MARVEL VS DC
Chennai takes on table-topper Delhi in IPL Qualifier 1
The Chennai Super Kings old guards would hope to own the big moments when they take on a solid Delhi Capitals outfit, led by youngster Rishabh Pant, in the Indian Premier League 2021 Qualifier 1 at the Dubai International Stadium here on Sunday.
Delhi was the best team in the round-robin stage and its 20-point finish was an indication of its consistent performances, which didn’t dip despite the COVID-19 enforced break. Similarly, Chennai is back in the familiar setting of playoffs, having qualified for the last-four stage in 11 out of its 12 IPL seasons.
CSK lost three matches in a row at the end of the first round, but they wouldn’t amuse its talismanic captain MS Dhoni. Its opponent DC heads into the contest after suffering a close defeat at the hands of Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday.
Chennai has the ability to lift its game up when it matters the most, thanks to the number of experienced players in the squad. Opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad is an exception, with the youngster taking the IPL by storm in the ongoing edition.
Dhoni will once again rely on tried and tested individuals – Faf du Plessis, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo and Suresh Raina if it – to get the better of Delhi. With internationals such as Josh Hazlewood and Moeen Ali a regular part of the playing eleven recently, the former India captain knows the personnel who can get the job done.
In the pace-bowling department, Chennai will bank of the duo of Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar besides Bravo and Hazlewood. They will be up against Delhi, whose batting attack has been inconsistent despite 400+ runs contribution from both openers – veteran Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw. Pant has been scratchy while former team captain Shreyas Iyer is yet to return to his best of form. Shimron Hetmyer has been assigned the role of a finisher, so has been unable to make huge scores. In such a crucial fixture, the DC batting line-up would be keen to click as a unit.
Delhi’s strength has been its bowling, with the pace trio of Avesh Khan, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje firing at different stages of matches. Leftarm spinner Axar Patel has been amongst the wickets while Ravichandran Ashwin has been economical. As two quality sides are set to face off against each other, a cracking encounter is on the cards.