DC vs CSK: Live Blog
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Match 34 of the Indian Premier League 2020 between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings in Sharjah.
“One thing I have been telling the boys right from the start of this tournament is that I want us playing our best cricket in the back half of the tournament, not necessarily in the front half of the tournament. Yes, things are looking good at this stage of the season, but I am never the one to try and look too far ahead because I know how quickly the IPL can turn around. We have seen teams in the past have six wins from their first six games, and then not go on to make the playoffs. So we’ll keep a lid on things, and I still think we’re six wins from eight games, but probably haven’t played our best cricket yet either,” – Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting
STATS THAT MATTER
* An economy rate of 6.31 makes the spinners of Delhi Capitals the cheapest in IPL 2020
* Deepak Chahar has dismissed Prithvi Shaw four times in five innings. The only time he didn’t manage to do so came earlier in the season when Shaw was Man of the Match
PREVIEW:
Their campaign is back on track, courtesy Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s smart captaincy but a stiff test awaits Chennai Super Kings when they face a dominant Delhi Capitals tonight.
Every tactic that Dhoni employed against Sunrisers Hyderabad, worked, and they are expected to continue in the same vein as they battle to salvage the season.
That spinners hold the key in Sharjah was evident in the last two games where RCB and Kings XI Punjab slow bowlers were instrumental in their respective team’s wins.
The three-time champions will look to build on the win over SRH as the league phase moves towards the business end.
However, they are up against a team which is high on confidence and well-served by the South African pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, who bowled a 156.2 kmph delivery during his spell against Rajasthan Royals.
Add the wily R Ashwin and Axar Patel to the mix and DC has a rather impressive bowling unit.
The Capitals side would be a tad worried about fitness status of Shreyas Iyer, who hurt his left shoulder in the previous game. The skipper has been in good form with the bat and has led well too.
The team will also be expecting the talented Prithvi Shaw to show consistency while the senior pro Shikhar Dhawan has weighed in with crucial runs at the top as has Marcus Stoinis.