Prithvi shaw, Rishabh pant, and Mitchell Starc are highlighted in hot and muggy Vizag for various reasons.
As of right now in IPL 2024, the only unbeaten teams are KKR and RR, while the Capitals have only recently won their first game following two losses.
Match details
(DC) Delhi Capitals vs (KKR) Kolkata Knight Riders
Visakhapatnam, 1930 IST (1400 GMT)
Though the Delhi Capitals' other home ground is Visakhapatnam, their most recent game there a few days ago was played in a sea of yellow. That was primarily due to them taking on the CDK Chennai Super Kings, especially with MS Dhoni in the lineup. The Capitals will be hoping for more red and blue in the stands as they take on the KKR Kolkata Knight Riders in an effort to move up the points table.
The Capitals have experienced falling behind early in the IPL. It was difficult for them to re-enter the tournament after they lost their opening five IPL 2023 games. With that in mind, the win over CSK was significant.
Due to their lack of batting depth compared to some of the other teams, they will depend on their top order to start scoring runs again and continue doing so throughout the tournament.
Importantly, David Warner and Prithvi Shaw both have great records against KKR. Warner has the highest score of 1075 against the team, while Shaw averages 45 and scored his highest score of 99 against them in 2019. Shaw was among the runs in his first IPL 2024 outing against CSK.
The Capitals demonstrated their good intentions when Rishabh Pant moved to the No. 3 spot against CSK, and he quickly returned the favor with a half-century.
But they will want runs from the other batters, too.
KKR, who have won both of their games this season, will not be an easy opponent. They had a fright in the season's first game with Sunrisers Hyderabad, but they defeated RCB handily. While KKR doesn't have many holes to fill, its powerplay bowling is one area that requires attention.
Even though the competition is still early, KKR has the worst powerplay economy of any team thus far (10.75). Mitchell Starc's terrible IPL season start has contributed to some of those. The quick bowler has not yet claimed a wicket despite being taken for a total of 100 runs. Starc will be hoping for higher returns in circumstances that could facilitate swing and seam.
Team News and Impact Player Tactics
Delhi Capitals (DC)
For the previous game, the Capitals made a wise decision by bringing in Shaw. Later, Rasikh Salam entered to replace him. Depending on the surface, Salam or Lalit Yadav may make the starting XI if the Capitals bowl first, with Shaw stepping in later. If they bat first, it is vice versa.
Due to a niggle, Kuldeep Yadav was unable to play against CSK; the Capitals are hoping he will be back in time for this match.
The form of the Capitals' two overseas players, Anrich Nortje and Tristan Stubbs is another area of concern. While Nortje has appeared rusty in his two appearances so far, Stubbs was thoroughly embarrassed for a first-ball duck against CSK. In the nets prior to the Capitals' previous game, Jhye Richardson bowled with great intensity. If they wish to give Nortje a break, he may fill in. The Capitals may also think about substituting Jake Fraser-McGurk for Stubbs.
Probable 11: Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant (captain, wk), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs/Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, Anrich Nortje/Jhye Richardson, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Ishant Sharma, Rasikh Salam/Lalit Yadav
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
In KKR's previous match, Varun Chakravarthy bowled just two overs before being replaced by Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Another contender for that position is leg-spinner Suyash Sharma, with Raghuvanshi the Impact Player switching roles with Suyash or Chakravarthy once more.
Venkatesh appeared to have a back ailment during KKR's previous match, as he was observed to be hobbling; nonetheless, bowling coach Bharat Arun verified that he was "fit and rearing to go".
Probable 11: 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Venkatesh Iyer, 4 Shreyas Iyer (captain), 5 Angkrish Raghuvanshi 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Anukul Roy, 11 Harshit Rana, and 12 Varun Chakravarthy/Suyash Sharma
Pitch and conditions
The pitch for the first game in Vizag had a decent covering of grass. It aided swing and seam movement almost throughout the 40 overs and even swung even more under lights. Similar conditions could be expected for the DC vs. KKR game, too. There's also a warning for excessive heat and humidity in Vizag, so something for the teams to note.
In the spotlight: Can Mitchell Starc have an impact?
After being overlooked for the first two games, Prithvi Shaw "came out of the gate like a raging bull," in the words of Mitchell McClenaghan TimeOut.
Shaw has had a rough time of it on and off the field in the recent past, but on Saturday, as he strode out for his first hit in IPL 2024, he seemed to be in great touch, scoring a 27-ball 43. Shaw's form is important to the Capitals' hopes of going deep in the tournament, and they will be delighted with the way he has begun.
Every time Mitchell Starc comes on to bowl, it comes with that INR 24.75 crore price tag attached to him. Playing in the IPL for the first time since 2015, Starc has leaked runs big time. He went for 53 in his opening game against SRH and then 47 against RCB, and is yet to figure in the wickets column. He will dearly hope to turn his fortunes around the next time he is out in the park.
Stats that matter: Rishabh Pant in sight of 3000
Pant needs 65 runs to reach 3000 runs in the IPL. If he gets there, he will be the 22nd player in the league to achieve the mark.
Kuldeep picks up a wicket every six balls against KKR, his former franchise. In three matches to date, he has ten wickets, with the best bowling figures of 4 for 14.
Warner has smashed Sunil Narine for 195 runs in 123 balls in 16 IPL innings, only falling to him twice.
Pant strikes at 195.00 against Andre Russell in the IPL but has also fallen to the fast bowler three times in six innings. the fast bowler three times in six innings.
2024 IPL Live Score:
2024 IPL Live Score: Delhi Capitals vs. Kolkata Knights In the ongoing IPL 2024, which is taking place on April 3 at the ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, Riders, KKR, won the toss and chose to bat first against DC.