The Delhi Capitals (DC) are just a step away from their maiden IPL title, but that step is beating the mighty Mumbai Indians (MI), the one team they haven’t been able to beat this season.
These two teams have faced each other thrice this season, the latest being qualifier 1 just less than a week ago and Mumbai have beaten them comfortably and comprehensively on all three occasions. So much so that DC had found themselves reeling at 0-3, chasing 200.
Mumbai strengths are plenty, the most prominent ones being their powerplay bowling and death batting. MI have managed to score at over 12 runs an over in the death phase in the tournament. Trent Boult has been a force to reckon with in the powerplay and has managed to provide his team with a breakthrough in the first over itself, more often than not. Jasprit Bumrah has been.. well, Bumrah, the world’s best doesn’t need many words to prove his worth to the team.
Beyond Mumbai’s top three, everyone bats everywhere and, in every gear, depending on what the team requires and have always managed to put up a show. And against a bowling attack they destroyed just days ago, they would be confident of the prowess.
Delhi found their groove after an inspired change of sending Marcus Stoinis in to open the innings, proving some much-needed impetus at the top. They were finally able to get a commanding opening stand, and put up a good first innings score, in spite of a little fizzle in the middle overs. Their bowling has the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and the experienced campaigner in Ravi Ashwin, so that would reassure the skipper. Another thing that would put the captain’s mind to rest is that everything seemed to go Stoinis way in qualifier 2 as he shone with the ball as well.
The list of players to watch out for is long in a game filled with some experienced campaigners and flamboyant youngsters. While Delhi Capitals are looking for their first title, Mumbai are in a position they are very much used to, as they look for their fifth title in the last eight years.
None of the teams would want to unsettle a winning combination before a big final and the team winning the toss would want a score on the board, unless heavy dew is a probability.
Likely 11s:
DC: Shikhar Dhawan, Marcus Stoinis, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Pravin Dubey
MI: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
