Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings: Covid hit DC surrounded by uncertainty

The match is yet to be subjected to clearance of the Covid test report of the teams.

Covid-hit DC looks for a breakthrough.

Delhi Capitals suffered a massive blow after the Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh tested positive for Covid-19 and will have to wait for him to get back on the field. The team didn't have quite an impactful start this season and is placed at 8th on the points table with 4 points. It will be challenging for Delhi to make a comeback with a win after having three losses in the five matches played so far. Prithvi Shaw and David Warner have been decently well as the opening pair, and the batting line-up is heavily dependent on the duo.

Inconsistent PBKS looks for a comeback.

On the other hand, Punjab Kings,too, are coming after suffering a loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad and will be looking to win tonight. They have been doing well but fail to be consistent with their performance. They have won three out of the six matches played. The team is heavily dependent on all-rounder Liam Livingstone in the middle order, be it while putting target or chasing. Odeon Smith remains their key wicket-taker, but Arshdeep Singh has been absolutely clinical in placing pressure on batters. They are still struggling to find the right combinations.

Pitch Report

The pitch at Brabourne stadium has been producing high scoring battles. We saw more than 420 runs being scored on the pitch in the clash of Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. We can expect a similar high scoring match, with bowlers left with very little to offer.

Probable Playing XI

Delhi Capitals: David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Rovman Powell, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Lalit Yadav, Sarfaraz Khan, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed

Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal (c), Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, Odean Smith, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Kagiso Rabada, Shahrukh Khan, Vaibhav Arora, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

Stats to keep an eye on

If we consider head to head stats, Punjab Kings are slightly ahead of Delhi Capitals. Of the 28 contests between them, Punjab Kings have won 15 while Delhi Capitals could win 13. 

Kagiso Rabada, who has seven wickets this tournament, will be getting a chance to add to that tally when he takes the new ball against David Warner, whom he has dismissed five times in 13 innings across all T20s. 

While Kuldeep Yadav's resurgence has encouraged the Capitals, his orthodox spin-bowling fellow Axar Patel has just one wicket to show from 17 overs this season.

Punjab King's will be looking to make a turnaround in tonight's clash. It will be interesting to see if Covid-hit Delhi Capitals make a comeback to make the points table interesting.