Overview
At the start of the season, you would not have imagined that these two teams would be propping up the table nearly two weeks in to the season. Delhi Capitals can call on the vast experience of David Warner, the first overseas batter to cross 6,000 IPL runs, in the middle, and the considerable nous of Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly in the dugout. Yet, they are winless in three games. Mumbai Indians, who have struggled since winning the last of their record five titles in 2020, have the leadership of Rohit Sharma, but two straight defeats have shown that they still have to identify what their strongest team is.
Delhi definitely need more impetus at the top of the order. Warner has made runs, but not at the rate required in a tournament where even totals in excess of 200 are no longer safe. Prithvi Shaw hasn’t got through the Power play, and the absence of Mitchell Marsh, in Australia for his wedding, deprives them of a high-class all-round option. Anrich Nortje has looked dangerous at times, as has Mukesh Kumar, but there has been no consistency. The fact that from those to play every game, only Kuldeep Yadav has an economy rate less than 9 is a worrying sign.
Mumbai are unlikely to risk Jofra Archer given that the niggle is to the elbow that has bothered him for so long. They need much more from Rohit, and Cameron Green, their big-money Australian signing who has yet to make an impact. Much more is also expected from Ishan Kishan and Tim David, who have scored at a pedestrian rate in the two matches so far.
With Hyderabad winning on Sunday, these are now the only two teams without points. And though it’s early days as far as the season’s concerned, neither will want to be cut adrift at the bottom.
Venue and Time
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, 7.30 PM IST.
Toss and expected conditions
The temperature will be hovering around 34C at the start of play, though with humidity levels so low that dew is unlikely to be a factor. The shorter boundaries will definitely play a role, but Delhi is one venue where the numbers for pace and spin bowlers are also very similar. In recent seasons, chasing sides have dominated matches here.
Head-to-Head
Mumbai lead the rivalry 17-15.
Possible XIs and Impact Player Watch
Delhi will have to play at least another game without Marsh, and Chetan Sakariya could replace Khaleel Ahmed, who has a niggle and has bowled and fielded poorly till now. Depending on whether they bat or bowl first, Mukesh or Shaw is likely to be the Impact player. Mumbai won’t rush Archer back, and Sandeep Warrier could come in for Arshad Khan, whose fairy tale story has met with a rude reality check in the first two games of the season.
Delhi Capitals: David Warner (C), Prithvi Shaw, Rilee Rossouw, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Abishek Porel (WK), Chetan Sakariya, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje.
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan (WK), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Tristan Stubbs, Hrithik Shokeen, Piyush Chawla, Sandeep Warrier, Jason Behrendorff.