In a welcome sign for the Delhi Capitals, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has walked back into the playing XI for the second qualifier game against the Kolkata Knight Riders tonight.
Stoinis had pulled up his calf in the very first game of the second phase of the tournament against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the UAE and was sidelined afterwards.
His return will provide a much-needed balance and to the Capitals playing XI and will add firepower to the batting department. Capitals’ batting has been exposed for lack of depth in the UAE leg and Stoinis’ return could well be a shot in the arm they badly needed in the final hours of the tournament.
Stoinis can be relied upon to complete his quota of four overs with the ball but it will be interesting to see if Rishabh Pant will be going that way after his long layoff. However, his explosive batting will certainly boost the batting department in such a big game.
The Delhi Capitals finished at the top of the points table with 10 wins out of 14 games in the league phase but lost a close game to the Chennai Super Kings in the first qualifier to have to go through the second qualifier against the Knight Riders.