The unpredictable Delhi Capitals, whose IPL 2024 campaign is hanging by a thread, will take on the fierce Rajasthan Royals, who are already qualified for the postseason and will be desperate to take back the top spot in the rankings.
Throughout, the Capitals have fluctuated from being incredibly good and awful. DC lost four of their opening five away games of the season before winning four of their following five. The Royals, on the other hand, enjoyed a lengthy tenure at the top, winning eight of their ten games, including two runs of four straight wins. However, both teams are coming off losses.
Delhi’s problems stemmed in part from injuries that struck their camp, preventing them from fielding their best lineup, and in part from some of their reliable starters playing mediocrely. Prithvi Shaw has experienced a year of two halves, with the second half of his eight games played so far seeing a steady drop in his figures. Nevertheless, Jake Fraser-McGurk has seized the chance and turned into a bright spot for DC. He presently averages over 43 with the bat, and his almost unbelievable strike-rate of 233.33 after six innings is the best in a season (minimum 50 balls faced). The three has been providing the team with the bat heavy lifting, along with captain Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs.
The fact that the Capitals have won the previous two of their three games in Delhi, scoring 220 points or more each time, should uplift their morale as they approach the point where they must win in order to be considered for the playoffs. Of the three that remain, two are in the comforts of their own turf. But the venue’s tendency to host run-fests this season might work in the Royals’ favour. RR’s top four are now amassing the greatest total (1453 runs at 48.43) among all ten teams, even with Jos Buttler’s lean periods following his two tremendous hundreds in run chases. By contrast, DC comes in eighth.
In terms of fast-bowling returns, the two teams are also at different extremes of the spectrum. Delhi’s quicks are second from last, leaking at 11 RPO and average 33.78, while Rajasthan’s quicks have been the most economical in the tournament at 8.66. Khaleel Ahmed, one of the most economical DC pacers, with an average of 9.47. Nevertheless, Delhi has an advantage over its Tuesday opponents in one area.
The bowling combination of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel has been crucial for DC, while the ineffectiveness of R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, two seasoned players, is a weakness in RR’s otherwise strong all-around performance. In the 2024 Indian Premier League, Delhi’s spinners have taken 23 wickets at a joint-best strike rate of 18.7 and average 25.95, while RR’s have only taken 17 in 10 games at a concerning average of over 43.
When: May 7 @ 19:30 IST on Tuesday
Where: Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium
What to expect: In the 2024 Indian Premier League, Delhi has recorded an incredible 249 average first innings score, with an overall 236 average at this venue. Anticipate a thrilling match featuring even square boundaries from the middle pitch.
Head-to-Head: The visitors have a 3-5 record in the Feroz Shah Kotla, but overall, it’s 15-13 to RR. In Jaipur, the Royals prevailed by a score of 12 runs in the rematch.
Groups Observe
The Delhi Capitals
Injuries & Availability: Head Coach Ricky Ponting stated that Ishant Sharma is healthy and ready to play tomorrow. He also expressed confidence that David Warner will be available for the match, though a final determination of Warner’s fitness was to be made following the team’s Monday night pre-game practise.
Strategies & Matchups: Sanju Samson’s reliability has been a major contributor to RR’s success this season; nevertheless, the RR captain hits for a score of under 122 against both Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. It should be a fascinating matchup because the DC SP brothers have dismissed the RR skipper three times between them.
The probable starting eleven are: Shai Hope, Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abhishek Porel, Rishabh Pant (C, wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Ishant Sharma, and Mukesh Yadav. [Rasikh Salam, Impact sub]
Royals of Rajasthan
Availability & Injuries: The RR camp has no reported injuries.
Strategies & Matchups: In the IPL 2024, all three of Delhi’s leading run scorers—Pant, Stubbs, and Fraser-McGurk—are averaging less than 20 against legspin. Chahal, who has shown moments of brilliance in the past, has the ability to crack Delhi’s big-hitting middle-order if he can find his groove again.
Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c, wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, and Sandeep Sharma are the likely members of the starting XI. [Yuzvendra Chahal, Impact sub]
Were you aware?
- In Delhi during IPL 2024, a six has been hit in each of the eight permissible balls.
- Incredibly, boundaries have accounted for 88.8% of Jake Fraser-McGurk’s runs in the 2024 IPL.
- Teams batting first have won all three of Delhi’s games this season.
What they expressed:
We are aware that Rajasthan is a formidable team, but we also know that if we play our best, as we have so far in the competition, and we can sustain that form for 40 overs, we will be difficult to beat. We are confident in our ability to defeat everyone, regardless of the opponent or the setting.” – Head coach Ricky Ponting of the DC
“Being the captain of the team comes with a lot of responsibilities. Over the past several years, Sanju [Samson] has learnt how to manage these, as well as how to count on the more experienced players in the team. And by striking a balance, it brings out the best in him. As a team, we’ve been thrilled to witness his World Cup selection. Everyone is happy for him. Shane Bond, the coach of RR fast-bowling, said, “He’s playing beautifully, and hopefully he can just keep leading us through the back end of this tournament.”
