IPL‌ ‌2021‌ ‌Match‌ ‌13:‌ ‌Delhi‌ ‌and‌ ‌Mumbai‌ ‌face-off‌ ‌in‌ ‌clash‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌biggies‌

Tags: Indian T20 League 2021, Delhi XI vs Mumbai XI, 13th Match at Chennai, Apr 20, 2021, Mumbai XI, Delhi XI

Published on: Apr 20, 2021

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

Form teams Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will take on each other in the 13th match of IPL 2021 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.

Both teams have registered two wins and one loss each from their three games. Mumbai recovered from a last-ball loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and have since defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), choking them in chases. As for Delhi, they have beaten Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) while going down to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a tense finish.

Mumbai will have an advantage over Delhi since DC have played their all their matches in Mumbai so far while MI seem to have got a hang of the Chepauk surface, having played all their three matches here. The bowlers from Mumbai have done particularly well at the death. Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult have ratted opponents with their yorker-length deliveries. Young leg-spinner Rahul Chahar has also been excellent, having claimed seven wickets in the last two matches. Krunal Pandya too has utilized the conditions wonderfully to tie up the opponents.

It is in the batting that MI have some improvements to make. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock have spent decent amount of time at the crease, but they haven't been able to get the big scores expected of them. Rohit was beginning to blossom in the last innings when he lost his wicket. The Pandya brothers - Hardik and Krunal - haven’t been able to get a hang of the Chennai surface. Suryakumar Yadav has been the best batsman on display for MI, showing his class, while Kieron Pollard brought his experience into play with his big-hitting in the previous game.

Although DC have not played in Chennai, they have a quality side that will be expected to adapt. Shikhar Dhawan has been in mesmerizing form for the franchise, playing match-winning knocks in two out of three games. Prithvi Shaw has been an able ally to Dhawan at the top of the order. The middle-order though is a bit of a concern. Marcus Stoinis got some easy runs against PBKS at the fag end of the game, but has been poor otherwise. Lalit Yadav seems a hardworking batsman, who will have to prove his worth soon.

DC’s bowling has not been up to the mark. Kagiso Rabada hasn’t discovered his wicket-taking form yet, which will be crucial for the franchise going ahead. Avesh Khan has done well though even as Chris Woakes has had mixed fortunes. DC also need to utilize the talent and experience of Ravichandran Ashwin more effectively.

Predicted XI:

DC: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Steve Smith, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Marcus Stoinis, Lalit Yadav, Chris Woakes, Amit Mishra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan

MI: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Adam Milne, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah

--Renin Wilben Albert

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