Following a resounding victory against last season’s runners-up, Gujarat Titans, the Delhi Capitals are gearing up to host the threatening Sunrisers Hyderabad at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday evening for the 35th match of the 2024 Indian Premier League season.
The Capitals, led by Rishabh Pant, have already played two home matches in Visakhapatnam. However, their upcoming clash against Sunrisers, captained by Pat Cummins, marks their first game of the season at their original den in Delhi.
In terms of the league standings, the hosts received a significant boost in their net run rate and position, climbing three spots to secure the sixth position on the points table with three wins and four losses. Meanwhile, the Sunrisers currently occupy the fourth spot with 8 points courtesy of four wins and two losses.
What has happened so far?
DC endured a challenging start to the season, suffering defeats in their initial matches against Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. However, their fortunes shifted when they secured a victory against Chennai Super Kings in their first home game.
Despite the promising win, they faced setbacks once more, succumbing to heavy defeats against Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians by margins of 106 and 29 runs, respectively.
Nevertheless, the Ricky Ponting-coached side showcased their prowess by clinching victories against Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, triumphing in both matches with six wickets in hand. Their recent encounter with GT was particularly lopsided, with the Capitals bowling out the opposition for a mere 89 runs.
On the other hand, SRH’s journey commenced with a thrilling last-ball loss to KKR falling short by just four runs in the chase of 209 runs. However, they rebounded impressively in their next match against MI, setting an IPL record for the highest runs scored in an innings.
Although they faced disappointment against Titans in their subsequent match, SRH has since been unbeaten, delivering defeats to CSK, PBKS, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Notably, in their clash against RCB, the Orange Army surpassed their own record for the highest runs scored in an innings, stunning the opposition with a remarkable total of 287 runs.
Head to Head Record
In their head-to-head encounters, Delhi and Hyderabad have faced off 23 times, with the latter emerging as the dominant force. The Orange Army has triumphed on 12 occasions, edging out Delhi, who have secured 11 wins.
Despite Hyderabad boasting a greater number of victories, the recent tide has favored Pant’s side. In the last 6 clashes against the team from the South, Delhi has emerged victorious in 5, showcasing their current dominance.
Key Players
Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals): Since the inclusion of explosive batter Jake Fraser-McGurk, Delhi Capitals have clinched victories in their last two matches. Making his IPL debut against LSG, the young South Australian batsman replaced Marsh and smashed a fifty off just 31 balls, steering his team to a comfortable win.
Despite getting out after facing only 10 balls in the last match against GT, the 22-year-old Fraser-McGurk provided Delhi with a solid start in their chase of a modest target of 90 runs. As a right-handed batter, he will be pivotal for the hosts, capable of dominating the Hyderabad bowling attack once he gets set.
Head is currently the fourth-highest overseas run-getter batsman in IPL 2024
Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad): Travis Head has emerged as a fearless force in this year’s IPL, leaving no stone unturned in his relentless assault on bowlers. With a staggering strike rate of almost 200, the Australian southpaw has amassed 235 runs in just 5 innings, boasting an impressive average of 47.
His recent display of power hitting at Chinnaswamy Stadium against RCB left spectators in awe as he notched up the fourth-fastest IPL century in just 39 balls. Head’s scintillating knock of 102 runs off 41 balls, embellished with 9 fours and 8 sixes, underscores his ability to single-handedly turn the tide of a match.
Dismissing him early will be paramount for the home team, as failure to do so could result in a deluge of boundaries and sixes at the Kotla.
Team News from Both Camps
Delhi Capitals faced their previous match without their seasoned campaigner, David Warner, who got sidelined due to a finger injury. His return for the upcoming fixture remains uncertain, potentially prompting the hosts to maintain their current playing XI unchanged.
Additionally, Warner’s compatriot, Mitchell Marsh, is also grappling with a hamstring injury, which is expected to sideline him not only for the match against SRH but also for subsequent fixtures, as he returns to Perth to continue his rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, the visiting team seems to be sailing smoothly, with no injury worries within their squad, likely maintaining the same lineup for the upcoming fixture.
Predicted XIs
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant © (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Lizaad Williams
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins ©, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, T Natarajan
Prediction
Based on current form, the Daniel Vettori-coached team appears to be the stronger contender to secure victory on Saturday. Nevertheless, Delhi Capitals’ consecutive wins position them as formidable opponents, particularly on home turf, where they’ll undoubtedly rally support from their local fans.