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Preview: M17 - DD vs MI
23 Apr, 2016
Preview: M17 - DD vs MI
23 Apr, 2016
Preview: M17 - DD vs MI
What
Match 17 of VIVO IPL 2016 will see the Delhi Daredevils clash with the Mumbai Indians.
MI have played the most matches among all teams – 5, yet occupy a place in the lower half of the table with just two wins. The team, who have established a reputation of being poor starters, had one win from their first four matches, before posting a commanding victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in their most-recent outing. Faced with abundance of talent in the dressing room, MI appear to have found a settled combination now. Rohit Sharma needs to bat right at the top and Ambati Rayudu at number three, which gives the middle-order a daunting look, with the likes of Jos Buttler, Kieron Pollard and the two Pandya brothers - who have made a name for themselves as batsmen capable of causing plenty of damage.
When
23 April 2016, 1600 Hrs IST
Where
Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi
Weather
Temperature: Max 38°c, Min 35°c
Humidity: Max 7%
Wind: 17kmph
The Protagonists
In his three outings this season, Quinton de Kock has scored 184 runs – which includes a century in the previous match and a half-century before that – and has scored more than half the runs scored by the team’s batsmen. That the next highest run-getter in the team only has 57 runs illustrates how dominant the South African wicketkeeper-batsman has been. The 23-year old, who has cut the ball well and muscled the ball through the leg-side, will remain the key character in DD’s batting plans. On the bowling front, captain Zaheer Khan has shown he still has a lot to offer, while it was heartening to see Mohammed Shami back on the park after a long injury lay-off. Shami is a proven wicket-taker, and he will be expected to strike at regular intervals to keep the pressure on the opposition.
The MI captain is the team’s most influential batsman; Rohit Sharma is capable of piling on the big runs, only if he stays in the middle long enough. The 28-year old needs to bat out a few balls to get going; but he has all the shots in the book and the power to clear the boundary, and can make up for the slow start. He has an able cast in the middle-order, and the team will be glad for Pollard’s return to form; the Trinidadian whacked a few deliveries – most of them from the middle – in the previous match against RCB.
Head to Head
There is little to separate the Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians where earlier matches between the two teams are concerned. The two teams have so far met in 16 IPL matches previously and have won eight matches apiece. In matches played in Delhi though, the hosts DD have a 4-2 win-loss record against MI.
Trivia
The MI captain Rohit Sharma was the team’s top-scorer in both their wins; he made an unbeaten 84 in the run-chase against KKR, and most recently scored 62 in the run-chase against RCB.
Mumbai Indians have so far realised only 5 wickets from their spinners. The quick bowlers in their team have picked up 16 wickets so far.
Delhi Daredevils’ scores in the Powerplay overs this season read 35-4 v KKR, 28-1 v KXIP & 51-2 v RCB.
In their four matches so far, the Mumbai Indians have lost a total of 9 wickets in the Powerplay overs, while as a bowling unit they’ve picked up only 3 wickets in that period.
What Next
The Delhi Daredevils will stay put at home after this match and prepare to take on the Gujarat Lions which is their next fixture scheduled on April 27. The Mumbai Indians will head to neighbouring Mohali, where they will be seen in action against Kings XI Punjab on April 25.
