IPL 2018, Match 52, DD vs CSK, Match Prediction: Who will win the match today, Delhi Daredevils or Chennai Super Kings?

Both the teams have little to lose with the encounter but CSK will want to win and seal a top two finish.

Published - 18 May 2018, 01:51 IST | Updated - 18 May 2018, 01:51 IST

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It’s a dead rubber in Indian Premier League (IPL) 11 as the Delhi Daredevils take on the Chennai Super Kings at the Feroz Shah Kotla. CSK have already made it to the playoffs and are comfortably holding the second spot in the table where they will stay irrespective of the result. Delhi’s position at the bottom will also not change whatever the result be.

The only significance of this game is if CSK wins, their participation in qualifier 1 will be confirmed. Right now with KKR sitting at 14 points and one game in hand, they can also get to 16 and in that scenario, if their net run rate is better, they might displace CSK from no. 2 with will mean Chennai have to play the eliminator. However with a victory tomorrow, that will be out of the equation as CSK will seal a top 2 berth.

Pitch and Conditions

Feroz Shah Kotla this IPL has behaved differently in the two innings. Early on when the game starts and the conditions are fairly dry, it grips and turns. But as it gets dewy, the pitch quickens up and the ball skids onto the bat nicely.

It’s really tricky for the team batting first to make the right aim as far as setting the target is concerned. The perception you get initially is it’s a 150-160 pitch, but since the conditions change so drastically in the second innings, the par score automatically gets higher.

Playing Combination

Delhi Daredevils

Probable Changes – No Change

Delhi gave a couple of youngsters an opportunity last game and both of them came good. While Abhishek Sharma looked a much mature player for his age on IPL debut and showed tremendous composure with the bat in the latter phase of the inning, the Nepal teenager Sandeep Lamicchane was equally impressive with the ball.

There is no way the Delhi management is dropping either of them tomorrow considering the team is out of the tournament anyway. Both players will have another go and it will be a big test of their skills against the mighty CSK.

Predicted XI: Prithvi Shaw, Colin Munro, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Harshal Patel, Junior Dala, Amit Mishra, Trent Boult, Sandeep Lamichhane

Chennai Super Kings

Probable Changes – Sam Billings out, Lungi Ngidi in

Lungi Ngidi hasn’t been available for selection in the last two games because of injury. However, if he is fit, it is a no-brainer pick for CSK. He is one of the bowlers who needs to play a key role for them in the death going ahead in the tournament and they will want to give him some game time.

In the absence of Lungi, CSK have been playing an extra batsman in Sam Billings who will have to sit out if the big South African returns.

Predicted XI: David Willey, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Harbhajan Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi

Team Comparison

Delhi will be playing this encounter without any pressure. They have nothing to lose and will just express themselves in front of the home crowd. They might have failed to qualify for the next round, but they have some very impressive youngsters performing consistently for them and the hosts will set their hopes high on the young guns again. The likes of Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw and the skipper Shreyas Iyer will be the men to watch out for.

There is not a lot of pressure on CSK either, but they will not want to take this game lightly and develop any kind of a negative momentum. Death bowling is still a big worry for them and they will be keen to see how the Lungi-Bravo duo bowls in the last 4 overs. The trump card early on will be Deepak Chahar who has been swinging the ball beautifully the whole tournament.