DC vs KKR: The big picture
DC vs KKR: Kolkata Knight Riders are coming off a consecutive four-match loss as they face Delhi Capitals. Their sour streak began against DC earlier this month when they conceded 215 runs after a poor bowling performance. KKR had been leading the table with three wins in four games up until that point. That game showed bowling flaws that have subsequently become a major concern.
The fact that their slump is rooted in the bad form of frontline bowlers like Pat Cummins and Varun Chakravarthy raises a slew of challenging problems, and they lack ready-to-play replacements on another front. If players like Andre Russell and Aaron Finch start delivering on the promise they’ve shown in previous games, their season could yet turn out differently. But they’ll need that and a lot more to come together soon if they’re going to make any kind of positive impact in a season that’s already gone off the rails.
Their next matchup is against a team that has been ravaged by COVID and injuries to key parts of their roster. The unpredictability of DC’s starting lineup has resulted in a tumultuous string of results – W, L, L, W, L, W, L, W, L, W, L, W, L, W, L, W, L, W The pressure that comes with such a run appears to have reached a peak in their most recent game when a lot of irritation was thrown at the umpiring.
DC vs KKR: Match Details
When: 7:30 IST on Thursday, April 28, 2022
Where: Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium
What to expect: The first four games at Wankhede Stadium were all won by chasing teams. However, since then, teams batting first have won five consecutive games before Gujarat Titans won a nail-biter against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The captains’ decision at the toss might be enthralling to see, especially for Pant, who has already lost two games in a row at the venue after opting to chase.
KKR 16 – 13 DC in a head-to-head match.
Also Read: IPL 2022: LSG vs PBKS Match 42 Prediction
DC vs KKR: Team-wise tactics and strategies
Delhi Capitals
Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur Rahman have both dismissed Andre Russell three times thus far, despite his strike rates being healthy. DC might spare a few overs for later in the innings when Russell is more likely to make an impact.
Probable XI: Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Mustafizur Rahman/Anrich Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR have a handful of match-ups that could work in their favor if all goes according to plan, with DC’s openers being the core of their batting so far. David Warner has been dismissed four times in 55 balls by Umesh Yadav, while Prithvi Shaw has been dismissed twice in 22 balls by Chakravarthy. These skirmishes are sure to resurface on the powerplay, and the outcome of DC’s innings could be determined by them.
Probable XI: Sunil Narine, Shivam Mavi, Venkatesh Iyer, Sam Billings/Aaron Finch, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh/Sheldon Jackson, Andre Russell, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee/Pat Cummins, Varun Chakravarthy
DC vs KKR: Trivia
-In their last four games, KKR have used four different opening combinations, with their highest opening stand in IPL 2022 being just 43.
– In seven innings against KKR, Prithvi Shaw has five fifties.
– In IPL 2022, DC has only taken eight wickets in the powerplay, which is the lowest among all teams.
