IPL 2021: Match 2 – DC vs CSK – Delhi Capitals Predicted Playing XI

After a terrific start to the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the opening game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals will lock horns against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the second match. Delhi Capitals are one of the top contenders for winning the IPL trophy as they boast of having a strong and balanced squad.

The IPL 2020 hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) saw Capitals reaching the final for the first time but their dream of winning their first IPL trophy shattered after losing the final against Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets. DC will have a new skipper in IPL 2021 in the form of Rishabh Pant as Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the T20 Championship after dislocating his shoulder. With a change of leadership, Delhi will hope to change their fortunes too and add the illustrious T20 trophy to their cabinet.

Here’s DC’s Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2021 Match 2:

Openers (Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw) 

Prithvi Shaw had a terrible outing in IPL 2021 while opening the innings for Delhi Capitals. Despite trying his best, the right-hander failed to score runs and ended up with just 228 runs from 13 games at an average of 17.53 Shaw was placed under major scrutiny with people finding major flaws in his batting technique.

This was followed by the 21-year-old getting dropped from India’s Test Playing XI after a poor performance in the first game against Australia. However, Prithvi Shaw regained his form as he looked at his fluent best in the 2021 edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy and emerged as the highest run-getter with a whopping 827 runs including 4 centuries.

Thus, the youngster will be hungry to score runs in IPL 2021 and shut the mouth of all the critics with his performance. There is no doubt that alongside Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan will be opening the innings for Delhi Capitals. Dhawan finished IPL 2020 as the second-highest run-getter with 618 runs at an average of 44.14 and a strike rate of 144.73.

Middle Order (Steve Smith, Rishabh Pant (C and WK), Shimron Hetmyer) 

In the absence of Shreyas Iyer, Delhi’s new-recruit Steve Smith can get a nod in the Playing XI. Smith had a forgettable run in the previous season and for the same reason was released by Rajasthan Royals. Thus, the former skipper will be hungry to prove his domination again on the cricket field. At number four, Rishabh Pant will be walking in the middle as the skipper for the first time.

Pant was in splendid form in the just-concluded five-match T20I and three-match ODI series against England and will be hoping to continue his form in IPL too. West Indies young hard-hitter Shimron Hetmyer is also expected to find a place for himself in the Playing XI in the first game against CSK.

Hetmyer will be expected to showcase his finishing skills and give a boost to the batting innings by hammering the ball all over the ground while coming in the later overs.

All-Rounders (Marcus Stoinis, Chris Woakes) 

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was the biggest revelation for Delhi Capitals in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Stoinis was in terrific form both with the ball and willow and delivered match-defining performances in almost all the games. He was the main reason behind Delhi reaching the finals. 

In 17 matches, Marcus Stoinis ended up with 352 runs at a strike rate of 148.52 and an average of 25.14. Coming to his performance with the ball, he scalped 13 wickets at an economy rate of 9.53 and an average of 21.76. Chris Woakes can play alongside Stoinis as the second all-rounder in the team. Woakes had given the IPL 2020 a miss but can put up a good show this year. 

Bowlers (Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma) 

With Axar Patel ruled out from the first few games as he tested COVID positive, Amit Mishra is most likely to feature in the Playing XI alongside Ravi Ashwin. Both the spinners have the ability to rattle the opposition batsmen with their googlies and spin. While Ashwin was a go-to bowler for the skipper in IPL 2020, Amit Mishra was ruled out mid-way after suffering an injury.

Coming to the pace-attack, Delhi will most likely pick Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav. This will be a forced inclusion for the runners-up as their explosive pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are not available for selection for the first game. Nortje and Rabada arrived late in India after completing their international duties and are still undergoing their mandatory seven-day quarantine period.

Ishant and Umesh have decent records while bowling in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ishant has 71 wickets while Umesh has 119 wickets from 90 and 121 IPL games respectively.