IPL 10, Match 52, DD v RPS – Delhi Daredevils Predicted XI

Delhi Daredevils are playing for pride as they are already out of the playoffs. They will now host Rising Pune Supergiant in their penultimate game this year. Delhi’s campaign swung this year swung between the brilliant and the banal. They have chased down big scores this year but have been also decimated by oppositions in chase of straightforward targets.

Rising Pune Supergiant started poorly but has since then managed to win 7 out of 8 games and are on the brink of qualifying for the playoffs. They just need to ensure that they win at least one of their two remaining league games, though Smith would want to win both to gather momentum before the playoffs arrive. They come into this game after doing the undoable. RPS by virtue of a close 12-run win against Sunrisers Hyderabad became the first team to defeat Hyderabad at home this season. This outlines the kind of form RPS is in as a team at the moment.

Delhi too, like RPS, have their tails up after defeating Gujarat Lions away from home. In pursuit of 196, Daredevils were down and out with 75 to get in the last six overs with just four wickets in hand. Shreyas Iyer coupled with Cummins helped Delhi get over the line in a see-saw battle which even got their otherwise studious mentor Rahul Dravid excited. Zaheer-led DD would want to finish the season on a high especially because their last two games are home games where they have always received tremendous support irrespective of their performances.

Let us have a look at the Predicted XI of Delhi Daredevils for their home game against RPS:

Openers (Karun Nair and Sanju Samson)

Karun Nair averages 17.36 after 12 innings this year. Delhi Daredevils have showed a lot of support of this Karnataka batsman. He has shown glimpses of brilliance with a couple of thirties but hasn’t gone on to make a telling contribution. With two games to go, this is Nair’s best chance to repay the faith shown by the team management. After DD lost 2 quick wickets against the Lions in the last game, Nair started the counter attack with a 15-ball 30 which was later carried on by Iyer.

Samson has already made a century and 2 half-centuries in 12 innings this year. He has been consistent this year but needs to finish off the season on a high as people tend to forget what you have done in the early phase of the tournament. This is an ideal time to send a timely reminder to the national selectors of his abilities. He was dismissed for 10 against the Lions after striking two boundaries early on.

Middle Order (Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Marlon Samuels)

Pant’s innings against GL ended in comical as well as bizarre fashion. He comes across a guy who is too casual in his approach as a batsman but the 19-year old needs to learn quickly as oppositions at this level are quick to pounce on the slightest of errors. An average of 23.75 this year after 12 games is undermining of his abilities as a batsman. Pant has two games to improve his season numbers.

Iyer played the innings of his life as his 96 led DD to an improbable win in the last game. Losing wickets at regular intervals did not deter this Mumbaikar to not think of a win. Iyer has been the best batsman this season for Delhi averaging a high 37.87 after 10 games with a strike rate of 145. Apart from scoring crucial runs at No. 4, Iyer’s never-say-die attitude emanates positivity in the Delhi camp.

DD picked Samuels as a replacement for Quinton de Kock in the team, they didn’t have a spot to offer him for the major part of the league but as they brought him in the West Indian has looked off touch. Twice in two games, he had a great opportunity to score big and lead his team home after the middle order failed. But he scored two scores of 1 run each to disappoint the team. With not many options in the ranks, DD will back him to come good and mind you Samuels is indeed a big match player.

All-rounders (Corey Anderson and Carlos Brathwaite)

Anderson has played a couple of impact innings this year. Selected to play just 9 games, Anderson has faced just 109 balls and averages a decent 27.20 this year. Delhi have tactically placed him in the lower middle order to make the best use of his big-hitting abilities. His bowling has been very disappointing as he has eked runs at 10.40 runs an over.

Brathwaite, the world cup winning sensation from West Indies, has got just two games this season. The West Indian hasn’t done much to write home about in the two games but deserved more opportunities for he has all-round abilities. Somehow he never fitted in Delhi’s combination but is expected to play the remainder of the season. Expect him to play an impact innings before the tournament concludes.

Bowlers (Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami, Murugan Ashwin and Zaheer Khan)

Cummins did a good job in a rearguard partnership of 61 with Shreyas Iyer. His contribution of 24 at No. 8, which came off just 13 balls was instrumental in DD’s 2-wicket win against GL. Cummins has been in good bowling form this year collecting 12 wickets from 10 games. He, though, was expensive against GL as he returned with 1/38.

Mohammed Shami hasn’t had a memorable return from injury as 6 games have got him just 3 wickets at an economy of 9.72. He will play the next two games to get back in rhythm as sterner challenges await in England next month.

Murugan Ashwin is expected to get his first game this year in place of the struggling Amit Mishra. An otherwise very reliable option in T20, Mishra has conceded runs at 8.60 in 12 games. Ashwin, a fellow wrist spinner, has warmed the bench the entire season. He should grab his chances with both hands and try to impress in whatever chances he is presented with.

Zaheer Khan will again open the DD bowling. At 38, this might be Zaheer’s last appearance in the IPL. He has done a reasonable job this year and has impressed many with his leadership. An economy rate of below 8 in 9 games is considered in today’s day and age. The left-arm pacer is expected to play the next two games, which might well be his last in the IPL.

It will be a fiercely competitive game and playing at home will give Delhi the edge. Smith will be wary of Daredevils, who have nothing to lose and could be the part spoilers for RPS.