The league stage of IPL 2022 is well past the halfway mark. Now, in Match 45, Rishabh Pant's inconsistent Delhi Capitals (DC) will take on K.L. Rahul's high-flying Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, in the afternoon game of Sunday's double-header.
Delhi have been patchy this season. They have struggled to keep to a consistent XI due to various factors, from late arrival of overseas cricketers to a COVID-19 outbreak. However, with a nearly available first-choice XI, they have started to hit the mark. The win against Kolkata Knight Riders must have boosted their morale.
Their biggest positive this season is of course Kuldeep Yadav. With 17 wickets in 8 matches at 14.11, he has been nothing short of a sensation. In fact, Kuldeep was named Player of the Match in all four matches Delhi have won.
Going into this match against a power-packed batting line-up like Lucknow, Delhi's biggest will would be the form of their pacers, particularly of Shardul Thakur, who is yet to mark his presence in the tournament. Their bowlers have not taken many wickets inside the Powerplay either.
On the other hand, Lucknow have made rapid strides in this debut season thanks of some outstanding individual performances, particularly in batting. Their bowlers too have back-up the batters pretty well, and the team, with six all-rounders in the XI, has looked a compact unit.
However, like Delhi, Lucknow too would want to plug some of the holes in the line-up going into the second half of the league stage. They want an improved show from their inconsistent middle-order.
Likely XIs
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Lalit Yadav, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya
Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock (wk), K.L. Rahul (c), Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Ayush Badoni, Jason Holder, Dushmantha Chameera, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
Fantasy tips
- Kuldeep is Delhi's trump card. With no dew around in this afternoon match, back him to do well.
- Pandya's all-round role in the Lucknow team can fetch points.
- Warner has been in good touch. Back him to score big in this fixture.
Where to watch
Live streaming of Match 45 of IPL 2022 between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will start at 3.30 PM IST on April 30. You can watch the match on the Star Sports Network and Hotstar.