CAN DELHI ENTER A SECOND FINAL?

Delhi Capitals face a strong test of character when they face Chennai Super Kings in the first qualifier, where the winner will walk straight into the final showdown.

Delhi led the league standings with 20 points with 10 wins and four losses. In the UAE leg, they picked up four and lost only two wins.

The last loss came at the hands of Bangalore when Srikar Bharat hit a six of the final ball of Avesh Khan.

Delhi were poor in the field, dropping three catches. This made captain Rishabh Pant very upset and he did not mince any words criticising his teammates over the incidents that cost them a game they should have won.

Shikar Dhawan is the leading scorer for Delhi, with 430 runs at a strike rate of 140-plus and will be the key, along with Prithvi Shaw to give them a good start.

This is the sixth IPL season in succession that Dhawan has scored more than 400 runs and he will be hoping he carries on his good form and take his team to the final.

Even though Delhi defeated CSK in both their league games this year, they must be wary of the big-match experience of MS Dhoni, who has helped take CSK to eight finals in 10 seasons.

Delhi’s strength is their fast bowlers and they would like to knock off openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis, who are the leading scorers for CSK this year and if they manage to do the same, CSK task will be cut out as their middle order has struggled.

It should be a cracker of game and the team which plays to its strength well will book a direct ticket to the final.