IPL 2021: Qualifier 2 DC vs KKR Preview, Playing XI, Live Streaming Details & Updates

The Kolkata Knight Riders have experienced a scintillating run in IPL Phase 2 that will give fairytales a run for their money. When IPL Phase 1 drew to a close, the KKR side was languishing at 7th place in the points table and had won just 2 out of its 7 matches. It seemed as if the two-time IPL champions might not make it to the Playoffs stage, and will once again be met with disappointment.

But then, KKR has scripted a remarkable turnaround in the UAE leg. The Eoin Morgan-led outfit won 5 out of their 7 matches in the IPL second leg, and qualified for the playoffs. The KKR side produced a superb all-round performance in the Eliminator, beating the RCB side with 4 wickets to spare, and are now one match away from sealing their place in the final.

And, it has been a collective team effort that has propelled KKR to where they are today. Venkatesh Iyer infused energy into the side with the way he wielded the willow in the KKR’s first two matches in the UAE leg. Rahul Tripathi has plundered 383 runs in the 14th IPL season and has scored his runs at a strike rate in excess of 140.

Shubman Gill has scored 381 runs, while Dinesh Karthik has played some attractive cameos. With the ball, Varun Chakravarthy has been outstanding. The right-arm spinner has picked up 16 wickets in IPL 2021 and has scalped his wickets at a miserly economy rate of 6.40 runs per over.

And of course, there is Sunil Narine. You can never count this man out. And, the West Indian stepped up for the KKR side in the ‘crunch moment’, in the Eliminator against the RCB side. Narine first scalped the 4 crucial wickets of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, and Srikar Bharat with the ball, finishing with superb figures of 4/21 in his 4 overs. Narine then came in and scored a quickfire 26* at a strike rate of 173.33 with the bat to help KKR romp past the finish line.

On the other hand, the Delhi Capitals (DC) might not be so buoyant coming into Qualifier 2, as the Rishabh Pant-led side has now lost its last 2 matches. And, what will hurt DC more is the fact that they have lost their last 2 matches in spite of scoring in excess of 160 on both occasions.

While it was Srikar Bharat’s last-ball six that saw Delhi ending up on the losing side in their last league match against RCB, it was the ‘Mahi’ magic’, where MS Dhoni turned the clock back and scored 18* off just 6 deliveries, coupled with important half-centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Robin Uthappa that allowed CSK to go past the finish line.

The DC openers are in good form. Prithvi Shaw has scored 48 and 60 in his last 2 innings and has scored 461 runs in the tournament at a whopping strike rate of 159.52, while Shikhar Dhawan is the third-highest run-scorer in the competition, and has amassed 551 runs at an average of close to 40.

Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer have contributed vital cameos as well. The DC bowling attack has been rattled in the last couple of matches. The DC bowlers have conceded 339 runs in 39.4 overs in the last 2 matches, and have only scalped 9 wickets in DC’s last 2 encounters put together as well. And, if DC wants to stop the KKR juggernaut, then their bowlers will have to step up.

So then, the winner advances to the final, while the loser goes home. Can the Delhi Capitals stop Kolkata Knight Riders’ dream run, or will the two-time IPL champions advance to the summit clash?

Pitch and Conditions

It was evident in the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) that the pitch at Sharjah is not an easy one for batting. The ball has stopped on the batsman, and run-scoring is challenging here. Also, the chasing team has emerged triumphant in 6 out of the 9 matches at Sharjah. Teams winning the toss would like to bowl first.

Playing Combinations for DC vs KKR

Delhi Capitals

In spite of 2 back-to-back losses, the Delhi Capitals are unlikely to tinker with their playing combination. They will go in with the same side that took the field against CSK in the first Qualifier.

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

Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have absolutely no need to tamper with their side. They will also field the same playing XI from their last match.

Predicted XI: Venkatesh Iyer, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy, Lockie Ferguson

DC vs KKR Head to Head

Played – 28 | Delhi Capitals – 12 | Kolkata Knight Riders – 15 | N/R – 1

DC vs KKR Broadcast Details

Match Timings – 07:30 PM IST

TV – Star Sports Network

Live Streaming – Disney+Hotstar