IPL 2021: Match 7 – RR vs DC – Delhi Capitals Predicted Playing XI

Delhi Capitals boasts of having one of the strongest squads among all the eight franchises and are deemed as favorites to win the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League. Capitals made their maiden appearance in the final of the league in the last season, hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but lost the match to Mumbai Indians.

DC carried their winning momentum of IPL 2020 in the IPL 2021 too as they started their campaign on a winning note. Playing against Chennai Super Kings in their first match of IPL 2021, Delhi emerged victorious by seven wickets and was successful in adding two points under their belt.

Here’s DC’s Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2021 Match 7:

Openers (Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw)

Delhi Capitals is expected to go with their regular opening duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw in the match against Rajasthan Royals. Both Shikhar and Prithvi seem to be in blistering form in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and were the architect behind the team’s victory in their first game against Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets.

Batting second against CSK, Dhawan played a sublime knock of 85 runs off 54 deliveries at a strike rate of 157.41. Shaw also made headlines as he hammered a stunning 72 runs off just 38 deliveries including nine boundaries and three maximums. As Delhi Capitals will be playing their second match also at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Shikhar and Shaw are expected to continue their assault against the opposition bowlers. 

Middle Order (Rishabh Pant (C and WK), Ajinkya Rahane, Shimron Hetmyer)

Delhi Capitals are unlikely to meddle with their middle-order too in the game against Rajasthan Royals as the trio of Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shimron Hetmyer provides the needed balance to the squad. Just like the previous game, Pant can come to bat at number three. 

In his first game as the captain, Rishabh led from the front and scored 15* off 12 deliveries. Pant and Hetmyer will be expected to show their power-hitting and propel the team towards a big total. Ajinkya Rahane, on the other hand, can play the role of an anchor in case the team loses the first few wickets quickly.

All-Rounders (Marcus Stoinis, Chris Woakes)

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was a revelation for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2020 as he made a significant contribution with both the willow and the ball. In the first game against CSK, Stoinis experienced a torrid run as he gave away 26 runs in his two overs along with scoring just 14 runs off 9 balls. 

However, there is no doubt that the all-rounder is a match-winner and DC will be hoping that he regains his form quickly. Chris Woakes was a new addition to DC’s set-up in the first game and the seamer highly impressed with the ball as he took two crucial wickets of Sam Curran and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Also, in his three-over spell, the 32-year-old conceded runs at an economy of 6. 

The inclusion of Woakes in the Playing XI also provides depth to the batting line-up as the England star has a good batting record in the shortest format of the game.

Bowlers (Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Kagiso Rabada)

The backbone of Delhi’s bowling line-up Kagiso Rabada is excepted to make a comeback in the team in the game against RR. Rabada was forced to miss the first match as he was completing his seven-day quarantine period. Rabada is likely to be included in the Playing XI in place of Tom Curran, who proved to be costly with the ball in the first match.

The young Avesh Khan is also expected to find a place in the Playing XI as DC’s another pacer Anrich Nortje tested positive for coronavirus and won’t be available for selection for few upcoming games. Avesh was included in the team for the match against CSK and he produced an exemplary performance as he returned with two crucial wickets of MS Dhoni and Faf du Plessis.

Coming to the spin attack, there will be no change as Amit Mishra and Ravichandran Ashwin will be the first-choice spinners.