What

The two points available for the taking in Match 52 of VIVO IPL 2017 are more valuable to Rising Pune Supergiant rather than hosts Delhi Daredevils.

Before their 4-day break – out of which they’re emerging, RPS had established their longest winning streak – winning four matches on the bounce. Steve Smith’s team will be keen to extend that to five and thereby confirm their progress to the playoffs. RPS have turned their season around brilliantly; they had won only one of their first four matches, but then clinched wins in six of their next seven matches to become playoff contenders. RPS have one more opportunity to seal that playoff berth after this – but they’d rather do it in this game than go into the final league match with the pressure of a knockout clash.

RPS will have to overcome one huge handicap; they will have to fill in the void created by the absence of Imran Tahir – the team’s leading wicket-taker – who has parted ways to join up with his national team.

The Delhi Daredevils are not in contention for a playoff spot, but the young team will want to finish the season on a high. DD have had a rollercoaster season; there have been some mind-blowing performances (like the chases against the Gujarat Lions) as well as some disappointing lows (being bowled out for 66 and 67). Which DD side will show up on Friday?

When

12May 2017, 2000 Hrs IST

Where

Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi

The Protagonists

With AjinkyaRahane struggling for runs, the onus for a good start has shifted onto the shoulders of Rahul Tripathi. The opening batsman, along with captain Steve Smith, will be the key batsmen for RPS. Also keep an eye on the all-rounder Ben Stokes, who wants to be in the thick of things all the time.For Delhi Daredevils, different batsmen have put their hands up and played match-winning knocks at different times this season. Among the ones to watch out for are the immensely gifted Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer – who scored a match-winning 96 in the previous match, and the destructive teenager Rishabh Pant.

Among the bowlers, keep an eye on the two leg-spinners – Adam Zampa, who is likely to make the RPS XI, and Amit Mishra.

Match within the match

In these last few months, several bowlers have tried in vain to stop Steve Smith; in this contest, an Australian bowler will run in to bowl to him. Does Pat Cummins have a trick or two to stop Smith? The one other contest that promises to be interesting is between Rahul Tripathi and Zaheer Khan; on the one side, there is the youth and energy of Tripathi – who bats fearlessly and is enjoying the stage that the IPL has provided, and on the other side is the wily and experienced bowler in Zaheer Khan. Who will prevail in the contest between youth and experience?

Head to Head

Overall: Matches played – 3, Delhi Daredevils Won – 1, Rising Pune Supergiant on – 2

When these two teams came up against each other in Pune earlier this season, Sanju Samson set up the win for Delhi Daredevils by scoring the first century of VIVO IPL 2017. Riding on Samson’s 102, DD scored 205-4 batting first and then bundled out the hosts for 108 to win by a massive 97 runs.

Trivia

Adam Zampa’s 6/19 (for Rising Pune Supergiant against Sunrisers Hyderabad last season) are the second-best bowling figures in the IPL.

The average first innings total in VIVO IPL 2017 in Delhi is 192. In the two most-recent matches at the Feroz Shah Kotla, the teams batting first have posted 212-3 and 208-7.

Rising Pune Supergiant’ bowling economy rate of 7.40 in the middle overs is the best among all teams.

What Next

For Delhi Daredevils: Final league fixture of the season – Home fixture Vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore, May 14 (8pm)

For Rising Pune Supergiant: Final league fixture of the season – Home fixture Vs. Kings XI Punjab, May 14 (4pm)