IPL 2018: DD v RR, Match 32 - Delhi Daredevils Predicted XI

The Double D’s will face off Double R’s in a critical encounter tomorrow at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Every game from here on is a virtual knockout for the Delhi Daredevils. Currently, they sit at the bottom of the points table having won only two of the eight games so far. A change in leadership has somewhat ensured better results for the team. They won the first game under Shreyas Iyer while they lost a close one against CSK.

The batting unit coming together is a positive for the Delhi Daredevils going further into the tournament. The DD batsmen have got their act together in the last two games and put up a much better show. However, their bowling is still a matter of concern although it doesn’t look that bad.

It will be important for the Dehli not to give away too many runs during the middle and the end overs. Trent Boult after a poor outing in the last one will hope to bounce back strong in this one. Avesh Khan too impressed one and all which his pace and accuracy. These two are expected to play a crucial role in the next one. Delhi Daredevils are expected to make one change in their squad for the next one against RR. Here is Delhi’s predicted XI:

Openers (Prithvi Shaw, Colin Munro)

Talk about grabbing an opportunity with both the hands and Prithvi Shaw has done exactly that. Shaw has been brilliant in the limited opportunities he got so far although missed out against CSK. He has provided the team with the ideal starts two out of three times so far. Shaw is a treat to watch and is a brilliant timer of the cricket ball. In the three matches he played, the youngster piled on 93 runs and will hope to carry the good form forward.

Colin Munro too, came back strong in the second opportunity that he got this season. He is hitting those big sixes and scoring at a brisk rate. Munro, however, will have to convert his good starts into something substantial to prove his worth in the team. He scored at a strike rate over 160 in the last two games and will be the key in the DD lineup.

Middle Order (Shreyas Iyer, Rishab Pant)

Iyer is in a rich vein of form this year. Batting at the crucial number three position, he has taken the onus upon himself to score the big runs for Delhi. The skipper is one of the leading run-scorers in the season with 257 runs in the 8 games so far. He was unfortunate to have missed out against CSK due to a run-out. However, he will look to carry the positive momentum forward and score big against RR.

Rishab Pant has been the backbones of the batting line-up. He has piled a lot of runs for them and has got them at a brisk pace. Pant is also the leading run scorers for Delhi season and is only the fourth batsmen to have crossed the 300-runs mark this season. He is scoring at a brisk pace and it is crucial for him to fire if Dehli will have to turn things around this season.

All-Rounders (Glenn Maxwell, Vijay Shankar)

Glenn Maxwell has been one of the biggest let downs for Delhi this season. He has struggled to time the ball well so far in the season. In all the games that he played till now, he did not manage to make much of an impact and DD will want him to be more responsible out there in the middle. He is another impact player after Pant and will have to work out a way to score runs. He is handy with the ball and has picked some crucial wickets.

Vijay Shankar showed some glimpses of good form in the last game. He put the Chennai Super Kings on the edge of their seats as he smashed DJ Bravo, their key bowler for big sixes. He will take a lot of confidence from that game and will wish to carry it on. It is important for all these players to be consistent if DD is to have any chances to reach the playoffs.

Bowlers (Shahbaz Nadeem, Liam Plunkett, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Trent Boult)

The Delhi bowlers were taken to the cleaners by the Super Kings’ batsmen in the last game. The Super Kings counterattacked them and never allowed them to settle down at any juncture in the game. But, this same line-up proved their mettle against KKR in the game earlier and will hope to get back to the positive ways. It is important for them to bowl the tight overs in the middle and pick timely wickets.

Liam Plunkett, Avesh Khan and Trent Boult have been the pick of their bowling line-up. This trio shoulders the pace bowling responsibility. Boult is the leading contender for the Purple Cap and DD will hope for him to come good. Amit Mishra will have to bring all his experience in and get back to ways of picking wickets. Shahbaz Nadeem could come in for Rahul Tewatia as he had a very little effect of Delhi thus far.

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