Delhi Capitals eye Hyderabad sweep for top spot

Delhi Capitals will look to grab a victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad to top the points table, leaving behind the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings.

The last game between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals showed that the Sheikh Zayed track is likely to produce big totals. It will be interesting to see how the DC and Hyderabad batters will adapt to the surface and utilise it batting first.

Probable playing XI

Delhi Capitals

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

Former Delhi skipper, Shreyas Iyer, is likely to come in to bat at No. 3. Hetmyer is likely to feature in place of Steve Smith to add firepower in the middle order.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Wriddhiman Saha (WK), David Warner, Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson(C), Vijay Shankar, Abdul Samad, Mohammad Nabi/ Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, and Sandeep Sharma.

Saha is likely to don the keeping gloves in Jonny Bairstow’s absence.  T Natarajan has tested positive for the coronavirus, hence, it is unclear who will replace him. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is likely to lead the pace cartel if deemed fit for the contest.

Probable MOTM

Rashid Khan

Hyderabad mystery spinner Rashid Khan has been bamboozling stumps ever since he began the IPL campaign. He keeps the economy tight and claims scalps to his name for fun.

The Afghanistan leg-spinner is likely to swoop the Player of the Match trophy in this contest if Hyderabad get the W.

Prithvi Shaw

Shaw has been on a phenomenal run. He has been knocking down best bowling line-ups in the league and he is a potential candidate for tonight’s MOTM trophy.

Match prediction

Delhi Capitals have a good track record in the UAE. They have the depth that takes to chase down big totals, the openers to hammer the opposition in the powerplay, and well-rounded bowlers who can take away the game from the opposition.

Rishabh Pant has done a fabulous job of leading the side in Shreyas Iyer’s absence. Iyer had hurt his shoulder while fielding in the home T20I series against England. After a successful surgery, the batsman is back in the Delhi huddle.

The DC management has decided to let Pant lead the side because the young wicket-keeper has been spot on with his tactics in the 2021 campaign so far.

On the flip side, Sunriser Hyderabad are still shuffling their team. They have a different captain in Kane Williamson and a changed top-order. David Warner has won Hyderabad the title once, but his captaincy this season was scrutinised by the SRH management at the end of the India-leg of the tournament.

Hyderabad have lost six games out of seven. They sit at the bottom of the table and a bleak exit seems to hover on their heads. While they may give a tough time to the Capitals, Pant’s unit should win the contest with ease.

With a victory, the Capitals will secure the top spot.