As the payback week of the Indian Premier League 2024 kicks off with a few high-octane thrillers, the upcoming match no. 40 of the tournament between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans promises to be another special showdown, set to unfold on Wednesday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
The Capitals, under the captaincy of Rishabh Pant, find themselves facing a formidable challenge as their campaign this year has not lived up to the expectations of their passionate fans, witnessing their team suffer defeats in 5 out of 8 games.
Nonetheless, with three victories under their belt, DC has managed to amass 6 points and currently occupies the 8th position on the points table, meaning that a couple more losses could spell curtains for their playoff aspirations.
Meanwhile, GT, led by Shubman Gill, find themselves navigating a similar path through the tournament. Currently placed 6th on the standings with eight points, GT has secured four victories and suffered an equal number of defeats in their eight matches thus far.
What has happened so far?
The hosts commenced their campaign with back-to-back away defeats against Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. However, they found their footing at their temporary home ground in Vizag, securing a crucial victory against Chennai Super Kings.
Despite this, their momentum was short-lived as they suffered a crushing defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders, who posted the third-highest IPL total of 272 runs and vanquished the home team by a whopping 106 runs. Later, they aided Mumbai Indians in claiming their first victory of the season.
Just when it seemed they were regaining momentum with back-to-back wins against Lucknow Super Giants and GT, the Ricky Ponting-coached side was left stunned by Sunrisers Hyderabad with a demoralising 67-run loss.
On the other hand, GT narrowly clinched victory in their season opener against MI by a margin of 6 runs. In their subsequent match against CSK, they suffered a 63-run defeat, repeating the outcome of last year’s IPL final.
Since then, the Titans have been on a tumultuous journey, marked by thrilling victories over formidable opponents like SRH and RR. Yet, they’ve also faced setbacks, tasting defeat at the hands of PBKS, LSG, and DC. In their most recent outing, the Gill-led side exacted revenge on Punjab Kings, chasing down a target of 143 runs to secure a comfortable three-wicket victory.
Head to Head Record
The sample size is limited given that DC and GT have only met four times previously, resulting in two victories apiece for both teams.
Key Players
Fraser-McGurk currently has the third-highest strike rate (222.22) in IPL 2024
Jack Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals): Jack Fraser-McGurk has burst onto the scene since DC awarded him his debut cap, swiftly making a name for himself with headline-worthy performances. With only three IPL matches under his belt, the young South Australian has amassed 140 runs at an impressive average of 46.67, including two half-centuries.
In the recent match against SRH, the 22-year-old batter showcased his potential with a stunning knock of 65 runs off only 18 balls, boasting a remarkable strike rate of 361.11, comprising 5 fours and 7 maximums. His wicket will be crucial for the opposition, as he has the ability to single-handedly change the course of the game.
Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans): Only two runs shy of reaching 300 runs in this year’s edition, the skipper of the Titans, Shubman Gill, poses a significant threat to the Capitals. Having previously amassed 380 runs against DC, Gill will be eager to contribute and secure two crucial points for his team with his exquisite stroke play.
Presently vying for the orange cap, the GT skipper currently ranks as the fourth-highest run-scorer of the season. Across 8 matches, the Punjab-born batter has accumulated 298 runs at an average of 42.57, including a couple of half-centuries.
Team News from Both Camps
At the time of the toss against SRH a couple of days ago, Pant disclosed that pacer Ishant Sharma suffered a back spasm just five minutes before the coin flip, resulting in his exclusion from the game, with Anrich Nortje stepping in to fill his spot. Aside from Ishant, there’s been no update on the return timeline for Mitchell Marsh, who has returned to Perth following his injury.
Regarding the visiting team, GT faced a setback with the niggle injury to Spencer Johnson in their last match against PBKS. Fortunately, Azmatullah Omarzai, who was returning from injury, swiftly replaced the Australian pacer.
Predicted XIs
Delhi Capitals: David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, Rishabh Pant © (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill ©, Sai Sudharsan, David Miller, Azmatullah Omarzai, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma
Prediction
With the momentum of victory behind them, the Ashish Nehra-coached team looks set to claim the two points from this match. However, if DC’s top-order batsman, Fraser-McGurk, decides to unleash his aggressive style against the visitors, the game could take an unexpected turn.