Follow UsDelhi Capitals will take on Punjab Kings in Match 32 of IPL 2022. Both sides are desperate for a win, having lost their last match. They are placed number 7 and 8 respectively, a dangerous position to be in during the middle phase of a 10-team competition. A win is paramount for both sides.
Player Availability
There is no official word but Mitchell Marsh’s positive covid test means he won’t be available for a few days. Mayank Agarwal sat out of Punjab’s last game but Shikhar Dhawan, the stand-in captain, cleared that he is recovering well. Hence, we expect him to take the field against Delhi.
Ground Details and Team Combination
Earlier supposed to be played in Pune, the match has been shifted to the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Brabourne has been a goldmine for batters with an average run-rate of 9.6, almost a run better than any other venue this season. Consequently, the average score batting first is also 195.
In the previous match at the venue, both sides - Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders - scored over 200. The trend should continue. Both Delhi and Punjab bat deep with a lot of firepower that promises another high-scoring game.
A 50 percent win record for sides batting first here underlines Brabourne as a venue where toss has played a negligible role. Therefore, top order batters of both sides are paramount without depending on the toss.
On the bowling front, the high-scoring nature of the venue should mean it’s a graveyard for the bowlers. However, the spinners have picked 37% of wickets here, the highest proportion among all venues. The wrist-spinners have had their say despite the flat nature of the surface. In fact, Kuldeep Yadav is the highest wicket-taker here thus far with seven scalps in two matches. Rahul Chahar has snaffled four wickets here in as many games and is a must-pick.
Team Suggestion
The team we've picked has a good mix of world-class batters and bowlers. But remember, 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. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Captain Selection
David Warner’s 66 in the previous match spoke for the excellent touch he has found in his batting. Before that, batting at Brabourne only, he smashed an impressive fifty to set the ball rolling in his second stint with Delhi. Considering the venue has offered great batting decks, Warner emerges as an efficient choice to lead your fantasy fortunes.
Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Warner to score 36-53 runs in this match
X-Factors
Khaleel Ahmed has surprised many with his brilliant form. He has showcased all attributes of fast bowling be it decent pace, swing or variations. He is the second-highest wicket-taker for Delhi, with eight wickets in four matches. Five of his wickets have come at Brabourne where he has used the true nature of the pitch to his advantage.
Vaibhav Arora is the budget pick to complete your XI. While such players in other categories - batting and all-rounders - bat low in the order and haven’t been consistent, Arora has bowled his four-over quota in each of the four games he has played thus far.
Here are the top-10 picks as per Criclytics projected points-
Probable XIs
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Rovman Powell, Sarfaraz Khan, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaleel Ahmed
Punjab Kings: Mayank Agarwal (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Odean Smith, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Vaibhav Arora, Arshdeep Singh