Indian Premier League 2019 Match 5, Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

The Chennai Super Kings spinners turned the opening match of IPL 2019 into an anticlimax. From 38/2, Royal Challengers Bangalore were bowled out for 70 against Harbhajan Singh (3/20), Imran Tahir (3/9), and Ravindra Jadeja (2/15). Chennai‘s batsmen chased down the target without breaking a sweat.

But that was at home. Delhi, having replaced Daredevils with Capitals as their team name, managed to defeat three-times champion Mumbai Indians at their den, that too by 37 runs. Rishabh Pant scored a whirlwind 27-ball 78 not out as Delhi posted 213/6. Then their pacers, led by Kagiso Rabada (2/23), bowled out Mumbai for 176.

Once again, Delhi’s strength lies in their four Indian batsmen – Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, and Pant, all of whom can explode at will, and more importantly, all are Indians. Of them, Dhawan got 43 against Mumbai.

Their only problem seems to be spin; on a dry pitch they may opt for Ish Sodhi or Amit Mishra to go with Axar Patel and Rahul Tewatia.

Chennai, on the other hand, thrives on spin. If needed, Suresh Raina and Kedar Jadhav can add to their arsenal, and they can still play three seamers in Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, and Deepak Chahar. Leaving a seamer out for an Indian batsman – Dhruv Shorey, for example – may not be a bad idea.

Head to head

Chennai hold a 12-6 advantage over Delhi. At Pune last year, Shane Watson (78 in 40 balls) and MS Dhoni (51* in 22) had taken Chennai to 211/4. Delhi were in the hunt till the end before losing by 13 runs, Pant (79 in 45) and Vijay Shankar (54* in 31) doing most damage.

Delhi played the return match at home, where a late slog from Harshal Patel took them to 162/5, Lungi Ngidi taking 3/14. In response, Chennai got to only 128/6 despite Ambati Rayudu’s 29-ball 50. Trent Boult and Mishra took 2/20 each.

Key players

Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals): Pant seems to have taken off from where he had left things last season. Not only did he hit hit 7 sixes at Wankhede, he treated the Mumbai bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah included – with supreme disdain. Unless they get him cheaply, Pant may change the course of a match.

Harbhajan Singh (Chennai Super Kings): He may be ageing and fallen out of favour with the national selectors, but there is still some sting left in the old warhorse, as Bangalore – Virat Kohli included – found out to their peril. Accurate and wily, Harbhajan can still keep the most dangerous of batsmen in check. Remember, he is also a handy slogger.

Likely XIs

Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Colin Ingram, Rishabh Pant (wk), Keemo Paul, Axar Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Ishant Sharma.

Chennai Super Kings: Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Harbhajan Singh, Shardul Thakur, Imran Tahir.

Prediction

In a battle of Chennai’s experience and Delhi’s youth, the former is likely to prevail.