Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant showcased their ability to emerge as game-changers yet again against Chennai Super Kings.
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Delhi Capitals (DC) opener Prithvi Shaw and skipper Rishabh Pant made their presence felt on Sunday, in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Shaw smashed 60 runs off 34 deliveries in an innings comprising of seven boundaries and three sixes. Pant accumulated 51 runs from 35 balls with the knock including three fours and two maximums. Shimron Hetmyer provided valuable support, smashing 37 from 24 deliveries in an innings that comprised of three boundaries and a six. None of the other batsmen managed to make much of an impact, with Shikhar Dhawan (7), Shreyas Iyer (1), Axar Patel (10) among those dismissed cheaply. DC posted a total of 172 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs, setting a target of 173 runs for CSK.
Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers, accounting for two dismissals. Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Dwayne Bravo chipped in with a wicket apiece.
CSK skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and opted to field in Qualifier 1. Dhoni certainly sounded happy having won the toss in an extremely crucial encounter, with a triumph capable of sealing a spot for the Chennai-based franchise in the final of the ongoing edition. CSK have gone in with an unchanged lineup, which means Suresh Raina will be missing out yet again. DC have opted for 1 change with Tom Curran replacing Ripal Patel.
“We will bowl. Whatever games we have played so far, the guys felt there was a bit of help for the seamers initially, it’s a tough wicket, but it could get better later on. We try to keep it simple, irrespective of any game. We analyse our shortcomings and it has helped us. We’re playing the same eleven,” said Dhoni as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Pant admitted that he would have liked to bowl as well.
“We are fine with the toss, but we’d have bowled first. Slightly nervous, but it’s part and parcel of the game. One change for us – Ripal Patel goes out, Tom Curran comes in. When you win games, the confidence level is high, but we’ll not take the match lightly,” he stated.
Lineups:
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Shreyas Iyer, Shimron Hetmyer, Tom Curran, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje.
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.
South African fast-bowler Anrich Nortje who is representing DC, stated that he was very pleased on being involved in another playoff.
“Really looking forward to the game, it’s nice to be involved in another playoff. We’ve played some good cricket and looking forward to the opportunity, it’s a big moment and hopefully we’ll get through. The main thing is to stay calm, remember what you wanted to do and just remember the basics. We just can’t get carried away with the moment, try and play our best cricket. It would be nice (to get some time off if they win tonight), it was back-breaking to play three matches on the bounce. Maybe one training session before we go into the finals day, that would be ideal. You have to try and use the conditions as much as possible, it’s been some changes needed as compared to the last season – I have tried to be as tight as possible, try and hit the stumps as much as possible. I have to see, don’t want to think about it, but he (Faf du Plessis) has been playing very well, so I don’t know how it will go,” stated Nortje.
