Indian Premier League 2019 Match 50, Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

For the first time in the tournament will two teams take field with the burden of qualification off their shoulders. Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings, on 16 points each from 12 matches, now eye the top two, for that will provide them with the buffer of a defeat in the IPL 2019 Playoffs.

Chennai will host the match, which may turn out to be a crucial factor. They have lost just one out of six home matches this season. However, that came in their last match, against Mumbai Indians, where the tourists put up 155/4 on a slow turner and bowled out Chennai for 109.

Despite that, it is unlikely that Chennai will alter their strategy. Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, and Mitchell Santner have all been in terrific form, which means that Ravindra Jadeja may have to sit out even if he regains fitness.

MS Dhoni, Chennai’s leading run-scorer in the tournament, will return to lead and keep wickets, while M Vijay may keep Faf du Plessis out.

However, Delhi have their spinners too, in Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, and Sandeep Lamichhane, to go with an improved Ishant Sharma and Purple Cap owner Kagiso Rabada. They also boast of an explosive top order. All in all, this should be an intense contest.

However, Delhi have their spinners too, in Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, and Sandeep Lamichhane, to go with an improved Ishant Sharma and Purple Cap owner Kagiso Rabada. They also boast of an explosive top order. All in all, this should be an intense contest.

Head to head

History backs Chennai, who have a 13-6 lead over Delhi in head-to-head clashes. Chennai beat Delhi earlier this season at Kotla as well. Shikhar Dhawan had grinded out for a 47-ball 51 that day as Dwayne Bravo (4-0-33-3), Deepak Chahar (4-0-20-1), and Jadeja (4-0-23-1) restricted Delhi to 147/6.

Shane Watson (44 in 26) and Suresh Raina (30 in 16) then took Chennai to 73/1 in the seventh over before Dhoni (32* in 35) saw them home. They won by 6 wickets with 2 balls to spare even as Mishra had 4-0-35-2, Rabada 3.4-0-26-1, and Axar 4-0-16-0.

Key players

Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings): Tahir’s 17 wickets are the second-most in this tournament. What is more, he has gone for just 6.50 an over. Time and again has he broken partnerships and taken two or three wickets in a cluster with his variations, pegging oppositions back. It will be interesting to see how he delivers against Delhi’s left-handers.

Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals): Tahir may have 17 wickets, but that is still 8 behind the tally of Rabada, current owner of the Purple Cap. Fast and probing, Rabada has taken 25 wickets, some with the new ball, some in the middle overs, and some at the death. However, he will be tested on the slow Chepauk pitch.

Likely XIs

Chennai Super Kings: M Vijay, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c), Kedar Jadhav, Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Santner, Harbhajan Singh, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir.

Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Colin Ingram, Sherfane Rutherford, Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma.

Prediction

The Capitals have been wonderful this season, but at home, the Super Kings are perennial favourites.