IPL 2024 DC vs CSK Preview: Formidable Chennai faces lackluster Delhi

Delhi Capitals will look to overhaul their deep batting order by bringing the flamboyant Prithvi Shaw into the mix against defending champions Chennai Super Kings in what could easily be called a ‘battle of unequals’ in Sunday’s Indian Premier League . agreement.

Reputations are at stake in the T20 format, but DC have failed to get past CSK in their last four encounters and the margins of defeat – 91, 27 and 77 runs respectively paint a sad picture.

You also have to keep in mind that throughout these three tough losses, the core of the Delhi team has been more or less the same, barring their last encounter when Rishabh Pant was unavailable.

Therefore, a win against CSK would be considered a major setback in the tournament.

If CSK once again look like a team to beat with all the bases nicely covered, it has been the exact opposite for the Ricky Ponting-coached DC, who has been outplayed in both departments of the game.

DC’s co-owners, GMR and JSW, have completely messed up the team composition at the auction table itself for several years now and there is hardly anything Ponting or Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly could do with domestic talent that lacks quality.

CSK got an uncapped Sameer Rizvi for Rs 8.40 crore and the two sixes in his first IPL innings against Punjab Kings showed why the franchise was desperate to get him on board.

Of all the franchises, DC has probably had the weakest talent scouting program and it is paying a huge price for that.

The gap between domestic cricket and IPL became apparent once again when Ricky Bhui, the highest run-scorer in the Ranji Trophy with 902 runs in the just-concluded season, performed poorly in their last match.

That Bhui goes too far at this level was cruelly exposed by young South African pacer Nandre Burger of Rajasthan Royals.

The way he set up, with a quick full toss to pin Bhui on the back foot and then a well-aimed bouncer aimed at his skull, left the burly Andhra captain both scared and scarred.

Shaw, who made a comeback to competitive cricket during the second half of the Ranji Trophy, may not exactly be up to the fitness standards set by Ponting and his support staff, but even the biggest ‘gambler’ in the DC dressing room knows where he has to spend his money. if the choice is between Shaw and Bhui.

There is too much on the plate for David Warner, who is well past his best years, and skipper Pant, who will need some time to find his feet.

Mitchell Marsh’s time at DC over the past two seasons cannot exactly be called consistent and Shaw’s presence will indeed add some strength to DC’s battle against an attack consisting of Mustafizur Rahman, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana and Ravindra Jadeja.

Add to that the seaming work of Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, whose bowling potential has not yet been unlocked by CSK’s ‘spiritual captain’ Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

If DC bring in Shaw, they could push Marsh down as one, which could give the top flight some more solidity, but the real challenge will be in the quick deliveries of Mustafizur, who cleverly combines his variety of cutters with making life miserable make for the hitters.

Similarly, DC’s death bowling is also a concern and apart from Axar Patel, whose economy is less than six in two games, none of the other bowlers have gone for anything less than 7.50 an over.

Anrich Nortje could not hit the right length in the Royals game where DC lost out in the last five overs of their bowling innings.

DC would need Ishant Sharma to come back as he could ask some questions to Ravindra, who has started the tournament in an imperious manner.

Shivam Dube’s pyrotechnics will find its match in Kuldeep Yadav’s trickery and that will be a battle that cricket lovers would wait for.

Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (c), David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Yash Dhull, Abishek Porel, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Mitchell Marsh, Pravin Dubey, Vicky Ostwal, Anrich Nortje, Kuldeep Yadav, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Khaleel Ahmed , Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Swastik Chikara and Shai Hope.

Match starts: 7:30 PM IST.

First print: March 30, 2024 | 4:05 PM IST