The 16th match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 will see Delhi Capitals (DC) taking on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Sharjah on Saturday (October 3).
Both the teams are on equal footing in the points table after three games, having won two matches and losing one. However, KKR are coming into the clash with a thumping 37-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) while DC have suffered a 15-run defeat in their last fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Capitals and Knight Riders will look to register their third win during the showdown at Sharjah and for this, they ought to pick right players in their line-ups.
Therefore, Team COC presents to you the Predicted Playing XIs for the Delhi Capitals versus Kolkata Knight Riders match.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
A player of Ajinkya Rahane’s pedigree might be waiting in the wings but the Capitals are unlikely to alter their opening combination of Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan despite the loss in the last game. Shaw and Dhawan have looked in good touch and the team would like to persist with them.
Captain Shreyas Iyer should continue to hold the No. 3 position followed by wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant. Overseas stars Shimron Hetmyer and Marcus Stoinis are also expected to retain their places in the playing XI. While Stoinis had hit one fifty in three games, Hetmyer is yet to prove his worth this season.
There is no clarity on injured Ravichandran Ashwin’s recovery yet and thus Akshar Patel and Amit Mishra are likely to spearhead the spin attack.
Coming to the pace department, Kagiso Rabada should continue to lead the contingent along with Anrich Nortje and Ishant Sharma.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR will have a big task on their hands facing the robust DC attack. They have done pretty well in their last two games, but need to sort out their opening combination as Sunil Narine has not worked out so far. However, Narine opening allows them to go with an extra bowler or batsman as per the requirement, so it seems, the West Indian will continue to accompany the talented Shubman Gill at the top.
Nitish Rana should continue to bat at the crucial No. 3 slot but there is no certainty on Dinesh Karthik’s batting position. After enduring failure at No. 3 and 4 in the first two games, the KKR skipper demoted himself to No. 5 against the Royals. With the team doing well, Karthik might return to No. 4 with swashbucklers Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell to follow him.
When it comes to the bowling attack, Pat Cummins bounced back after a poor outing against Mumbai Indians and has received good support from the young duo of Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti.
The trio should continue against the Capitals, with Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy to support them as spinners.
Delhi Capitals COC Predicted Playing XI:
Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Akshar Patel, Amit Mishra, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma
Kolkata Knight Riders COC Predicted Playing XI:
Shubman Gill, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (C&WK), Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy
