IPL 2023: 3 Key Match-Ups to Watch-Out in DC VS GT Match No.7

IPL 2023: The David Warner-led Delhi Capitals (DC) will host defending champions Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match number seven of the Indian Premier League 2023 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Tuesday, 4 April 2023. The head-to-head record between these two top teams slides into the corner of the Titans. Last year, they faced the Capitals just once in the league stage and emerged victorious.

Delhi Capitals were thumped down by the Lucknow Super Giants in their opening encounter of this year’s IPL.  Skipper Warner was the lone fighter for the team as other batters couldn’t support him to chase the total. Even with the ball, the team didn’t fare well. The bowlers went for plenty of runs. Heading into this game, Delhi would like to improve in both departments.

Gujarat on other hand was brilliant, both with bat and ball in their first game against the Chennai Super Kings at their home ground in Ahmedabad. Despite conceding too many runs in the powerplay, the Titans’ bowlers pulled things back pretty well at the back end to restrict CSK to below 200. With the bat, Shubman Gill led the way and the lower middle order stood up to give them their first win of the season.

Both teams boast quality players and with small boundaries in the Delhi stadium, the batters would be eyeing big scores. As it’s the first game, the pitch won’t be slow which means it will be a good batting track. There will be some key faceoffs. Let’s have a look at the 3 crucial player battles:

IPL 2023: Top 3 Player Battles to Watch Out for in DC VS GT

3) Shubman Gill vs Khaleel Ahmed

Shubman Gill has set the stage in the first game. He couldn’t take his team to the finishing line, but he did his job by providing an ideal start and top scoring for his team. The in-form Gujarat opener has shown his class and carried his good form this season. Off-late he’s been found to struggle a bit against the left-arm pacers. Mitchell Starc got him out a couple of times in the recent ODI series. That’s where Delhi will employ their strike bowler Khaleel Ahmed. The Capitals’ left arm is effective with the new ball and also in the slog overs. With the new ball in hand, Khaleel will be looking to get Gill out early to put pressure on the Titans.

IPL 2023: 2) David Warner vs Mohammad Shami

Another battle will take place in the powerplay overs. Warner has always been Shami’s nemesis. The Titans pacer loves bowling to left-handed batters and his record suggests that. Even in the last game against CSK, he got Devon Conway out with the new ball. Shami looked in a great rhythm and that’s a danger sign for Warner, who smashed a half-century in the first game of the season. In the battle between the two, Shami has got the better of Warner on a couple of occasions. The last time these two players play against each other in a Test match in Delhi, Shami bagged Warner’s wicket. Playing at home, Warner would look to dominate the Titans’ lead pacer.

1) Rashid Khan vs Rilee Rossouw 

Arguably the best T20 bowler in the world, Rashid Khan has started the tournament on the right note. In the first game of the new season, Rashid starred with the bat and ball to get his team across the line. The spin wizard is a proven wicket-taker and is a tough bowler to face. Delhi’s middle-order batter Rilee Rossouw, who had a decent start to the tournament against LSG, is most likely to face Rashid. Rossouw is known for his power-hitting and scoring runs at a great rate but he has struggled against the wily leg-spinner. Rashid had dismissed Rossouw on four occasions, 3 of them came this year. The southpaw has a strike rate of less than 100. The last time these two met in this year’s Pakistan Super League (PSL), there was a heated exchange between the two which makes this contest a must-watch.