FANTASY
Follow UsAfter a fascinating last three days of the group stage matches which saw fortunes see-sawing with every passing ball, top two teams from the group stages - Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday for a direct spot in the final. Both the teams are coming off defeats in their final group games with CSK losing against Punjab Kings and DC losing to Royal Challengers Bangalore in a thriller. The momentum is definitely with DC who have won two of their last three matches and lost to RCB off the final ball. CSK, despite shuffling around their bench players and a full-strength side, slumped to three defeats in a row.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall: Matches – 25 | CSK – 15 wins | DC – 10 wins
Last five matches: DC– 4 wins | CSK – 1 win
SUGGESTED TEAM
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
GROUND DETAILS
The average first innings score at the Dubai International Stadium is around the 150-run mark. The venue has consistently produced matches that were good for batsmen and for pacers as well. Spinners have been frugal with an economy of 7.1 but have a strike rate of 25.2 to pacers' 18.6. Pacers have claimed 72.4% of the wickets at the venue this season at a better average of 24.6. It is better to pick one of your premier spinners alongside four pacers for the game.
SUGGESTED CAPTAIN
Axar Patel has been a consistent wicket-taker in DC's formidable bowling line-up with 15 wickets from 10 matches at a superb economy of 6.4. In difficult situations, he has contributed with few but useful runs in the lower middle-order.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Patel could pick 2-3 wickets and score 7-11 runs in this match.
X-FACTORS
Shikhar Dhawan is the third in the Orange Cap race with 544 runs at an average of 41.84 which has been the key to DC's big start. His assured 43 off 35 balls was key to the team's big opening stand alongside Prithvi Shaw which will be required against CSK in the Qualifier.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Dhawan could score 22-34 runs in this match.
Faf du Plessis is the second challenger for the Orange Cap with 546 runs from 14 matches and was the lone performer for CSK in the heavy defeat against Punjab Kings with a 55-ball 76. On a good batting surface at Dubai, he will be expected to deliver once again.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Du Plessis could score 30-44runs in this match.
Shardul Thakur can do no mistake these days. He has been the best bowler for CSK with 18 wickets and found breakthroughs in different phases of the match including the match against Punjab where he kept chipping away wickets when the others were struggling.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Thakur could pick 2-3 wickets in this match.
PREDICTED XIS
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Lalit Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan.
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (C/WK), Robin Uthappa, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Josh Hazlewood.