27 April,2024 07:40 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (Pic: Mumbai Indians)
After a familiar poor start, Mumbai Indians bounced back with three wins in their next four matches but a comprehensive nine-wicket thrashing by Rajasthan Royals put an end to their resurgence. They are tottering on the eighth place on the points table and can ill-afford to lose.
DC's biggest positive has undoubtedly been skipper Rishabh Pant's form, which appears to be improving with each game.
He has looked sharp behind the stumps and seems to be batting with freedom. He was at his belligerent best during a match-winning unbeaten knock against Gujarat Titans on Wednesday.
It would be fair to say that the southpaw is in prime position to make India's squad for the T20 World Cup despite stiff opposition from the likes of Sanju Samson, Dinesh Karthik and Ishan Kishan.
In Jack Fraser-McGurk, DC have found an able top-order batter who can exploit the powerplay but more is expected of opener Prithvi Shaw, given that his only responsibility is to bat as he is used as an Impact Substitute.
DC will continue to miss the services of opener David Warner and pacer Ishant Sharma, who are unavailable for selection due to injuries.
In Warner's absence, Shai Hope was given an opportunity but he couldn't capitalise on it. The West Indian would be keen to prove himself against MI.
Tristan Stubbs has time and again proved he can be brutal with the bat while Axar Patel also showcased his batting prowess when he was elevated up the order in the four-run win against GT.
While the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar have bowled economically, DC's fast bowling unit needs to step up.
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Pace spearhead Anrich Nortje is having a forgettable season and has leaked runs at 13.36 which has been a major problem for Delhi.
The likes of Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar have been plagued by injuries leading to inconsistent runs.
They were taken to the cleaners by MI batters, who piled on 234/5 earlier in the season. And DC would be wary of a similar performance.
MI's resurgence this season began with a win against DC and the five-time champions would hope for an encore in the crucial clash.
For Mumbai, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma have got runs but all of them have found form in patches. It's time for the likes of Tim David, Ishan Kishan and skipper Hardik Pandya to contribute a big way and take some pressure off the top trio.
While the batting department has occasionally looked good, the bowling remains a massive cause of concern.
Jasprit Bumrah has expectedly been MI's standout bowler. He has led the attack with 13 wickets at an economy rate of 6.37.
However, new addition Gerald Coetzee has been inconsistent in his maiden IPL. Though he has an economy of 10.10, the South African pacer has accounted for 12 wickets in eight games.
But barring the two seamers, Mumbai's bowling has disappointed.
Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (c), David Warner, Abishek Porel, Ricky Bhui, Yash Dhull, Shai Hope, Prithvi Shaw, Tristan Stubbs, Kumar Kushagra, Swastik Chikara, Ishant Sharma, Jhye Richardson, Rasikh Dar Salam, Vicky Ostwal, Anrich Nortje, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Praveen Dubey, Khaleel Ahmed, Sumit Kumar, Axar Patel, Gulbadin Naib, Lalit Yadav, Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Dewald Brevis, Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Tim David, Shreyas Gopal, Ishan Kishan (wk), Anshul Kamboj, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Kwena Maphaka, Mohammad Nabi, Shams Mulani, Naman Dhir, Shivalik Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Arjun Tendulkar, Nuwan Thushara, Tilak Varma, Harvik Desai, Nehal Wadhera, Luke Wood
Wicketkeepers: Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan
Batsmen: Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser McGurk
All-rounders: Axar Patel (c)
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Kuldeep Yadav, Gerald Coetzee
Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to field first against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Saturday
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kumar Kushagra, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Lizaad Williams, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed
Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Mohammad Nabi, Piyush Chawla, Luke Wood, Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thushara
7: 40 PM: MI: 247/9 (20)
Delhi Capitals's bowlers create havoc at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Mumbai Indians' wait for their fourth victory in the IPL 2024 continues.
7: 26 PM: MI: 217/6 (18)
Tim David's attempt failed to guide MI to the target. Delhi is in total control of the match.
7: 08 PM: MI: 187/5 (16)
Tilak and Tim David aggressively strike ball all around the ground despite losing back-to-back two wickets.
6: 58 PM: MI: 152/5 (14)
Double blow for Mumbai as Nehal Wadhera loses his wicket soon after Pandya's dismissal. Rasikh Salam strikes two wickets in one over.
6: 46 PM: MI: 134/3 (12)
Delhi Capitals hunt for another breakthrough. Tilak and Hardik stand strong in the middle.
6: 34 PM: MI: 115/3 (10)
Hardik smashes boundaries despite losing early wickets. Tilak-Hardik duo take MI to 115 runs after 10 overs.
6: 25 PM: MI: 82/3 (8)
Mumbai Indians are in huge trouble as they lose their top order in a quick session. Hardik and Tilak look to stabilize MI's innings.
6: 16 PM: MI: 65/3 (6)
Kishan, Suryakumar departs soon after Rohit's dismissal. Tilak Varma and captain Hardik Pandya are in the middle
6: 04 PM: MI: 45/1 (4)
Khaleel Ahmed helps Delhi to get the first breakthrough. Rohit Sharma departs for 8 runs. Suryakumar Yadav joins Kishan in the run-chase.
5: 52 PM: MI: 29/0 (2)
Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan open for Mumbai hunting their way to secure their fourth win in the IPL 2024.
5:19 PM: 234/4 (20 Overs)
Delhi Capitals register their highest-ever total in the IPL (257/4) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Whether MI can chase down this huge total, only time will tell.
4:57 PM: 234/4 (18.1 Overs)
There is no stopping Delhi Capitals at the moment with Pant and Stubbs just toying around with MI fielders. Bumrah gets a wicket it is Pant who walks back now.
4:45 PM: 206/3 (16.4 Overs)
Delhi clearly on top of the contest at the moment. They will look to post 250 plus with ease today.
4:35 PM: 181/3 (14 Overs)
Hope gets caught by Tilak Varma off Luke Wood. Wood has the last laugh after getting held on for 14 runs in the first three balls of the over.
4:26 PM: 159/2 (12.3 Overs)
Hope keeps the momentum going for Delhi Capitals with some sixes off Mohammad Nabi. Pant also joins the party with a four off Thushara.
4:18 PM: 128/2 (10 Overs)
Abhishek Porel 36 (27) gets caught behind by Ishan Kishan as DC lose two back-to-back wickets. Nabi gets the young opener of DC and captain Rishabh Pant joins Hope in the middle now.
4:12 PM: 116/1 (8 Overs)
Looks like MI have used the timeout very well. The dangerous Fraser-McGurk 84 (27) getscaught by Mohammad Nabi off Piyush Chawla. MI finally get the him out and Shai Hope walks in to bat.
4:04 PM: 92/0 (6 Overs)
Powerplay over, time for a strategic timeout. Mumbai will reassess their strategies during the timeout. The Capitals have got 92 runs from the first six overs of the contest. Bumrah has been by far the least economical, giving away just three runs from the last over of powerplay.
3:55 PM: 69/0 (4 Overs)
Fraser-McGurk completes a scintillating fifty as he equals his own record for fastest fifty of his IPL career. Mumbai now bring in Piyush Chawla.
3:39 PM: 51/0 (2.4 overs)
Jake Fraser-McGurk is pursuing MI bowlers with aggressive intent. Capitals simply could not have asked for a better start to the game.
3:30 PM: Match begins!
