IPL 2021: Qualifier 1 DC vs CSK Preview, Playing XI, Live Streaming Details & Updates

Can Rishabh Pant and his men make it three in a row against CSK this year and qualify for the final, or will Dhoni’s lions roar back when it matters the most?

Published - 09 Oct 2021, 16:55 IST | Updated - 09 Oct 2021, 16:55 IST

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After 56 league stage matches spread across two different phases and two countries, the playoffs stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will commence with the top placed Delhi Capitals (DC) taking on the second-placed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Qualifier 1 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The Delhi Capitals have been on a roll in IPL Phase 2 and simply carried on from where they left off in the first phase. And, in spite of their last ball loss in their previous match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), there is nothing to worry about for the Rishabh Pant-led side.

In their previous match against RCB, the DC openers put on a blistering partnership of 88 runs in just 10.1 overs, and Prithvi Shaw returning to form ahead of the playoffs is an excellent sign for the Delhi Capitals. Shaw was at his fluent best against the Virat Kohli-led side and scored a brisk 48 at a strike rate in excess of 150.

Shikhar Dhawan is the third-highest run-scorer in IPL 2021 and has plundered 544 runs at an average of 41.85 and a strike rate of close to 130. Shreyas Iyer’s addition has proven to be useful for the Delhi side in the UAE leg, and the right-hander has been in decent form in IPL Phase 2, scoring 144 runs in 6 innings at an average of 36.00. Shimron Hetmyer has contributed vital cameos for the Delhi side as well, while skipper Rishabh Pant has also been amongst the runs.

The bowling attack has also been equally impressive. Anrich Nortje has scalped wickets at regular intervals, while Avesh Khan is the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 22 scalps. Axar Patel has chipped in with useful wickets at a miserly economy rate of 6.44, while Kagiso Rabada has taken 13 wickets in IPL 2021. And, with their batting and bowling departments firing, there is no wonder that the Delhi Capitals topped the points table in the league stages.

Entering the playoffs, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be devoid of momentum. The MS Dhoni-led side will enter the first qualifier on the back of three consecutive losses. CSK was totally annihilated in their previous match against the Punjab Kings (PBKS).

Led by a whirlwind 98* off just 42 deliveries by KL Rahul, the Punjab Kings thrashed the ‘Men in Yellow’ with 6 wickets and a whopping 42 balls to spare and made a mockery of the target of 135 set by CSK.

Even though the CSK openers have been outstanding and have piled up the runs, the CSK middle order appears wobbly. Moeen Ali has scored in single digits in his last 2 IPL innings, while Ambati Rayudu has crossed the 30-run mark just twice in the UAE leg of the IPL.

MS Dhoni has experienced a horrendous run with the bat in the 14th IPL edition. The 40-year-old cricket legend has scored just 96 runs in the whole tournament and averages 13.71. Dhoni has also scored his runs at a poor strike rate of 95.05. The right-hander has been reduced to a pale shadow of his once formidable self.

One bright spark has been Ravindra Jadeja. The left-hander has decimated bowling attacks and averages 75.67 in IPL 2021. He has also scored his runs at a whopping strike rate of 145.51 this year.

In the bowling department, Shardul Thakur (18 scalps) has been amongst the wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja has stemmed the flow of runs (economy of 6.81 per over in IPL 2021). Deepak Chahar has also chipped in with 13 wickets.

So, the stage is set for the clash of the titans. Rishabh Pant’s Delhi has momentum and youth on its side, while MS Dhoni’s CSK has big match experience, as many of the CSK players have ‘been there and done that’ before. The loser of this match will get another opportunity to have a shot at the final, but neither of these teams would like to be in that position.

The Delhi Capitals have got the better of the CSK side on both occasions in the tournament. Can Rishabh Pant and his men make it three in a row against CSK this year and qualify for the final, or will Dhoni’s lions roar back when it matters the most?

Pitch and Conditions

The chasing team has won the last 7 matches played in Dubai, so it will not be a bad idea to win the toss and bowl first. The batsmen will get value for their shots on this surface if they bide their time. Spinners are also expected to come into play as well.

Playing Combinations for DC vs CSK

Delhi Capitals

If Marcus Stoinis is fit, he will replace Ripal Patel in the playing XI. The rest of the lineup will remain unchanged.

Predicted XI: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant (c and wk ), Shreyas Iyer, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis/ Ripal Patel, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan

Chennai Super Kings

Suresh Raina might come into the side in place of Robin Uthappa. The rest of the players pick themselves.

Predicted XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa/ Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c and wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood