pant requires 3 dismissals and 6 sixes respectively to complete 50 IPL dismissals and 100 IPL sixes.
- Manish Pandey is 72 runs from completing 3000 IPL runs
- Shikhar Dhawan needs 3 sixes and 104 runs respectively to complete 100 IPL sixes and 1000 IPL runs for Delhi franchise.
- Siddarth Kaul needs 1 wicket to complete 50 IPL wickets.
