After a narrow defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), our boys would be desperate to return to winning ways. We face Delhi Capitals (DC) in our must-win TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 fixture at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on May 13.

Battle For Survival:

Our boys need two points against DC to remain in contention for the TATA IPL 2023 playoffs. With 10 points from 11 matches, we are eighth on the points table. 

With our net run rate at -0.441, we need to boost it with a big win over the Capitals.

The David Warner-led team will head into the game after suffering a 27-run loss against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Having registered four wins in 11 matches, DC are at the bottom of the table.

The Northern Derby:

Our boys have won five out of the 11 matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Overall, we have faced DC on 30 occasions and won 15 matches.

What To Expect: 

In the ongoing edition, toss-winning captains have decided to field in three of the five matches played at the DC home ground. Teams batting second have won four of the five matches so far.

The average first innings score at this venue is 168, while the average winning score is 197.

Players To Watch Out For:

Shikhar Dhawan:

Our captain, Shikhar Dhawan, has been in scintillating form this season. The elegant left-hander has amassed 349 runs in eight matches at an average of 58.17 and a strike rate of 143.62. In our last game against KKR, Dhawan became only the third batter to hit 50 half-centuries in the TATA IPL. 

Furthermore, Dhawan has an impressive record against DC. He has scored 550 runs in 17 innings at a strike rate of 140, which is the best record for him against any team in this tournament.

Arshdeep Singh:

The 24-year-old left-arm pacer has been our leading wicket-taker this season. He has bagged 16 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 15.31. Arshdeep Singh will play a pivotal role against the DC batting line-up.

Key Match-ups:

Jitesh Sharma vs Kuldeep Yadav:

The face-off between Jitesh Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav could play a significant role. Jitesh has scored 28 runs off the 21 deliveries faced off Kuldeep in TATA IPL. DC’s chinaman is yet to dismiss Jitesh so far. 

Thus, this will be a key match-up due to the spin-friendly conditions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

David Warner vs Kagiso Rabada:

Having played four seasons of TATA IPL for Delhi Capitals, Kagiso Rabada is familiar with the conditions at their home venue. Our pacer has a decent record against David Warner. Rabada has dismissed the DC captain thrice in the TATA IPL history. 

Thus, the Protean could be drafted into our playing XI.

Sher Squad, keep supporting our boys. We’re ready for another thrilling fixture in Delhi.