The last week of IPL 2021 league stage will begin with a match between the teams occupying the top two spots in the points table. Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals have both qualified, and will definitely also be in the top three, but still there is an outside chance of Royal Challengers Bangalore pipping one of them and make it to Qualifier 1.
Delhi boast of a solid opening batting pair and an all-round bowling attack, both pace and spin. With the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Shimron Hetmyer joining the fray, they also have a strong middle order. Iyer has impressed on return, particularly in their last two matches, against Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians.
They replaced the injured Marcus Stoinis with Steven Smith, but Stoinis should return to the XI once he is fit. They will be pleased at the giant strides taken by Avesh Khan this season. He has improved significantly, and has added quite a few potent weapons to his armoury including short ball and yorkers, and is three wickets behind Harshal Patel, current holder of the Purple Cap. He forms a fearsome trio alongside the South Africans, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje.
Chennai, ahead of Delhi on net run rate, have depended on their openers, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis. Gaikwad got his first T20 century on Saturday, and became the first to score 500 runs in this season. However, their middle order, consisting of Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu need to perform on a more regular basis.
Their two all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali, are have been done well throughout the season in both departments. Jadeja is not too far behind in the race for this season's MVP. Deepak Chahar, expected to return on Monday, should enjoy bowling against Prithvi Shaw, against whom he has a decent record. He will be complemented by Shardul Thakur and Josh Hazlewood. The off-colour Sam Curran will probably be replaced by Dwayne Bravo, who has been superb in the death overs.
Likely XIs
Delhi Capitals: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Steven Smith, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, M.S. Dhoni (c & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood
Betway Fantasy Tips
- Both the teams have very strong opening combinations and are in form
- All-rounders like Jadeja, Moeen and Axar should be key picks
- The fast bowlers are also in good form and should be part of the fantasy teams
Blitzpools Fantasy XI
Rishabh Pant; Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Faf du Plessis; Axar Patel, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja; Avesh Khan (vc), Deepak Chahar, Anrich Nortje
