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The Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play their respective final league matches of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, May 20.
The contest is critical in the context of the ongoing neck-to-neck race for the playoffs. Should CSK secure a win in the afternoon contest, they will finish with 17 points.
They will then have to wait for the result of the evening match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to know their final league position. Fine margins could separate CSK's hopes of playing in the first qualifier or the eliminator if they do finish the season on a high in Delhi.
DC, on the other hand, only have pride to play for at this stage of the campaign. They bowed out of the playoff race long ago, but could still emerge as a threat as they have defeated heavyweights like Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) in the recent past.
CSK emerged as comfortable winners during their last meeting, but it was within the safe confines of Chennai.
On that note, let us take a look at three player battles to look out for in DC vs CSK, Match 67 of IPL 2023.
#1 Devon Conway vs Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma has been one of the biggest positives for DC in the second half of their campaign, where they have strung a few tangible results together. The veteran seamer has been impactful with the new ball.
His trademark angle from around the wicket, with his ability to move the ball away from left-handed batters, has always been an asset. While there is not expected to be too much movement on offer in the afternoon game, he could still trouble the likes of Devon Conway with his ability to take the pace off the ball.
The CSK opening batter has enjoyed a solid season but has been a little shaky and inconsistent across the away matches.
#2 Prithvi Shaw vs Deepak Chahar
Prithvi Shaw, who was touted to have a landmark season by DC head coach Ricky Ponting and countless others, has had a campaign to forget. He stepped up with a crucial fifty upon his return to the side against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and will be hopeful of finishing the campaign on a high.
Deepak Chahar, meanwhile, has seemingly returned to his best by doing what he does best - finding movement with the new ball and chipping away with wickets in the powerplay. Since his return from injury, the right-arm pacer has taken seven wickets in four matches.
In terms of head-to-head record, the pair have faced each other across nine T20 innings in the past, with Shaw scoring 80 runs at a strike rate of 125, while Chahar has dismissed him six times.
#3 Shivam Dube vs Kuldeep Yadav
Shivam Dube has been a mainstay in CSK's middle order and his prowess against spin bowling has been on show. The left-handed batter dealt in sixes the last time these two sides met and will be on the lookout to continue his fine run of form.
Kuldeep Yadav, on the other hand, has had a lukewarm IPL 2023 season with 10 wickets across 13 matches. He has only taken more than one wicket in two matches this season, and while his economy has improved, his innate wicket-taking ability has diminished.
The pair have not come across each other on the pitch to warrant a statistical overview, but given their respective attributes, it is a matchup just waiting to come to fruition.
Who will win the upcoming contest between CSK and DC in IPL 2023? Let us know what you think.
