Indian Premier League 2019 Match 16, Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Delhi Capitals will host Sunrisers Hyderabad for Match 15 of IPL 2019, at Feroz Shah Kotla, on Wednesday. Both teams have won twice, though Delhi have played 4 matches to Hyderabad‘s 3. Their positions, however, could have been significantly different.

Hyderabad were blown away by an out-of-nowhere onslaught from Kolkata’s Andre Russell in the only match they lost. And while Delhi were beaten comprehensively by Chennai, they lost 7 for 8 against Punjab’s Mohammed Shami and Tom Curran to throw away a winning match.

Both teams have extremely strong batting outfits. Delhi’s top four – all Indians – average at least 25 and strike at a minimum of 120. Leading the charts is Rishabh Pant, with a staggering strike rate of 189 to go with an average of 51.

On the other hand, the Sunrisers openers – David Warner and Jonny Bairstow – are the top two run-getters in the tournament. They have put on hundred-run stands in each of their three matches, while Vijay Shankar has a strike rate of 200. Given that Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi are likely to play as well, captain Kane Williamson may have to sit out again.

As for bowling, Kagiso Rabada has done a fantastic job for Delhi. Sandeep Lamichhane impressed in his first match, as did Nabi for Hyderabad. Rashid Khan has shown his usual class, but of the Hyderabad pacers, only Siddharth Kaul has lived up to his reputation.

Head to head

Sunrisers hold a significant advantage here (8-4). This includes wins in both matches last season.

Delhi had put up 163/5 at Uppal, Prithvi Shaw smashing 65 in 36 balls and Rashid returning figures of 4-0-23-2. Amit Mishra (4-0-19-2) did his best, but it was not enough. Hyderabad won by 7 wickets with a ball in hand.

Rishabh Pant’s 63-ball unbeaten 128 took Delhi to 187/5 at Kotla as Shakib Al Hasan had 4-0-27-2. However, Shikhar Dhawan (92* in 50) and Williamson (83* in 53) ensured a 9-wicket win with 7 balls in hand.

Key players

Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals): Rabada has taken at least one wicket in every match for Delhi. He has bowled accurately at fierce pace, and despite bowling mostly in the Powerplay or at the death, he has maintained an economy rate of 7.78.

Jonny Bairstow (Sunrisers Hyderabad): While Bairstow has scored fewer runs than Warner, his current tally is more than anyone else’s in the tournament. He beat Warner to his hundred in the Bangalore match, and has been safe behind the stumps, allowing Hyderabad the perfect balance.

Likely XIs

Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Colin Ingram, Chris Morris, Rahul Tewatia, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Lamichhane.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Mohammad Nabi, Yusuf Pathan, Deepak Hooda, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (c), Sandeep Sharma, Siddharth Kaul.

Prediction

A close call, but Hyderabad are a slightly stronger side. History backs them as well.