Both Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings have winning momentum behind them and will take on each other in Sharjah. For CSK their captain MS Dhoni is yet to fire in this tournament and small ground such as this presents him the best opportunity to come to his own. Shreyas Iyer was injured last game and we will see if DC’s in form skipper will be playing this game or not. DC won the last time these 2 sides met by a margin of 44 runs.
CSK has shown some signs of their positive approach by sending Sam Curran to open the innings and it paid dividends as the men in yellow posted a match-winning score. There was some sort of urgency shown by the batters which were missing in them so far. Their bowlers did a decent job in defending 167 by restricting the SRH to 147. CSK will be confident going into this fixture.
DC might have won the last game vs RR but looked scratchy winning by 13 runs in defending 161 and the result easily could have the other way if the Royals had batted a little better in the middle-overs. Nevertheless, DC bowlers especially Anrich Nortje was brilliant regularly touching over 150 kmph and the other bowlers supported him. There is plenty of injury concerns tough as Shreyas Iyer fell awkwardly injuring t=his shoulder and Pant not yet fully fit. But DC will go into this game as the favorites.
Key players from both sides
Batsman – MS Dhoni, Faf Du Plessis, Shikhar Dhawan, and Ajinkya Rahane.
MS Dhoni has been relatively quiet this tournament but he has shown some signs of aggression by attacking early on his innings. It is about time he comes good for CSK. Faf Du Plessis has not scored in the last few games but has been in great knick. He played a great hand in CSK’s last match in Sharjah and will like playing here. Dhawan will most likely take over reigns as captain this game if Iyer is not fit to play and will look to continue his good form after scoring 2 contrasting 50’s. Ajinkya Rahane may get another opportunity and will want to make this count as he has failed since his return.
All Rounder- Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Marcus Stoinis, and Axar Patel.
Sam Curran was used as a pinch hitter at the top by the CSK and it worked well. They may very well stick to the same plan and his bowling skills make him a complete package. Jadeja put on an all-round effort last game and it won him the man of the match award. He has looked positive in the middle-order after a disappointing start to his campaign and has scored quick runs apart from picking a few wickets. The experienced Marcus Stoinis played 2 match-winning knocks already and will look to tonk the ball in small Sharjah ground. Axar Patel has been highly economical so far picking 7 wickets in as many matches and contributed some handy runs with the bat. With the top-order not boasting big hitters with the absence of few players, the responsibility to score quick runs at the end may come to this duo.
Bowlers – Shardul Thakur, Karn Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje.
After the pace bowling exhibition put on by the DC’s leading pacers Rabada and Nortje in the game against RR, they will be once again are the men to watch out for in their game vs CSK. Shardul Thakur has been a wicket-taking bowler and given his captain a breakthrough every time he has come into the attack. He will be crucial against DC’s middle-order in death. Karn Sharma despite not playing from the first game, has been tidy with the ball so far. The duo will have to take the mantle of picking wickets.
Battles to look forward
- Kagiso Rabada vs Faf Du Plessis
- R Ashwin vs Sam Curran
- Shradul Thakur vs Marcus Stoinis
Faf Du Plessis likes the ball coming on to the and will be crucial in negating the Rabada threat. The right-handed batsman has been in good form for CSK and has experienced the pace of DC’s opening bowlers. Sam Curran is an attacking batsman and most likely DC will dish out Ashwin to counter the all-rounder. Shardul has picked wickets of some of the dangerous batsmen in this season like Russell, De Villiers and CSK will want him to send an equally lethal Stoinis back to the pavilion before he is set.
Head to Head between MI and KKR.
- Matches Played: 21
- CSK Won: 14
- DC won: 7
Significant Approaching Milestones.
1- Kagiso Rabada needs 1 more scalp to complete 50 IPL wickets.
Match conditions
Venue: Sharjah cricket stadium, Sharjah.
Date & Timings: October 16, 2020, at 7.30 PM IST.
Weather: Clear with the temperature around 32 C.
Pitch: Likely to be a batting surface but slowing down with possible due later on.