IPL 2023: Predicted Playing XIs for Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals
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Liam Livingstone in action | Source: Twitter
The 64th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 will see Punjab Kings (PBKS) locking horns with Delhi Capitals (DC) at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala on Wednesday, May 17.
Both Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings find themselves in the lower half of the points table, but their journeys in the tournament have taken different paths. While the Capitals have been eliminated from the play-offs race, leaving them with nothing to lose, the Kings still have a chance to secure a berth in the play-offs with two games left, including the upcoming one.
In their last face-off, Punjab Kings emerged victorious by 31 runs, in the match, which initially seemed to be going in favour of Delhi Capitals, but the Men in Red swiftly turned the tide by taking wickets in quick succession.
In essence, this contest will be a high-stakes affair between two teams with contrasting motivations. One team has everything to lose, as the outcome of this game will greatly impact their chances of qualifying for the playoffs, while the other team has nothing to lose and will be looking to disrupt their opponent's plans and spoil the party.
On that note, let’s take a look at the predicted playing XI of both teams:
Punjab Kings
Openers: Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan
Each day, a fresh dawn breaks, and with it emerges a new generation of talent in the Indian Premier League. Joining the ranks is Punjab Kings' Prabhsimran Singh, a young opener who blazed a scintillating century against the Delhi Capitals in their recent clash.
Singh's breathtaking knock of 103 runs off a mere 65 balls left the star-studded Delhi bowling lineup in tatters, overshadowing his teammates' struggles to reach even the 20-run mark.
The captain of Punjab Kings is no less, as he has piled up 356 runs from nine outings at a strike rate of 143 and an average of 50. Given their exceptional forms, Punjab Kings have no reason of not retaining their opening duo, Prabhsimran Singh and Shikhar Dhawan, to lead their charge at the top.
Middle Order: Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Shahrukh Khan
The middle order of Punjab Kings blazes like an inferno, leaving everyone envious of its firepower. With hard-hitting sensation Liam Livingstone leading the charge, the all-rounder Sam Curran adds an extra dimension to their lineup.
Not to mention the exceptional finishing prowess of Jitesh Sharma and the explosive batter Shahrukh Khan while Sikandar Raza has also delivered when given a chance.
All in all, together, they form a formidable middle-order unit that can dismantle any bowling attack in the tournament. If they unleash their full potential in the upcoming game, Punjab Kings will be unstoppable.
Bowlers: Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Punjab Kings boast a brilliant bowling attack consisting of exceptional talents like Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar, and Harpreet Brar, all of whom have consistently stepped up when it mattered the most.
A prime example of it lies in the previous match, where Harpreet Brar's exceptional display of four quick wickets turned the tide in favour of Punjab Kings, snatching victory from the clutches of the Delhi Capitals.
Sam Curran has also looked decent with the ball. However, Arshdeep Singh needs to focus on his death overs bowling to address some inconsistencies. Overall, Punjab Kings' bowling unit is well-equipped, and their success largely hinges on their collective performance.
Punjab Kings Predicted Playing XI : Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Impact Players: Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Matthew Short, Harpreet Bhatia, Mohit Rathee.
Delhi Capitals
Openers: David Warner, Philip Salt
Taking the opening slots for Delhi Capitals will be David Warner and Philip Salt, who have proven to be a reliable pair for them. Even in the previous game against Punjab Kings, they got off to a flying start, forging a 69-run partnership at the top. However, the lower-order batters failed to capitalize on the early momentum and crumbled under pressure.
At present, David Warner leads the run charts for Delhi Capitals, having scored 384 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of around 126. Meanwhile, Philip Salt has racked up 189 runs in nine matches, maintaining a staggering strike rate of over 167.
Middle Order: Mitchell Marsh, Rilee Rossouw, Aman Hakim Khan, Axar Patel
In the middle order, Delhi Capitals have the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Rilee Rossouw, Aman Hakim Khan, and Axar Patel. However, only a few among them have exhibited consistent performances, with Axar Patel standing out as one of the notable contributors, both with the bat and ball.
While Mitchell Marsh has shown his potential, his inconsistency in a few matches has been a concerning factor for Delhi Capitals. Rilee Rossouw has also looked struggling throughout the tournament while Aman Khan is trying to get going but isn’t getting help from the other end.
Bowlers: Praveen Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar
Delhi Capitals possess a formidable bowling line-up, adorned with star quality performers. The experienced pacer Ishant Sharma, has turned back the clock and left opposition batsmen bamboozled. With eight wickets in seven matches at a brilliant economy rate of 7.73, he has been a standout pacer for Delhi.
Mukesh Kumar has also shown promise, although concerns remain about his expensive economy rate of over 10 in the tournament. Khaleel Ahmed, on the other hand, has been in great form, snaring 10 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 7.12. Additionally, Kuldeep Yadav, the star spinner, is living up to his reputation.
Delhi Capitals Predicted Playing XI: David Warner (c), Philip Salt (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Rilee Rossouw, Aman Hakim Khan, Axar Patel, Praveen Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar
Impact Players List: Ripal Patel, Lalit Yadav, Abhishek Porel, Manish Pandey, Chetan Sakariya.
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