MI vs DC: Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, Stats, Pitch Report and more for Dream11 IPL, Qualifier 1

The Mumbai Indians need to be slightly vigilant, given their record of one win in three fixtures in Dubai this season.

Published - 05 Nov 2020, 08:43 IST | Updated - 05 Nov 2020, 08:43 IST

2 Min Read

56 games – that is how much it took this year’s Indian Premier League to separate the top four units, out of the total eight. And after the enthralling saga, up against each other are two teams – the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals – which were long-anticipated to be the top two this year.

The current edition is merely a week away from finding those who will enwrap the trophy in their hands, and an ace in the Qualifier 1 – the simplest route to the final – would be the obvious priority for both the teams. Making a start as strong as any, the Capitals’ unit made their playoff appearance look like a given. However, they knew little about the bumpy ride that was to unfold.

Scripting four successive defeats on the trot and faltering heavily in the latter half of the tournament, the Delhi Capitals ensured a playoff berth for themselves only at the eleventh hour after they defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Shreyas Iyer’s men might have brought their forgettable patch to an end after they finished on a high in the league stage, however, their think-tank has plenty to ponder as they meet the merciless Mumbai Indians on Thursday, at the Dubai International Stadium.

The Indians’ journey has been far more convincing than their immediate rivals. Courtesy of their initial labour, their management had the luxury of working in the ‘workload management mode’ at a time when other teams were gasping, praying, and crazily searching for results.

Mumbai rested Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult – who both have bagged 43 wickets in tandem this year – in their last league encounter, and though SRH may have pulped MI, the latter’s move of resting their main guns was, as a move in chess, entirely calculated, and might as well pay the dividends on Thursday.

The Indians, who have completed a double over the Capitals in the league, might not have winning momentum behind them, but what they do have is their designated skipper Rohit Sharma back in action, a rejuvenated duo of rattlers in Boult and Bumrah, and some serious in-form middle-order batsmen.

All this combined with their penchant for sitting at the top and enjoying the show, they would be keen to book their tickets for the grand show on 10th November, without much fuss and nonsense.

Pitch and conditions

With the winters arriving in the UAE, the temperature in the evening has reduced considerably, and heat, therefore, is not going to be an issue anymore. Given that the venue is Dubai, MI need to be slightly vigilant, given their record of one win in three fixtures here this season. That aside, all the batsmen need to be watchful after the slowness that has been observed on this track of late.

Playing Combinations for MI vs DC

Mumbai Indians

With Rohit Sharma back in their ranks, the time has come for Ishan Kishan to go back to the middle-order. Much like most of the seasons, the unfortunately uncapped Suryakumar Yadav has contributed heavily with the bat at his crucial position, and he would want to continue doing the same in the decisive clash.

Since the showtime has arrived, Mumbai will call up Hardik Pandya and the deadly duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult to complete the troika alongside James Pattinson.

Probable XI- Rohit Sharma (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Nathan Coulter-Nile/James Pattinson, Jasprit Bumrah, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult

Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals will hope that their top-order woes won’t continue and that their openers would be able to provide them stable starts much as they did against RCB.

The problems for them in the middle-order are evident as Rishabh Pant’s performance has not been up to the mark, although Ajinkya Rahane getting amongst the runs must have mightily pleased the management.

Delhi’s strength lies in their bowling unit, where Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje have been unwaveringly consistent, whereas the addition of Daniel Sams has only bolstered them further. The spinners – Axar Patel and Ravi Ashwin – need to bowl with consistency, and they might well be able to given Dubai’s track’s slowness.

Probable-XI Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Sams, Axar Patel, Ravi Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje