In the first qualifier of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) locking horns with the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. MI has emerged as the team to beat in IPL 2020, with nine wins in fourteen matches. Despite the inconsistency of their batting unit, their bowling attack has been on the money. The duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult have scalped 43 wickets this season.
The return of captain Rohit Sharma to the top of the order will be solidifying the batting line-up for MI, who have won their six out of their last seven playoff matches in the IPL. With Hardik Pandya also set to return for MI, they are certainly a team to beat. On the other hand, DC has a good blend of youth and experience and they will be fancying their chances of reaching the final for the first time.
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While Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane were in good touch in their previous game, much is expected from the trio of Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant, who has underwhelmed of late. The focus will be on the pace bowling duo of Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada. They had lost both league matches against MI, the latter suffered a loss in their last league game in IPL 2020 by 10 wickets.
#1 Quinton de Kock vs Anrich Nortje
Quinton de Kock did very well as an opener in the absence of Rohit Sharm as he has amassed 443 runs in 14 games at a brilliant strike rate of 138 with four fifties. In the qualifier, he will be facing his South African national teammate Anrich Nortje, who’s pace has proved too hot to handle for a number of talented batsmen.
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In fact, it was his bowling effort of 3 for 33 against RCB that helped lift DC to reach the playoffs comfortably. Nortje is one of the leading wicket-taker this season, picking up 19 wickets from 13 games. He will have the unenviable task of trying to unsettle de Kock early in the innings.
#2. Kieron Pollard vs Kagiso Rabada
The veteran MI cricketer, Kieron pollard has had a decent outing in the tournament thus far, but a bit below-par by his own high standards but on his day remains a formidable opponent regardless of the format, such is his ability to fashion run-scoring opportunities. Kagiso Rababda has been DC’s go-to man whenever they needed wickets and they will hope he can dismiss the MI veteran early and thus increase their chances of a victory.
#3 Shikhar Dhawan vs Jasprit Bumrah
Delhi Capitals’ fortunes have been immensely dependent on that of Dhawan in IPL 2020. After an average start, he remained unbeaten in three of the four innings. DC will need the run-scoring version of Dhawan against MI in the first qualifier. His tussle with MI pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah at the start of the innings could be match-defining.
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As mentioned earlier, every time Dhawan has failed in IPL 2020, Delhi have struggled to score runs and Bumrah will look to go the extra mile to scalp Dhawan early, as a few other teams have successfully done. Jasprit has picked up 23 wickets in 13 matches at a strike rate of 13.56 and an economy rate of under seven. As an attacking batsman, Dhawan will look to take on Bumrah, and whoever wins the contest will put their team in the driver’s seat.
