The 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for a thrilling encounter as Delhi Capitals (DC) is set to face Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Thursday, 28th March. The much-awaited clash will unfold at Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium, where Rajasthan emerged victorious by 20 runs in their initial clash against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). In contrast, Delhi Capitals faced a narrow defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 4 wickets in their opener. The match is scheduled to commence at 7:30 PM IST.
Rishabh Pant’s Record in Sight
The spotlight is firmly on Delhi Capitals' dynamic captain Rishabh Pant as he enters the fray for this match. Being his 100th match for the Capitals, he's set to create a stunning IPL landmark, matching Amit Mishra's record for the franchise. Both have played 99 matches each for Delhi so far.
After being sidelined for 453 days due to a car accident, Pant managed to play only 18 runs off 13 balls in his comeback against Punjab Kings at their new home ground in Mullampur. He did, however, make a mark behind the stumps, notably with a stumping of Jitesh Sharma. Having shaken off initial nerves, Pant will be eager to regain his rhythm, especially when up against seasoned bowlers like Trent Boult, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Head coach Ricky Ponting chose to open with power hitters David Warner and Mitchell Marsh in the previous game, aiming to lift the burden off Pant's shoulders in the middle order. Though the duo failed to capitalize on a good start, the pressure inadvertently shifted onto Pant.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Abhishek Porel, however, played a fiery knock of an unbeaten 32, propelling Delhi from a precarious 138/7 to a respectable total of 174/9. Porel’s role as an 'Impact Player' meant Delhi was one bowler short.
Delhi’s Concerns Widen with Ishant’s Injury
Concerns for Delhi Capitals intensified when Ishant Sharma twisted his ankle, potentially sidelining the quick for several matches. The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are also eyed to turn the tide for the team. Up against them are Rajasthan Royals' formidable top order, including Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who previously struggled on the dry pitch of Sawai Mansingh Stadium against Lucknow Super Giants' bowlers.
Nonetheless, thanks to captain Sanju Samson's unbeaten 82, the Royals secured a 20-run victory. With yet another half-century in the season opener, Samson has reinforced his claim for a slot in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Riyan Parag also appears to be in fine touch. The Royals' top-order batsmen are set to challenge Delhi's bowling armory, with Kuldeep and Axar playing crucial roles. Royals' bowlers, too, are in high spirits, with lethal Trent Boult dominating with the new ball and Sandeep Sharma excelling in the death overs. Delhi and Rajasthan have faced each other 27 times in IPL history, with Delhi winning 13 and Rajasthan clinching victory 14 times.
Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals boast impressive rosters filled with cricketing excellence, eager to outmaneuver each other in this gripping face-off.
Here are the mighty line-ups:
