Preview
The two best teams in the competition eventually qualified to the qualifiers and will tussle it out for an early place in the finals on Thursday in Dubai. Mumbai Indians have been the team of the season with their top-flight bowling strength while
Delhi Capitals had two distinct halves to their season, dominating the first and fading off in the second before a last gap win allowed them qualification rights. They lost four on the trot in the second half of the season and will be wary of Mumbai who beat them twice in the season.
The interesting match-up will be between Delhi’s hit-the-deck pacers and Mumbai’s big hitting middle-order batsmen. This battle could well decide this contest.
Team news and predicted XI
DC are expected to change a bit for this game considering the MI line-up. Daniel Sams could make way for Harshal Patel and Shimron Hetmyer could also be in contention to come in. It remains to be seen how they fit Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer and Shikhar Dhawan into the same line-up against a top bowling side like MI.
MI, on the other hand, had a wake-up call last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad although they fielded a depleted line-up. Jasprit Bumrah’s return should set them straight. Trent Boult and James Pattinson could complete the fast bowling trio.
Predicted XI
Delhi Capitals
Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ajinkya Rahane, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Sams, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Ravichandran Ashwin, Anrich Nortje
Mumbai Indians
Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, James Pattinson, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
Fantasy tips
- Ishan Kishan may not open with Rohit Sharma back and is a risky pick anyway against Rabada and Nortje. But on his current form, he is certainly a neat choice.
- Kagiso Rabada, even if he has appeared tired of late, is a decent pick, but you might have to choose between him and Boult to fit in a good team and the latter might be better.
- Shikhar Dhawan found some form too last game and is a must-pick.
- I am banking on Mumbai to win this easy and hence have their core bowling and Pollard and openers in there is perfect.
- Krunal is a good match-up for Delhi’s middle-order and can be picked.
- Ashwin, likewise,is useful against Mumbai’s left-handed heavy middle.
Fantasy XI
Ishan Kishan
Quinton de Kock
Shikhar Dhawan
Suryakumar Yadav
Shreyas Iyer
Kieron Pollard
Krunal Pandya
Jasprit Bumrah
Trent Boult
Anrich Nortje
Ravichandran Ashwin
