Buoyant Delhi Capitals look to continue strong start to IPL 2019 against Kings XI Punjab

Aditya Devavrat 14:25 31/03/2019
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  • Kagiso Rabada helped Delhi Capitals to a thrilling win in their last game.

    They got there in different ways, but Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals both showed the threat they carry this season en route to second IPL 2019 wins last week.

    Punjab would have been glad to win with minimal fuss after the incident-packed first two games of their season, as they cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians. KL Rahul played his way back into form during a scratchy but ultimately match-winning innings, Mayank Agarwal continued his own good run to start the tournament, and together they made sure Kings XI made light work of a potentially tricky 177-run target.

    They still have some issues to sort out with team selection – Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s absence from the XI remains a mystery, and they’ve won one and lost one of the two games the Afghan spinner has been out of the side.

    In captain Ravichandran Ashwin’s defence, against Mumbai leg-spinner Murugan Ashwin acquitted himself well, bowling a spell of 2/25 from his four overs to help contain the potentially explosive Indians batting. And with Hardus Viljoen and Andrew Tye key players in the bowling attack and Chris Gayle and David Miller entrenched in the batting lineup, there’s no overseas spot for Mujeeb to take.

    Against the destructive Delhi batsmen, perhaps Ravi Ashwin sticks to his guns and keeps Mujeeb out of the firing line. After all, it’s a batting lineup that includes Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer, who have worked their way into form this season, Prithvi Shaw, who fell agonisingly for 99 on Saturday in a dramatic win over Kolkata Knight Riders, and of course, Rishabh Pant.

    Though Delhi beat KKR, it was only after an almighty scare, as they went from needing just 18 off the last 18 balls to being forced into a Super Over. It was perhaps a necessary experience for Iyer’s young side, nearly throwing away a win before Kagiso Rabada‘s brilliant bowling in the Super Over bailed out his dangerous but callow batsmen. That came after Delhi conceded a total of 185/8 despite having had KKR at 61/5.

    The way Shaw slowed down while approaching a century and then got out attempting an ugly heave, or Pant’s inability to adjust to an around-the-wicket angle from left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav, showed that at times, a lack of experience can still be this side’s Achilles heel. It’s something Ashwin in particular will look to exploit.

    They did get the win, however, and that’s what is important – a matter-of-fact feeling that will no doubt resonate with Kings XI, who got a controversial victory against Rajasthan Royals to start the season.

    Trent Boult should return for Delhi for the injured Chris Morris, having missed the last two games, while Hanuma Vihari’s first game of the season ended with a wicket off a ball he should have dispatched into the stands to win the game. There might be a rethink over his inclusion. Other than Mujeeb, Punjab have no major selection issues.

    LIKELY XI

    Kings XI Punjab: KL Rahul (wk), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, David Miller, Sarfaraz Khan, Mandeep Singh, Ravi Ashwin (c), Hardus Viljoen, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Andrew Tye

    Delhi Capitals: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Colin Ingram, Hanuma Vihari, Harshal Patel, Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult

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