🏏IPL 2022 Match 41: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders🏏

IPL 2022 Match 41: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Delhi Capitals will look to put the ‘no-ball’ controversy behind and gain much needed momentum against another side seeking course correction, the Kolkata Knight Riders, in the Indian Premier League here on Thursday.

Delhi suffered a 15-run loss against Rajasthan Royals, a game marred by a no ball controversy over a high full toss that resulted in a one match ban for assistant coach Pravin Amre.

Head coach Ricky Ponting watched the tight finish in quarantine and felt helpless.

Now he is back with the team and is confident of finding momentum which will allow his players to play to their potential.

Delhi Capitals are currently seventh on the points' table with three wins in seven outings.

KKR are placed eighth, having lost their last four games.

With the Delhi batting line-up comprising David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant and Powell, KKR’s varied attack has to be on guard to stop the rampage.

Warner, after striking three back to back fifties, faltered against the Royals and would need itching to play another impactful knock.

Ditto for Shaw, who needs to convert his starts into big scores.

Delhi Capitals will look to return to winning ways when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders. Delhi Capitals come into this match with three wins and four defeats and are placed seventh, while Kolkata Knight Riders are placed eighth.

KKR, after a bright start to their campaign, have faded away in the recent games.

They come into this match after having suffered their fourth consecutive defeat as they went down to Gujarat Titans by 8 runs in a day game.

These two sides have already met once in the tournament where Delhi Capitals beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by a considerable margin of 44 runs.

It will be interesting to see how Shreyas Iyer and team respond in this match.

DC vs KKR Probable XIs:

Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (c), Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaleel Ahmed

Kolkata Knight Riders: Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Sam Billings, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Tim Southee, Shivam Mavi, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

Prithvi Shaw is the leading run-scorer for DC at the moment with 254 runs from seven matches. He averages close to 37 while striking at 164.93.

David Warner has played just five matches but is already the 2nd leading run-scorer for Delhi. He has 219 runs with a strike rate close to 158.

Kuldeep Yadav was the star performer in the last head-to-head contest. He is likely to dominate once again. Kuldeep has 13 wickets from his seven innings so far.

Shreyas Iyer is the leading run-scorer for KKR at the moment. He has 248 runs from his eight outings with two fifties to his name.

Andre Russell is a must-have pick here. He has 227 runs with a strike rate close to 181 and also has managed to pick up ten wickets in the tournament so far.

Pitch report

This is a good batting track with equal support to spinners. Both teams will be keen to bowl first at this venue and anything below 140 is easy to chase at this venue.

According to Kheltalk’s DC vs KKR Dream11 toss prediction, DC is likely to win the toss and go for chasing here. This is a good batting track and the teams will go for chasing to be on a safer side.

Kolkata Knight Riders come into the clash against Delhi Capitals having lost four on the trot.

Their unsavoury run kickstarted against DC earlier in the month after a dismal bowling performance saw them concede 215.

Until then, KKR had been topping the table with three wins in four games.

That game exposed weaknesses in bowling that has since grown to be a big worry.

The first four games at the Wankhede Stadium were won by teams chasing.

But that has been turned upside down since, with the last five games all being won by teams defending a target.

The choice to make at the toss could well prove to be a very difficult one for the captains, particularly for Pant who has now lost two games in succession at the venue after choosing to chase.

Head to head: KKR 16 - 13 DC

Andre Russell has been dismissed three times apiece by Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur Rahman so far, although his strike rates remain healthy.

DC might look to save a few of their overs for late in the innings, when Russell is likely to have an impact.

With DC's openers being the bedrock of their batting so far, KKR have a couple of match-ups that could work in their favour if it goes according to script.

Umesh Yadav has dismissed David Warner four times in 55 balls while Chakravarthy has accounted for Prithvi Shaw twice in 22 balls.

These battles are likely to happen once again in the powerplay, and could possibly dictate how DC's innings pans out.

Did you know

-KKR have tried four different opening combinations in their last four games and their highest opening stand in IPL 2022 has been just 43

- Prithvi Shaw has five fifties in seven outings against KKR

- DC have taken only eight wickets in the powerplay in IPL 2022 and it is the lowest amongst all teams in IPL 2022

"It is challenging when you are isolated because we human beings are social animals.

So, when you are isolated from the group when you are just in your own thoughts for more than a couple of days, it does make it challenging.

But, it also made us appreciate getting out, getting to the ground, getting to the training, and getting to the game as well. And, to appreciate being out in the fresh air, making the most of it.

So, it was definitely a challenging week for everyone, having sort of worked through that isolation period" - Shane Watson, Delhi Capitals' assistant coach on the impact of isolation in the COVID-hit team

Probable best batter of the Match: Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer has been the top run-scorer for the Kolkata Knight Riders this season but he has lacked consistency at times, which has been a concern. The right-hander was dismissed for a 15-ball 12 in the previous game and he can play match-winning innings if he can stay longer at the crease. He has been in good touch and a big inning is around the corner for him.

Probable best bowler of the Match: Tim Southee

Tim Southee came into the playing XI at the expense of Pat Cummins in the previous game and he impressed immediately, with a three-wicket haul. The New Zealand seamer had played two games until Cummins arrived on the scene and he has taken eight wickets already in three games this season. He has the knack of getting breakthroughs consistently and KKR will be looking to continue with him.