KKR vs DC: Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, Stats, Pitch Report and more for Dream11 IPL, Match 42

With seven wins in the bag, the Delhi Capitals will fancy their chances to seal the playoff spot straight away at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Published - 23 Oct 2020, 21:39 IST | Updated - 23 Oct 2020, 21:39 IST

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Be it the 10-run win over the CSK, the 2-run win over the KXIP, or the Super Over heist over the SRH, if there is one thing that has favoured the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) the most this year, it has been luck. It is indeed a rarity in a league as competitive as IPL to give one team as much as it has given to KKR, who are placed well in the range of a playoff contention being at the fourth spot in the table for now.

The mid-season luck aside, things have stopped happening for the KKR suddenly and they are coming into this game against the unstoppable Delhi Capitals after being crushed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their encounter. Registering the lowest total for any team in the history of IPL without being dismissed, the Riders were shell-shocked for 84/8. Needless to state, RCB cruised to a victory to increase KKR’s vulnerability to slip out from the top slot.

The performance-based problems aside, KKR has also fallen flat in finding the right team in the absence of some major mainstays. However, with no Sunil Narine and Andre Russell in their ranks, a win would have been an instant dose of morale straight into the veins. With the tournament progressing towards its business end, the time for KKR to step up has arrived. They are within a touching distance of the playoff berth, but a couple of misses, and it will be a yet-so-far story for them in no time.

On the other hand, the Shreyas Iyer-led Delhi Capitals have little to worry with the playoff spot being a mere formality. The Capitals have a never-ending list of positives this year, and the same is well-reflected in their position at the table, where they sit atop with 14 points from 10 games. However, despite all the positives, they are coming into this encounter after a 5-wicket defeat against the KXIP.

Naming to himself an unprecedented record, Shikhar Dhawan slammed consecutive centuries, although his 61-ball 106* went in vain. Dhawan’s sensational form aside, captain Iyer has been in fine touch with the bat, Stoinis has been giving the impetus as a finisher, Kagiso Rabada is donning the coveted Purple Cap with pride, and Anrich Nortje has been rattling the opponents with some furious pace. With seven wins in the bag, the Capitals will fancy their chances to seal the playoff spot straight away tomorrow at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Pitch and conditions

The track at Abu Dhabi was evidently on the slower side and recorded one of the lowest totals in the game between RCB and KKR. The track is still offering decent bounce, though it has been two-paced. This being a day game, there will be no impact of dew and therefore, both the teams would be keen to bat first upon winning the toss.

Playing Combinations for KKR vs DC

Kolkata Knight Riders

The issue at the top seemed settled after many trials and errors, although the fluctuating results from Rahul Tripathi and Shubman Gill have not let the problem fix for them. Nitish Rana has not been able to provide the solidity expected from a number 3, whereas Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik, both of whom have played some crucial knocks, have been unable to strike consistently.

One of the major concerns in the middle-order has been the lackadaisical run of Andre Russell, however, with him out due to injury, the team needs to search for answers soon. Kuldeep Yadav performed well on return, although he was not used in the last game, where KKR had nothing to defend. The addition of Lockie Ferguson has been the only positive for them in some while, as Pat Cummins has not been able to fire this season.

Probable XI- Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Tom Banton/Sunil Narine, Eoin Morgan (C), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Pat Cummins, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy

Delhi Capitals

Prithvi Shaw continued to disappoint as he fell cheaply in the last game. Despite generating good results, the young opener has not been able to continue in the same vein in the games of late. Shikhar Dhawan although, has been ruling the roost with four consecutive 50-plus scores, two of which have been centuries. Delhi must be pleased with Rishabh Pant hitting back on the field as that has allowed them to include Shimron Hetmyer in their ranks as well.

The pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje has been consistently firing in tandem and they have been assisted well by the spinners Ravi Ashwin and Axar Patel. Tushar Deshpande has given contrasting results and Capitals might want to give Harshal Patel a look-in.

Probable XI- Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shimron Hetmyer, Shreyas Iyer (C), Marcus Stoinis, Rishabh Pant (WK), Axar Patel, Ravi Ashwin, Tushar Deshpande/Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje