DC began the second half of IPL 2021 in impressive fashion, thumping Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). However, they were given a wake-up call of sorts as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got the better of them by three wickets in a close encounter. With 16 points from 11 games, DC need one win to seal their playoff berth and join CSK.
MI ticked a few boxes in the win over PBKS, the biggest of them being all-rounder Hardik Pandya returning among the runs. However, there are still a few areas of worry for the defending champions. Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock haven’t quite fired at the top as they would have liked to. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan are struggling big time
There should not be too many chances in MI’s playing XI for the DC encounter. The move to bring in Saurabh Tiwary for Kishan in the previous game proved vital. Also, Nathan Coulter-Nile was highly impressive, coming in for Adam Milne.
MI’s predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock (w), Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult
As for Delhi Capitals, Shikhar Dhawan will be keen to get back that Orange Cap, which he has lost to KL Rahul. The left-hander has looked good but has not got the big scores. It remains to be seen whether Prithvi Shaw is fit or Steve Smith gets another game.
DC’s predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Steven Smith, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan
Top fantasy picks for MI vs DC clash: Saurabh Tiwary, Kieron Pollard, Jasprit Bumrah, Shikhar Dhawan, Shimron Hetmyer, Anrich Nortje
--Renin Wilben Albert
