Teams Status
Punjab Kings are coming off of the worst batting performance by any team so far in IPL 2021. They managed just 106 runs in their six-wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings on Friday night. Of their entire total, 47 came off the bat of Shahrukh Khan, which means that the rest of the batters combined for a mere 59 runs.
PBKS were undone by medium pacer Deepak Chahar (four for 13) who wrecked their top order, reduced them to 26-5 and the match was effectively done there and then.
A cause of concern for KL Rahul’s team will be how top-heavy they seem. Their top four, which includes Rahul himself and Chris Gayle, pack a punch but reliability could be an issue down the order as the tournament progresses.
Delhi Capitals started their IPL 2021 campaign with a superb batting performance, chasing down the 188-run target set by CSK with ease and seven wickets to spare. In the follow-up game, though, their top order betrayed them, with neither of Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane managing double-figure contribution in the defeat to Rajasthan Royals.
Like PBKS, Delhi, too, fell prey to a gentle medium pacer named Jaydev Unadkat. Despite just 147 to defend, they still made a match out of it but eventually lost in the final over.
Good news for Delhi is that their other South African pacer, Anrich Nortje, has tested negative for Covid-19 in three consecutive tests and should be available for selection against Punjab. He had had a false positive upon arrival in India, which is why he spent additional time in quarantine and missed the last game.
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