Sharjah : Match 23 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 to knock the high-flying Delhi Capitals against Rajasthan Royals at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday (October 9).
Although Royals had started the season with two stunning wins, but they are having lukewarm activities so far in this season. Steve Smith-led side have suffered three losses in five games and none of their batsmen showing the consistency they did in the first two games.
While they are waiting for the inclusion of Ben Stokes, who is currently in quarantine, they will look to clinch a win at the expense of the Capitals. The Royals be eagerly anticipating a return to Sharjah as this is the venue where both of their victories in the IPL have come at. With the likes of Samson and Buttler looking in decent touch, the Royals would showcase a third win in Sharjah this IPL.
Their opponents, the Delhi Capitals, are one of the top contenders to win this year’s IPL. With four wins in five games, Delhi have rarely been troubled this season under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer.
Along with a power-packed batting unit, the duo of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje have been truly sensational in the death overs. Their only IPL 2020 game in Sharjah saw them beat KKR by 18 runs, and they will be eyeing another win, which would take them to the top of the table, on Friday (October 9).
It is the Royals who hold the edge in the head-to-head match-up, with 11 wins to Delhi’s 9. However, the Delhi Capitals have won the last three fixtures between the two sides and this might play on the minds of the Royals, who are desperately searching for a win. They will need to be at their best against the Capitals, with another high-scoring game at Sharjah.
With two valuable points up for grabs, we will surely witness a cracking encounter between two fulminant batting units on Friday.
Predicted playing XI of Rajasthan Royals :
Jos Buttler (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Steve Smith (C), Sanju Samson, Mahipal Lomror, Rahul Tewatia, David Miller/Tom Curran, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Kartik Tyagi and Ankit Rajpoot.
Predicted playing XI of Delhi Capitals :
Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Ashwin, Harshal Patel, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje
