IPL 2020: Match 23, RR vs DC- DC Predicted Playing XI

Delhi Capitals (DC) haven’t done much wrong in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Having won four out of their first five matches, Shreyas Iyer and Co are sitting pretty on the second spot in the points table below Mumbai Indians (MI).

In their last game in Dubai, DC beat the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 59 runs and that should keep them in a positive frame of mind. The Capitals will next be facing Steve Smith’s Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Friday, September 9 in Sharjah.

The Royals are on a three-match losing streak, but winning two games, they are unbeaten at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. In fact, even DC won their only game at the venue by 18 runs after scoring 228. Though it’s unlikely, it remains to be seen if DC tinker with their winning combination.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for the Delhi Capitals for RR vs DC game:

Openers (Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw)

The Capitals will persist with the opening combination of Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw in all probability. Between them, Shaw has been the most fluent. The youngster has 179 runs at an average and strike-rate of 35.80 and 147.93 respectively.

Though he couldn’t get a half-century in the last match, he was brisk enough to help the Capitals score over 60 runs in the mandatory powerplay. How DC do in the first six overs will again depend on Shaw at the top of the order.

His partner, Dhawan, hasn’t quite fired though. In five innings, the left-hander has 127 runs at an average of 25.40. A strike-rate of 122.11 means that he hasn’t found it easy. But bearing in mind that he has over 500 runs against the Royals, the veteran is expected to make some sort of a comeback.

Middle-order (Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shimron Hetmyer)

The middle-order looks lethal as ever for DC. Shreyas Iyer couldn’t score in the last game, but he remains as their leading run-scorer with 181 runs at an average and strike-rate of 45.25 and 143.65 respectively. The 88* he got against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) would have given him a lot of confidence.

The Royals don’t have strongest of bowling line-ups in the IPL and Iyer can cash in. Rishabh Pant hasn’t been at his best, but he hasn’t been the worst either. He doesn’t have a half-century to show for his efforts, but with scores of 30s and 40s, he has gathered 171 runs.

He is averaging 42.75 and has a strike-rate of 139.02. Shimron Hetmyer hasn’t had many chances to bat, but he has smashed four sixes and one four in the 37 balls he has faced thus far for the Capitals.

All-rounders (Marcus Stoinis, Harshal Patel, Axar Patel)

In the all-rounder’s category, Marcus Stoinis has arguably been the standout for the Capitals. He has batted in the middle-order and has 123 runs at an average of 41 and most importantly, at a strike-rate of nearly 200. Having already notched a couple of quickfire half-centuries, Stoinis must be oozing with confidence.

He hasn’t been all that bad with the ball either, picking wickets at the death. Axar Patel didn’t play the game against KKR in Sharjah. At the same venue, this time, he might get a chance, keeping in mind his performances with the ball.

In four games, he has been the most economical bowler for the Capitals with an economy of 4.57. He also has four wickets. Harshal Patel has been expensive and having picked two wickets, he hasn’t made enough breakthroughs either.

Bowlers (Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje)

In the bowling department, Kagiso Rabada has weaved magic, brining forth all his experience of playing the sport. He is currently the Purple Cap holder in the tournament, picking up 12 wickets including a four-wicket haul last time around.

The four-fer he got was in DC’s last game itself against RCB. The young speedster has been impressive, both with the new ball and in the death overs. His South African pace bowling partner Anrich Nortje hasn’t disappointed by any means.

In five games, Nortje has seven wickets at an economy rate of 7.45. Both will be required to bowl at a time when RR would be looking for quick runs. Ravi Ashwin, after returning from his shoulder injury, has been reasonable. Though he got only one wicket, he didn’t let batsmen get on top of him.