The second half of the IPL 2021 has successfully commenced, and the gears are in motion to move forward. However, we cannot keep ourselves calm with the upcoming matches with two highly competitive matches down. Speaking of competitive matches, one match in the first half was nothing short of a blockbuster.
The super over thriller between the Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers, in the first half of the 2021 fixtures, might have been the highlight of the season which set the tone for their respective season performance for both the teams. While Delhi stands at the second position on the points table under the guidance of their new captain Rishabh Pant, Sunrisers are having their worst season in recent times as the last name on the points table. The sacking of their regular captain towards the end of the first half explains that things have been miserable for them.
The teams have met each other 19 times, where the numbers are currently favouring SRH (11 wins and eight losses). But with two consecutive wins in their recent clashes, Delhi is undoubtedly covering their record. The last match only cemented this case.
Batting Comparison
The main differentiator between these two teams has been their batting. The only saving grace for SRH was Jonny Bairstow, but his not participating in this second leg has undoubtedly increased the level of trouble pot for the team. Sunrisers will surely want to call back David Warner to the playing XI and look at Williamson to take charge of the batting department.
Where SRH struggled, DC has been the most successful in their batting performance. Probably the most consistent batting lineup of this season, DC has put up quite an undertaking, credit to their top order batsmen. With Shikhar Dhawan in the form of his life for two seasons continuously now and Shreyas Iyer back in the squad, SRH bowlers already have their hands full for this fixture.
Bowling Comparison
Sunrisers have had a slight relief in the form of Rashid Khan, again. But, except for Rashid, no other bowler has maintained his place in the playing XI for all seven matches, and it indeed is one more thing that the team will have to address urgently.
While Sunrisers are looking like they’re falling apart here, DC have been coming together. Even though the experience of the dependable Rabada is coming in handy for DC, the man who has been the ace for the team this season is undoubtedly Avesh Khan, and we might see him making a valuable impact in this match as well.
What to look forward to?
The power shift for this match is slightly in favour of the Delhi Capitals, but the gap due to the COVID scare might have helped the SRH management sort their priorities. But with Bairstow out of the squad this time around, SRH are indeed in the do or die situation. And Delhi, too, will look forward to strengthening their playoff chances with this match with the return of Shreyas Iyer.
DC vs SRH Predicted XI
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje
Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Kedar Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Sandeep Sharma