IPL 2024, Match 2: Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals Match Preview

Punjab Kings (PBKS) square off against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Saturday, March 23 in what will be the second match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

Both teams are yet to win an IPL title. Punjab made it to the IPL finals a decade ago. One of their problems over the years has been that they tend to change their core players and support staff in almost every season. However, they have managed to stick with the players who almost took them to the playoffs last year. They also made some impressive additions to bolster their side during the IPL 2024 auction. They paid INR 11.75 crore to acquire the services of Harshal Patel to strengthen their fast-bowling department.

Last year, the Kings were looking good for a playoff berth before four losses in their last five games dented their hopes. This time, they will hope for consistency throughout the tournament. They will be playing in a new home ground this year and will hope that it brings good fortune along with it as they look to learn about its nature on the run.

In IPL 2023, Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab finished eighth on the table with six wins and eight losses out of 14 matches. The experienced campaigner has been retained as the captain. He will look to repay the trust shown by the management with his performances, both as a batter and a captain. Last year, he missed a few matches due to injury but managed to score 373 runs at an average of 41.44 and a strike rate of 142.91.

The Kings have some destructive batters in their lineup like Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Rilee Rossouw among others. With the addition of Harshal, the seam-bowling department is enviable, with the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Sam Curran, and Arshdeep Singh already being in the mix. Nathan Ellis was the most economical frontline pacer for the Kings last season. However, it will be interesting to see if he gets the nod ahead of the more experienced overseas pacers like Rabada and Curran.

Delhi Capitals have received a major boost this season as their regular captain Rishabh Pant has returned to the side after being ruled out of last year's IPL following his horrific car accident in December 2022. The spotlight will be on the wicketkeeper-batter as he is set to make a return to competitive cricket for the first time in 15 months.

Last year, under David Warner, Delhi finished ninth on the table, just above Sunrisers Hyderabad. They managed to win five and lost nine out of their 14 matches. The likes of Prithvi Shaw and Mitchell Marsh had forgettable outings with the bat and that didn't help their cause. However, both players are coming into this season on the back of decent form and will look to make amends for the Delhi-based franchise.

Tristan Stubbs is an exciting prospect to look forward to. He didn't get many opportunities during his time at the Mumbai Indians but is expected to play a key role at the Capitals. The wicketkeeper-batter plays fearless cricket and can change the course of the game in a hurry. The spin-bowling department looks good for Delhi as they have Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel in their arsenal. If Anrich Nortje can stay fit, he will be a bowler to watch out for. Mukesh Kumar made his IPL debut last year and has gone on to play for India in all three formats of the game in the past 12 months. He is a much-improved bowler this season compared to IPL 2023.

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Conditions

The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium is set to host its first IPL fixture on Saturday. In the last couple seasons, this stadium has hosted Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches. This season, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the average first-innings score in the eight completed matches was 174 at this venue. Teams found it difficult to chase down targets over 160.

Only two games were won in the tournament this season by chasing teams, while teams batting first emerged victorious on six occasions. 149 is the highest successful chase registered. As this is an afternoon fixture, the sun is expected to be out and it could slow down the pitch considerably. Dew is also not going to be a factor in the afternoon encounter.

Probable Playing XI

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Punjab Kings have a good mixture of youth and experience in their lineup. The opening partnership of Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh will be intriguing to watch. Jonny Bairstow struggled during his time in the recent Test series in India. However, he has done well previously in the IPL and if he gets among the runs, Punjab will stand in good stead. Rahul Chahar is the premier spinner in the side and his form will be crucial.

Predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Jonny Bairstow, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sam Curran, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

Also Check: IPL 2024 Points Table

Delhi Capitals (DC)

While Anrich Nortje's fitness is a cause of concern, Jhye Richardson can be considered a decent backup. The form of Prithvi will be crucial for Delhi's chances as he has the ability to set the tone at the top. There is a lot of firepower in the batting department and if they can play well collectively, Delhi could be a hard nut to crack.

Predicted XI: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Yash Dhull, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar

Head-to-Head Record

PBKS vs DC, 2nd Match Broadcasting details: