Mumbai Indians Vs Delhi Capitals Qualifier 1 Preview

MI go into the first Qualifier match against DC as firm favourites courtesy their stupendous big-match record and the experience of having been on the biggest stage several times in the past. They also beat DC on both occasions in the group stage.

Mumbai Indians (MI) go into Thursday’s Qualifier 1 match against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Dubai as the overwhelming favourites. They beat DC in both the matches in the group stage – the second victory in Dubai was an absolute thrashing and that will haunt DC – and also hold a huge advantage having made it to this stage of the tournament several times in the past. MI’s win percentage of 62.5% in Playoff matches is the highest for any team in the history of the IPL.

Mumbai’s Record

MI have been the best team in IPL 2020. The batting looks good with Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav all scoring big runs and giving match-winning performances in the tournament – they have all aggregated more than 400 runs and have 10 fifties amongst them in IPL 2020. Kieron Pollard has a strike rate of 193.28 in the competition – the highest in the tournament.

MI has the most potent bowling unit in the tournament. Jasprit Bumrah, after a slow start, is now the second-highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets in 13 matches. He has also been very restrictive conceding just under 7 runs per over. Trent Boult has brought in variety and been a match-winner on his own with the ball – the left-armer has picked 20 wickets at a strike rate of 15.4. The leg spinner, Rahul Chahar, has been a revelation – he has continued to impress since IPL 2019. The 21 year old has picked 15 wickets and been quite economical giving away just 7.8 runs per over.

Delhi’s Status

DC have had a mixed bag of a tournament. They started with a bang and won 7 of their first 9 matches but then lost 4 in a row leaving their playoffs fate hanging till the last group match against RCB. The form of Prithvi Shaw remains a big concern – after starting the tournament with a few match-winning performances, he has now registered 7 consecutive under-20 scores in the tournament. DC would have breathed a sigh of relief as their talisman and batsman of the tournament, after a sudden dip in form, was back amongst the runs with a fifty against RCB – Shikhar Dhawan is the third-highest run-getter of IPL 2020 with 525 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 145.02. The team would be desperately hoping that Rishabh Pant finally produces a Rishabh Pant type innings against MI – one of the most destructive batsmen in IPL history, the swashbuckling left-hander has a strike rate of just 112.35 in IPL 2020.

The bowling will be led by Kagiso Rabada – the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 25 wickets. His fellow South African pacer, Anrich Nortje has been very impressive too and intimidated the batsmen with his raw pace and accuracy. Axar Patel has done a great restrictive job in the middle overs and has an economy rate of just 6.27 in the tournament

WHAT: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals, Qualifier 1, IPL 2020

WHEN: 5th November, 7:30 PM IST

WHERE: Dubai, UAE

TELECAST: Star Sports

LIVE STREAMING: Hotstar

Mumbai Indians Team News

MI will bring back all the big guns rested for the encounter against SRH. Hardik Pandya will also make a comeback and will add more firepower to the lower-order.

Possible Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Rahul Chahar, James Pattinson, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult

Delhi Capitals Team News

Will DC drop the out of form Shaw and spring in a surprise at the top against MI? Maybe open with Marcus Stoinis who is also struggling of late lower down in the order? Hetmyer should find a place in the XI and Harshal Patel may replace Tushar Deshpande.

Possible Playing XI: Marcus Stoinis, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Harshal Patel

Recent Head-to-Head: (Last 5 matches)

MI holds the edge in the recent rivalry having beaten DC thrice in their last five encounters. In fact, MI has won the last three matches between the two sides.

Last 5 matches

MI won by 9 wickets

MI won by 5 wickets

MI won by 40 runs

DC won by 37 runs

DC won by 11 runs

To watch out for

Jasprit Bumrah is the second-highest wicket-taker of IPL 2020. He was very restrictive against DC in Abu Dhabi while returned with three wickets in Dubai.

Quotes

Mumbai Indians: I was happy to be back, it’s been a while. I’m looking forward to play few more games here – MI skipper, Rohit Sharma after making a comeback into the XI in the game against SRH.

Delhi Capitals: We knew it was a do-or-die and an opportunity for us to get to the second spot. We were really motivated – DC skipper, Shreyas Iyer after his team beat RCB to enter the playoffs.