IPL 6: Match 67 - KXIP vs DD - Delhi Daredevils Preview

It has been a disappointing IPL for DD this year, considering they were the table toppers after the league stage concluded in the last IPL. They will look to salvage some pride today as they take the field against KXIP at HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala. KXIP need to win both their remaining games to give themselves any chance of making it to the play-offs, and DD will certainly be looking to spoil their party. KXIP are fresh from an incredible win over RCB in their last game, when they chased 175 with considerable ease. DD are coming into this game after yet another humiliating defeat. They lost to CSK by 33 runs in their last game. KXIP are currently holding the sixth spot, while DD are languishing in the eighth place on the table.

DD have been awful this season, and so has been their batting. Big names like Virender Sehwag and Mahela Jayawardene have failed miserably at the top, barring one or two good performances. David Warner has been the lone battler so far, but you can’t bank on a single batsmen to win you games every time. Unmukt Chand has looked promising at times, but hasn’t contributed significantly. The likes of Kedar Jhadav and Ben Rohrer haven’t been able to do much for the good as well. The gamble of promoting Johan Botha up the order in the last game didn’t fare too well. Irfan Pathan has been good with his useful runs down the order.

Similarly, the bowlers haven’t been able to produce enough match-winning spells this season. However, Umesh Yadav has been pretty impressive with his pace and accuracy. Rudolph van der Merwe has been economical with his slow left-arm spinners. Barring them, the likes of Irfan Pathan, Siddharth Kaul, Johan Botha and Ashish Nehra have continued to be expensive all through the season. They might play Morne Morkel today, considering the pitch might assist bowlers with some pace and bounce.

Conditions:

This will be the first IPL match to be played at Dharamshala this year, and how the pitch will behave is a mystery. However, considering the matches played here earlier, it is likely to be good for batting. The pitch is also likely to provide some pace, bounce and carry for the pacers as well.

Head to head:

The win/loss ratio is slightly skewed towards KXIP, who have won six out of the 11 games played between the two teams so far. DD have managed to win five out of them.

Key players:

Virender Sehwag- Most teams tend to fear this devastating right-hander when he is at his blistering best. If he manages to stay at the crease for at least 10 overs, it might be all over for the Punjab side. He is expected to open the batting with skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

David Warner- This swashbuckling Australian batsman has been consistently among the runs for Delhi Daredevils. He is expected to provide some momentum in the middle overs and be there till the end.

DD’s strategy:

They should look to bowl first upon winning the toss, considering the unknown nature of the pitch here. The ground has been good for chasing historically as well.

Possible XI:

They are losing more often, which leaves the team with an unsettled look even after 14 games into the tournament. Mahela Jayawardene will be back and captaining the side today. Morne Morkel might also get a game today.

Virender Sehwag, Mahela Jayawardene(c), David Warner, Unmukt Chand, Kedar Jadhav(wk), Rudolph van der Merwe/Ben Rohrer, Irfan Pathan, Johan Botha/Morne Morkel, Ajit Agarkar/Siddharth Kaul, Ashish Nehra/Shahbaz Nadeem and Umesh Yadav.