Kolkata and Delhi will lock horns at the Wankhede Stadium on April 28. Both teams have been having a rough time. While the Men in Purple and Gold have lost four games, the Delhi-based franchise have lost three. The two-time winners are sitting in the eighth position in the points table with six points. On the other hand, the 2020-finalists are just above their opponents with six points. Both teams are looking to get back to the groove as the business end of the tournament isn’t too far away.
Team News
Kolkata:Â The team is coming off four back-to-back losses. Although they have made so many changes in these games, nothing has worked. With six games remaining before the playoffs, they need to win at least five out of them to remain in the contention for the playoffs. In the upcoming game, they might need to make a few changes.
In the last match, the likes of Aaron Finch, and Pat Cummins were replaced by Sam Billings and Tim Southee. As for Sunil Narine, he can be pushed down the order and Finch can take his place in the team. However, the team would want to keep Sam Billings as the keeper-batter due to his hitting-ability. In that case, Pratham Singh, who is an opening batter in the Indian domestic cricket, can be included in the team in place of Finch.
Key Players:Â
Shreyas Iyer:Â The skipper of the team is leading by example with 248 runs in eight games. This includes two fifties. In the game against Delhi earlier this season, he got 54 off 33 balls when his side was chasing 216 runs. The right-hander could be an important player in a fickle batting line-up.
Umesh Yadav:Â He has been off-colour in the last few games despite being among the highest wicket-takers. The right-arm pacer has taken 11 wickets in eight wickets with most of the wickets coming in the powerplay. He could be the key to the team while bowling in the powerplay.
Probable XI:Â Venkatesh Iyer, Aaron Finch/Pratham Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Sheldon Jackson/Sam Billings (wk), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Sunil Narine, Shivam Mavi, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
Team News
Delhi:Â The team hasn’t been consistent. They win one game, but go on to lose another and the cycle goes on likes this. They would want to leave behind their inconsistent performances and put together a few wins to go ahead in the race to playoffs. Talking about the playing XI, the team can include KS Bharat as a batter in place of Sarfaraz Khan, who has failed to carry on with his Ranji form. Bharat did well last year when he was playing for Bangalore at the number three position.
Key Players:Â
David Warner:Â The opening batter has been in a terrific form with 291 runs in five matches including three back-to-back fifties. During the game against Kolkata, the left-hander hit 61 off 45. With the kind of form he is in, he could be a dangerous player for the opposition.
Kuldeep Yadav:Â The left-arm wrist-spinner returned to form with four wickets against his former side when the last time both teams played. Since then, he has been picking wickets in the middle overs and choking the opposition. He could carry his form in the next game as well
Probable XI:Â Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, KS Bharat, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Lalit Yadav, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaleel Ahmed
Match Details
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Time:Â 07:30 PM IST
Live Telecast:Â Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar
Pitch Report: The wicket is slowing up and the spinners are getting help. This was evident in the last two games played at this venue. A night before this game, Gujarat and Hyderabad will play at the venue which means there is a no chance curators will be able to dish out a flat track
