IPL 2021: Match 33 DC vs SRH Preview, Playing XI, Live Streaming Details and Updates

Right up at the top, it might seem that Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad are not evenly poised at the start of this tournament. Delhi has won six out of their eight matches and have been a team on the rise for three seasons straight now. Hyderabad, on the other hand, seems to be learning why regular changes are required to match up to the ever-changing styles of T20 cricket. And they are learning their lesson the hard way. They have lost six of the seven matches so far. 

Despite that context, it is quite interesting though, the last time these two teams faced each other, we witnessed a match full of drama. In the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the two teams played a thriller and were only separated after the Super Over. Delhi won that game, but it was all smooth-sailing like it had been in some of their other matches. Given that, Rishabh Pant and his men would be wary of the threat which comes against Hyderabad.

Shreyas Iyer’s return will boost up the Delhi boys, but it will also give a bit of a selection headache to head coach Ricky Ponting. But, that would be regarding the middle-order. Ponting would hope that his openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw, continue from where they left in the first leg of the IPL 2021. With the return of Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel and this time together, Capitals even have a rounded attack for these conditions.

When it comes to having a bowling unit suited for the conditions in the UAE, Sunrisers have the arsenal. An Indian pace-bowling quartet and a trio of Afghan spinners make up the highlight of this squad. But, what the team management should be worried about, which has been a case for a while, is their batting. There is an issue with inconsistency within this team and during the first leg, it even spilled enough to even get to David Warner, easily the franchise’s best-ever batter. 

Despite whatever has happened in the Sunrisers camp in the first leg, it doesn’t seem too far-stretched to think they can sneak a couple of points here and there. The Capitals should be quite relaxed after how they have performed in the first leg, but a win to start this leg would be a cherry on the top. This might just be a cracker of a game, given how the match-ups in the first leg turned out to be. 

Pitch and Conditions

The pitch in Dubai has shown signs already that it may slow down as the tournament progresses. The new ball will be crucial because there will be something on offer. It may not be a 200-run wicket, but certainly, the batters need to apply themselves and spend time on the crease to make big scores. A slow start and attack at the death, with wickets in hand, should be the order of the day. 

Playing Combinations for DC vs SRH 

Delhi Capitals

For starters, let’s see who is more likely to be the four overseas picks for DC. Kagiso Rabada is likely to start and considering how Anrich Nortje’s numbers in IPL 2020 in the UAE stack up, he should also play. Marcus Stoinis is almost a sure-starter. This leaves Delhi with one slot to fill. They have two candidates, Shimron Hetymer and Steve Smith. Between Iyer, Smith, and Hetmyer, Delhi will have to figure out a middle-order while Pant and Stoinis being the other two. 

Avesh Khan has been deemed fit and has been training after an injury in between the two halves of the IPL. Delhi should back Lalit Yadav, however, with Ashwin returning, that would be a debatable spot. Axar will play and that should sum up the line-up. 

Predicted XI: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Steven Smith/Shimron Hetmyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Marcus Stoinis, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Jonny Bairstow’s pulling out might be a good thing as it leaves Sunrisers with no other keeping option, other than Wriddhiman Saha. Rashid Khan is a firm starter. There will be a toss-up between Sherfane Rutherford, Bairstow’s replacement, and Mohammad Nabi for one spot. Jason Holder, too, remains a close contender for that one spot. What that means is Sunrisers will bring back Warner and make him ideally open with Kane Williamson. 

The dichotomy and hierarchy in that dressing room are confusing but not as much as their batting order. The batting will surely get a massive boost if there are some runs from Warner. Having said that, the Indian contingent will never step up, given the fact they constitute seven of the 11 players but have not contributed a lot. 

Predicted XI: David Warner, Kane Williamson (c), Wriddhiman Saha, Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Mohammad Nabi/Sherfane Rutherford/Jason Holder, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed

DC vs SRH Head-to-Head

Played – 19 | Delhi Capitals – 8 | Sunrisers Hyderabad – 11

DC vs SRH Broadcast Details

Match Timings – 7:30 PM IST

TV – Star Sports Network

Live Streaming – Disney+Hotstar