The 23rd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 will be played between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. The Royals has had had a lukewarm campaign so far, as despite winning their first two games, Steve Smith and have suffered three consecutive losses since, with none of their batsmen showing the consistency they did in the first two games.
While they await the inclusion of Ben Stokes, they will look to clinch a morale-boosting win at the expense of the Capitals. With the likes of Samson and Buttler looking in decent touch, the Royals would fancy their winning record in Sharjah this IPL. Their opponents, the Delhi Capitals, have been playing some dominating cricket in this year’s IPL. With four wins in five games, Delhi is yet to face trouble this year, with their win against RCB being a testament to their ability.
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Along with a power-packed batting unit, the duo of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje is wreaking havoc for most of the bowling attacks in the world. It is the Royals who hold the edge in the head-to-head match-up, with 11 wins to Delhi’s 9. However, the Delhi Capitals have won the last three games between the two sides and this might play on the minds of the RR, who are desperately in need of a win. With two valuable points up for grabs, we should be in for a cracking contest between two explosive batting units on Friday.
As the two sides prepare for a thrilling encounter, here’s a look at three key player battles to keep an eye on.
#1. Steve Smith vs Anrich Nortje
One of the best limited-overs batsmen, Steve Smith will be facing Anrich Nortje and it promises a lot on paper. The RR opener was the highest run-scorer for the team in the game against CSK, so he would be keen to continue the momentum. Smith has an excellent IPL record and on the other hand, Boult has always been a wicket-taker for MI and he will be under pressure to prove his worth.
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Anrich Nortje will be playing the role of a wicket-taker. He is the second-highest wicket-taker for DC in the ongoing season as he has sclaped 7 wickets in 5 games at a strike rate of 17.14. He will be looking forward to improving the numbers this season for sure.
#2. Marcus Stoinis vs Jofra Archer
This is a battle of unconventional cricketers, if we may call it so. The flamboyant all-rounder, Marcus Stoinis is one of the highest run-scorer for DC in the last game against RCB as he had amassed 53 runs off just 26 balls and he has also taken three wickets this season. Even in the other games, he has managed to bowl some economical overs.
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Stoinis’ battle with Jofra Archer promises to be an enthralling one. Rashis has a knack of taking crucial wickets which will help him disturbing the rhythm of MI. He is one of the best spinners in T20 cricket and Marcus will have to bat at his ferocious best to unsettle the fiery pacer.
#3. Jos Buttler vs Kagiso Rabada
The flamboyant English opener, Jos Buttler played a crucial role in RR’s batting outfit last year. His stunning numbers in 2019 reveal the kind of impact he had on the tournament — 311 runs at a strike rate of 151.70. He would look to carry on from where he left off last year. While he was equally dangerous against pace and spin last year, his battle against fast bowlers on UAE surfaces would be interesting to watch.
The pitches at venues in the Middle-East make shot-making slightly more difficult, which is why someone like Kagiso Rabada might trouble the big-hitting opener. Buttler has the ability to keep things tight and get through his overs quickly. If he can keep the southpaw quiet, it might produce a false shot as the attacking batsman might look to break open.
