IPL 2023, DC vs MI: Will Phil Salt Finally Make Debut for Delhi Capitals?
DC desperate to get a win. (Twitter)
Delhi Capitals (DC) will host Mumbai Indians (MI) in match number 16 of the ongoing IPL 2023. Both teams will be looking for their first win of the season.
Having lost the starting three group league matches, the David Warner-led Capitals are languishing at the bottom of the points table. They are in desperate need of a win. To get a win they couldn't have asked for a better opposition than Mumbai Indians. Like DC, the Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai team is also struggling to get the combinations right.
As it's a home game for the Capitals, the focus will be on them.
Talking about the Capitals, the batting has been a big letdown for the team and has been one of the big reasons for the team’s listless performance. They are still struggling to find their perfect Playing XI. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh‘s absence is a big miss for the side. The team has tried Rilee Rossouw but he has failed to live up to the expectations. For the game against the five-time winners, the Capitals can try Phil Salt, who is a top-order batter and can keep wickets as well. Manish Pandey is likely to retain his place with Lalit Yadav.
Openers:
David Warner and Prithvi Shaw
One of the most destructive opening pairs in the history of the league, David Warner and Prithvi Shaw are likely to open the innings. Even though the opening pair hasn't clicked so far this season, still the Capitals team management will back the duo of Warner and Shaw to finally come good this season. Warner has scored runs but his strike rate has been an issue. Shaw on the other hand has been struggling to find his mojo.
He hasn't been able to impose himself and has found different ways of getting out. In order to avoid their fourth straight loss of the season, the Capitals would like their openers to set the tone early in the innings.
Middle-order:
With Mitchell Marsh unavailable and Rilee Rossouw struggling with his form, it is likely that Phil Salt could make his much-awaited IPL debut. The Englishmen is known for his destructive batting. He's a top-order batter and can also serve as the wicketkeeper of the team. DC have tried all the combinations so now it would be fair enough to give a chance to Salt at the top of the order. When on song, Salt can take the bowlers to cleaners and can utilize the field restrictions well. Against an inexperienced bowling attack of MI, Salt can really come out all guns blazing.
Manish Pandey
A seasoned campaigner and a brilliant fielder, Manish Pandey should get another chance after getting out cheaply in his first game of the season against RR. Due to a lack of quality Indian batting options, Delhi have no option but to back Pandey to come good with the bat. The right-handed batter struggles early in his innings, but once set he can hurt the opposition team. He's a great player of spin and will be crucial to tackle the MI spinners in the middle overs.
Rovman Powell
The Caribbean all-rounder couldn't make an impact with the bat in the last game when his services were required in a big run-chase but bagged the wicket of Riyan Parag with his gentle medium-pace bowling. That wicket would give him confidence and Warner can use him as the sixth bowling option. His main role will be to live up to his reputation of scoring quick runs. After missing out on the last game, Powell will be keen to make this opportunity count.
Lalit had a decent season with the bat and ball for the Capitals. With the bat, he can hit a few lusty blows out of the middle. Whereas with the ball, he can roll his arm over and may end up getting one or two odd wickets to his name, especially if the wicket is assisting the slower bowlers.
He fared well with the bat in the encounter against the Royals, scoring 38 runs off 24 balls. He would look to continue the good work for his team in the upcoming clash as well.
Given the extra responsibility, Axar has this season as the vice-captain, the spin-bowling all-rounder will aim to make an impact with the bat and ball and help his team get two crucial points. Despite being in great nick with the bat, Axar has been given limited opportunities. So far he has scored 54 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 138.46.
The strike rate and his current form suggest that DC should make him bat a bit higher up the order. The left-arm spin has been dismal with the ball and bagged just a wicket at an economy of 9.50. MI have a lot of right-handed batters and Axar be will eyeing their wickets.
Bowlers:
Kuldeep Yadav
If DC wants to win this game then Kuldeep will have to weave his magic with the ball.
Kuldeep Yadav has scalped seven wickets against MI in eight matches and he will be looking to add a few more to his tally. So far he has looked like a pale shadow of himself, bagging only 2 wickets in the 3 matches. DC would want more wickets from their frontline spinner. The left-arm wrist spinner has all the variations up his sleeves to trouble the MI batters.
Nortje started the tournament with a bang, picking two wickets against defending champions Gujarat Titans at home. However, he went wicketless in the game against the Royals and was expensive as well. Being the leader of the pace attack, Nortje will have to fulfill the responsibility. He is an X-factor in the team and his express pace will be a threat to the Mumbai-based team.
Khaleel Ahmed
In the first over of the last game against the Royals, Khaleel conceded a whopping 20 runs in his first over, the most by a bowler in a single over in IPL 2023.
The left-arm pacer has been mediocre this season and conceded runs at an economy of 9.90. Khaleel has an excellent overall record in the IPL. He's a proven wicket-taker and will be backed by the team management to take the field once again this season against Mumbai Indians.
Mukesh Kumar
Playing his first season in the cash-rich league, Mukesh Kumar has so far struggled to find his feet in the tournament. Known for his ability to move the ball both ways, Mukesh will need to get his line and lengths right to pick wickets upfront with the new ball. In the last match, he bagged the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler and that shall boost his confidence heading into this game.
 "Vaibhav Tripathi")