The Delhi Capitals (DC) will be locking horns with the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 16th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2023 on Tuesday, April 11, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. It is a contest that could be dubbed the ‘Battle of the Strugglers’ as neither DC nor MI has been able to win a match this season.
While DC has suffered losses against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Rajasthan Royals (RR), MI has lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Both teams have some key players ruled out due to injuries, with Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah being their biggest misses.
ALSO READ: Match 16 (DC vs MI) – Playing XI And Fantasy XI Predictions
While DC’s bowling isn’t that much of a concern for them, MI’s prospects in the bowling department do not look good, even if Jofra Archer is fit. They’ll need their batters to step up and deliver otherwise, it’s going to be hard for them to win games in the ongoing season.
On that note, here are three-player matchups to watch out for from the RR vs DC in the IPL 2023 contest in Guwahati.
#3 Tilak Varma vs Axar Patel
Tilak Varma was MI’s best batter in 2023 and he began the current season in grand style too with a fine knock of 84 runs against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He will be a prized wicket for CSK. Axar Patel can be introduced to keep the power-hitting bater at the bay. Overall, however, Varma strikes at 142.74 against left-arm spinners in his IPL.
#2 David Warner vs Jofra Archer
As David Warner and Jofra Archer open the proceedings in their respective departments for their franchises, they are bound to face each at some point in time. The southpaw has struggled to get going against Archer, having fallen prey to him twice in 3 IPL meetings. He has a paltry strike rate of 78.94 in this battle. Boult is known for swinging the ball away from the left-handers and the same can trouble Warner.
#1 Rovman Powell vs Piyush Chawla
Rovman Powell played a fiery knock of 43 off 34 against the Royals last year, although in the losing cause. He would be raring to replicate his heroics. As leg-spinners have troubled him in the past, Piysu Chawla can operate against him. The Caribbean batter has been dismissed by the leggies 11 times in 31 T20 meetings (Batting SR: 117). Chahal kept Powell quiet in a couple of T20 meetings.
