Swing's the Thing in Vizag: Shaw & Starc in Spotlight for DC vs KKR Clash

 

Highlights: Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, and Mitchell Starc are all key players to watch in the upcoming IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in Vizag.

Intrigue: This match will be crucial for both teams. Kolkata is the only undefeated team remaining, while Delhi is looking to build momentum after their first win.

Vizag Vibe: The hot and humid conditions in Vizag will be a factor for all players to consider.
Venue Surprise: Delhi vs Kolkata in Vizag

The upcoming match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) takes place in Visakhapatnam, which is technically DC's alternate home ground. But expect a different atmosphere this time!

Yellow Domination vs. Red and Blue Hope

When DC played here recently, the stands were filled with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans, thanks to MS Dhoni's presence. Now, DC will hope to see their own colors (red and blue) in the stands as they aim to improve their position in the points table.

Learning from the Past

DC knows the struggle of a slow start. Last year, they lost their first five IPL games, making a comeback difficult. Their recent win against CSK is a crucial step to avoid repeating that scenario.

Delhi's Top Order Needs to Shine

The Delhi Capitals (DC) batting lacks the depth of some competitors. Their success hinges on a consistent top order, particularly Prithvi Shaw and David Warner. Both have a strong history against KKR:

Warner boasts the highest IPL runs against KKR at a whopping 1075.

Shaw averages a solid 45 against them, with his highest score of 99 coming against KKR in 2019.

Rishabh Pant's Promotion a Positive Sign

Promoting Rishabh Pant to number 3 against CSK displayed attacking intent from DC, and he delivered with a quick 50. However, contributions from other batsmen are crucial.

KKR: Strong Start, Powerplay Concerns

Facing an undefeated KKR won't be a cakewalk. While they secured a close win against Sunrisers Hyderabad and dominated RCB, their powerplay bowling remains a slight worry.

KKR Off to a Bumpy Start

While undefeated, KKR has some areas to address. Their powerplay bowling, especially Mitchell Starc's expensive spells (100 runs, 0 wickets), has resulted in the worst economy rate in the IPL (10.75). However, swing-friendly conditions might help Starc bounce back. The batting also needs more consistency from everyone except Andre Russell, Phil Salt, and Venkatesh Iyer.

Delhi Capitals: Selection Headaches

Shaw's Success: Prithvi Shaw impressed in his last outing, but a potential bowling role for Rasikh Salam or Lalit Yadav might affect his starting position.

Yadav's Injury: Kuldeep Yadav's absence creates a bowling void. Jhye Richardson is a potential replacement for Anrich Nortje if they need a pace boost, while Jake Fraser-McGurk could replace the struggling Tristan Stubbs.

Probable XI: The starting lineup remains uncertain with options available for both batting and bowling.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Fitness Concerns

Chakravarthy's Mystery: Varun Chakravarthy's limited bowling raises questions about his fitness. Suyash Sharma could be his replacement, with Angkrish Raghuvanshi continuing as the Impact Player.

Venkatesh's Back Tweak: Venkatesh Iyer's back issue is being monitored, but the bowling coach assures his availability.

Probable XIs (with Replacements Highlighted):

Delhi Capitals:

Prithvi Shaw

David Warner

Rishabh Pant (c, wk)

Mitchell Marsh

Tristan Stubbs/Jake Fraser-McGurk

Axar Patel

Abishek Porel

Anrich Nortje/Jhye Richardson

Mukesh Kumar

Ishant Sharma

Khaleel Ahmed

Rasikh Salam/Lalit Yadav

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Phil Salt (wk)

Sunil Narine

Venkatesh Iyer

Shreyas Iyer (c)

Angkrish Raghuvanshi

Rinku Singh

Andre Russell

Ramandeep Singh

Mitchell Starc

Anukul Roy

Harshit Rana

Varun Chakravarthy/Suyash Sharma

Pitch, Conditions, and Spotlight Players

Pitch & Conditions:

Expect a swing-friendly pitch in Vizag, similar to the previous match, with potential for increased swing under lights.

High heat and humidity are also predicted, a factor for both teams.

In the Spotlight:

Prithvi Shaw: After a rough patch, Shaw impressed with a quick 43 in his first outing this season. His form is crucial for Delhi's success.

Mitchell Starc: Despite a hefty price tag, Starc has conceded a lot of runs (100) without taking a wicket. He needs a turnaround.

Stats to Watch:

Rishabh Pant: Just 65 runs away from 3000 IPL runs.

Kuldeep Yadav: Has a wicket every 6 balls against his former team, KKR (10 wickets in 3 matches).

David Warner vs. Sunil Narine: Warner dominates Narine, scoring 195 runs in 123 balls with only 2 dismissals in 16 innings.

Rishabh Pant vs. Andre Russell: Pant has a high strike rate (195) against Russell but has been dismissed 3 times in 6 innings.

Delhi Capitals Hoping for Hometown Support:

Pravin Amre: "Vizag crowd, get behind us for our final game here!"We'll put on a good show for them too and aim to finish strong."

KKR Backs Starc to Find Form:

Despite Mitchell Starc's struggles, KKR bowling coach Bharat Arun remains confident. "He's a very experienced bowler who adapts well," Arun said. "Expect to see a different Starc soon. He knows what it takes to succeed."

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