In order to sustain their winning momentum against a struggling Gujarat Titans in the IPL in Delhi on Wednesday, the Delhi Capitals will be looking for runs from their KL Rahul-led top order.
Since coming of age early in the season, 22-year-old Sameer Rizvi has been handling the majority of the Delhi Capitals’ batting load. The team has had nearly flawless games with the ball.
The Delhi Capitals will become a more threatening team if players like Rahul and company find their rhythm. Rahul can’t be held accountable for how he has been out in his first two innings, and it won’t be long until he finds his consistency.
With the chance to bat at number three, Nitish Rana would be under additional pressure. Pathum Nissanka gained more confidence to take on the Gujarat Titans pace combo of Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj in the powerplay after discovering his range in the previous game.
Rizvi is on a roll after hitting his third consecutive IPL fifty (one came last season). Although he has always been able to take spinners to the cleaners, he can now switch tactics even when facing fast bowlers. He was more measured in the early part of his batting against the Mumbai Indians before going ballistic to help his team win easily.
While skipper Axar Patel has been as successful as ever in the middle overs and powerplay, Mukesh Kumar has been outstanding with the ball. Along with T Natarajan and Indian wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi has given the bowling unit more depth.
Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, have been having trouble shedding the top-heavy moniker. They should have easily chased 205 against Rajasthan Royals, but the inexperienced middle-order was unable to capitalize on Sai Sudharsan’s start.
Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, and Glenn Phillips make up the middle order, and they must perform well under pressure. Due to a muscular spasm, captain Shubman Gill was unable to play in the previous game; however, stand-in captain Rashid Khan stated that he should be well for their pivotal match against Delhi Capitals.
The Titans also need to improve their bowling skills after losing their first two games. While Prasidh Krishna hasn’t been reliable enough, Siraj and Rabada have both been a little expensive. Positively, Rashid has established himself early in the competition, but Ashok Sharma, a 23-year-old pacer, has been their most outstanding bowler.
Delhi Capitals Probable XI: KL Rahul (WK), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (C), Vipraj Nigam, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan
Gujarat Titans Probable XI: Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Sai Sudharsan, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
