EXCLUSIVE
Follow UsAfter a resounding win against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals will set foot at the Wankhede Stadium, riding high on confidence. The Rishabh Pant-led outfit has won two out of their four games and will look to continue the momentum after a clinical performance in the last encounter.
With Prithvi Shaw and David Warner opening the batting, Delhi boasts a lethal opening combination. However, the team has struggled to find ideal finishers down the order, and Russel Arnold believes Ricky Ponting will need to strengthen the lower-middle order in the upcoming encounter.
In an exclusive conversation with cricket.com, he said, "I think they will have to strengthen that lower middle-order, which will really help the top-order that is firing."
"They have got a good balance going, and the positive for Ricky Ponting is that Delhi seems to have a few more gears and can up the ante. They are not playing at 100 percent, but they are in the right direction."
"When you're winning your games and getting your points, you settle for that and make sure that you're at your prime at the back end of the tournament, where Delhi will feel they have let themselves down in the past," he further added.
In the last encounter against the Knight Riders, Pant walked in at number three after a 93-run opening stand. However, the former Sri Lankan player believes Delhi ought to use his skills as a floater to maximise his impact.
"They can let him float around because I feel that they have enough in that team. But as I mentioned, Delhi Capitals can get stronger, and you have to think about the lower middle-order for a few changes if you want and have that option," Arnold said.
"If you use those options like Mitch Marsh comes in, it does look good. You could use Marsh and Pant, depending on the situation and to maintain that left-right combination and the Delhi Capitals line-up would look a lot stronger," he further added.
While Marsh has been on the sidelines due to an injury, the all-rounder trained with the team ahead of this high-voltage clash, and Arnold feels Delhi should draft him in the XI once he is available.
"I will get him to play the games, and that is the best way to achieve your fitness in a team that is looking solid. Mitch Marsh is the type of player that you want out there because he has been performing so well."
On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore will be coming into this game after a defeat against the Chennai Super Kings at the DY Patil Stadium.
With Harshal Patel not playing in the game, RCB bowlers went for plenty in the first innings and will need to produce better performance with the ball in today's clash.
"Harshal Patel will be a big miss because even though he goes for runs, he will get you those two or three wickets. He is that type of player who you need, and in T20 cricket, wickets are the key," Arnold said.
"They will need to get their team performing in all three departments. The moment you leak or give the opposition far too many runs, you are putting yourself under tremendous pressure. My real concern for RCB is that they need to pick up wickets which will help you restrict teams."
"You got to let your bowlers free, search for wickets and maybe have a bit more of an attacking mindset, that is the negative RCB have, and they need to fix that very fast," he added.
While it is not sure if Harshal would be part of today's game, Arnold feels RCB should use Wanindu Hasaranga as an attacking option.
"Hasaranga had a bit of an expensive day against CSK. With Harshal not there, he should have bowled earlier to get you wickets, but Hasaranga came into the attack very late, and that is something we need to think because he is a wicket-taker," he signed off.
