IPL 2018: MI vs DD, Delhi Daredevils (DD) today's probable playing 11 against Mumbai Indians (MI)

Other than the Mumbai Indians, the Delhi Daredevils are the only other winless side in the IPL 2018 so far, sitting at the bottom of the table with two defeats in as many games. In their third match of the season, they clash against seventh-placed Mumbai, but before that, they have some errors to rectify in both departments.

In their first game against Kings XI Punjab, the batsmen could manage only 166 after which KL Rahul blew their bowlers away with the fastest IPL fifty.

Next, they faltered in the death overs when Rajasthan Royals pressed the accelerator to push the scoring. In the chase, which was cut down to 71 from 6 overs, Delhi never got going whereas the need of the hour was to go big from ball one.

They play Mumbai at the Wankhede backyard and will be keen to climb up the table by avoiding yet another defeat.

Openers

Gautam Gambhir, as captain of a new IPL side, started off well with the bat with a 55 against Punjab, but with Delhi required to go all-in from the beginning in a 6-over chase of 71 against Rajasthan, he did not come out to bat. Gambhir will look forward to setting the tone of the innings early with a composed knock at the top against the Mumbai bowling, comprising of clever short-format bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mustafizur Rahman.

One of the most impactful T20 batsmen presently, Colin Munro has fallen early in each of the two games Delhi have played. Unfortunate to be run out for a diamond duck against Rajasthan when his team needed his big-hitting prowess the most, Munro’s pairing with Gambhir at the top can act as the ideal combination of attack and composure. But for that, Munro will need a good start, having faced only 6 balls against Hyderabad too.

Middle-order

Shreyas Iyer missed out on good runs in the first outing against Punjab, getting dismissed for a run a ball 11 while batting at number three. In the second game, however, his services were not needed when he was sent in at number six, eventually ending up without facing a ball. With all his ability to hit crucial runs, Iyer can anchor the Delhi innings if he gets a good start.

An explosive wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant showed last season how he can destroy bowling attacks at will. When being made to bat towards the latter part of the innings against Kings XI, he whacked 28 from only 13 balls, while not being able to find the fence early against Rajasthan left Delhi with too much to do. Once again, Pant will be aiming to continue his stroke playing approach on the batting-friendly Mumbai wicket.

All-rounders

Vijay Shankar, a very highly rated medium-pace bowling all-rounder, has found the going tough with the bat on both occasions so far. Each of his innings has been a run a ball effort – 13 and 3 against Punjab and Rajasthan, respectively – while Gambhir found him surplus to requirements with the ball. At number five, Shankar will look to make amends for both matches so far.

Glenn Maxwell missed out on Delhi’s first game of the season, and when he did return to the playing XI for the next match, he found himself opening the innings. But the Rajasthan bowlers did manage to keep him quiet, not letting him cut loose. Against Mumbai, though, he might find himself in the middle-order, finishing off the innings for Delhi.

Yet another all-rounder in the Delhi ranks, Chris Morris was retained by the Delhi franchise and proved his worth in the first game itself. After hitting 27* from 16 balls, he bagged 1/25 against Punjab; but Rajasthan took him for runs, and it was too late by the time he started going big against them. Morris is a key asset which has to act as a floater and deliver on most occasions for Delhi to progress.

Spinners

Rahul Tewatia has been key to Delhi’s bowling line up so far. When all other bowlers were plundered by the Punjab batsmen, Tewatia conceded only 24 with one wicket in 4 overs; against Rajasthan, he kept the run rate in check with again only 29 coming off his 4 overs. Tewatia gives Delhi a leg-spinning option, and can choke the opposition with his accuracy.

Shahbaz Nadeem was inducted into the side against Rajasthan in place of the experienced Amit Mishra, who was taken apart by Punjab. The left-armer did well when given the chance, bagging the wickets of set batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson. That is a performance which Delhi will want Nadeem to deliver against a high-class Mumbai batting.

Fast bowlers

The left-arm fast bowler with great pace, Trent Boult utilizes his angle from over the wicket to right-handers exceptionally well and can account for key wickets at crucial stages of the game. Expensive so far, Boult will want to correct his line and length and strike when needed, including in the death overs.

Mohammad Shami has often been erratic at the start of an innings. However, he has soon found his rhythm to take key wickets, like that of Jos Buttler against Rajasthan when the latter was looking threatening. If Shami and Boult can give Delhi a good start with the new ball, then their side can apply pressure right from the beginning and look to restrict the opposition early.

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