IPL 2023: 3 Key Match-Ups to Watch-Out in DC VS KKR Match No.28

Delhi Capitals (DC) will be looking to break their losing streak as they take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 28 of the ongoing edition of the IPL 2023 in Thursday’s doubleheader on April 20 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Both teams have met on 30 occasions in which Kolkata Knight Riders are on the winning side 16 times, and Delhi Capitals have won the rest of the 14 games.

The Capitals are coming into the contest after five consecutive losses in the ongoing season. DC lost to RCB in their last game by a margin of 23 runs. Currently, they are placed at the bottom of the IPL points table, having a net run rate (NRR) of – 1.488. Skipper David Warner and vice-captain Axar Patel have been in form for DC but apart from him, all the batters have failed to deliver. The bowling department has many flaws and they would need to rectify the mistakes committed in the earlier games. DC would look to register their first win when they meet KKR in their upcoming encounter.

Kolkata Knight Riders are coming into the contest after two consecutive losses against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians. Currently, they are placed in seventh position on the IPL points table, having a net run rate (NRR) of 0.320. Against Mumbai Indians (MI), KKR batters fared well but bowlers especially Sunil Narine failed to deliver. Bowlers will have to go back to the drawing board and see where they are lacking. 

IPL 2023: Top Player Battles to Keep an Eye on in DC VS KKR Game:

3) Manish Pandey vs Varun Chakaravarthy

Manish Pandey put in a resilient performance in Delhi’s last match against RCB and smashed his first half-century of the season. Despite the knock being in vain, Pandey would be expected to continue the good work with the bat with yet another impressive performance. KKR’s spin wizard Varun Chakaravarthy has been bowling really well at the moment. He has picked up seven wickets so far in five matches and in Delhi, where the pitch generally assists the slower bowlers, he can create a bit of magic for his team.

Pandey is a good player of spin but picking Chakaravarthy will be a very difficult task. In T20 cricket, Pandey has scored 27 runs off 22 balls while striking at 122.7 against Chakaravarthy without being dismissed.

2) Venkatesh Iyer vs Anrich Nortje 

Venkatesh Iyer has been the man-in-form for KKR, as he aggregated 234 in five games with an average of 46.80 and a good strike rate of 170.80. In the last game, he scored a majestic hundred and that shall give him a lot of confidence heading into this game. Delhi might have to bring their X-factor Anrich Nortje to stop Iyer. Nortje has the ability to generate extreme pace and execute yorkers consistently and is an invaluable asset for DC but he hasn’t been as effective this season, picking only 2 wickets in four matches played, with both wickets coming in his first game of the season against the Gujarat Titans (GT).

Delhi’s wicket is expected to be a sluggish one and Nortje can bowl the hard length to dismiss in-form Iyer. The left-handed batter hasn’t been dismissed yet by Nortje but his paltry strike rate of 107.7 speaks volumes of his struggle against the right-arm seamer.

1) David Warner vs Sunil Narine

Although Warner has scored 228 runs in five matches this season and is fourth in the race for the Orange Cap, his strike rate has been an issue for him. The DC opener has a below-par strike rate of 116.92 and has not looked in any sort of rhythm so far. For DC to win their first game, they want their skipper to lead the way with the bat. If Warner scores runs at a brisk pace, DC would be in a great position in the game.

Eyeing Warner’s wicket will be his old nemesis- Sunil Narine. The veteran mystery spinner had a forgettable outing against MI. But Narine is the sort of character who knows how to bounce back after a poor game. This will be an important matchup as these two veterans have faced each other on quite a number of occasions. In the IPL, Narine has dismissed Warner twice. However, the Southpaw has scored 176 runs at a staggering average of 88.00.