New Delhi, May 17 – Reeling from disruptions caused by the India-Pakistan conflict and a string of poor performances, Delhi Capitals (DC) will aim to reignite their playoff chances when they take on table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) in a high-stakes IPL 2024 reverse-leg clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.
Disruptions and Departures Plague DC's Campaign
Delhi Capitals, currently just outside the top four with 13 points from 11 matches, face mounting pressure after three losses and a rain-forced no-result in their last five outings. Their previous match was abandoned midway following air raid alerts in Jammu and Pathankot, leading to a week-long suspension of the tournament.The resumption has not been smooth either, with several overseas players opting not to return. Notably, premier fast bowler Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the remainder of the season. With 14 wickets, he was DC’s highest wicket-taker, and his absence is a major blow.
Mustafizur Rahman Steps In
In a much-needed boost, Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has joined the squad after securing a No Objection Certificate from his national board. A proven performer with 38 IPL wickets at an economy of 7.84, Mustafizur is expected to lead the attack against a strong GT batting line-up.Delhi's pace unit, featuring Dushmantha Chameera and Mukesh Kumar, has struggled for consistency, further underlining the importance of Mustafizur’s early breakthroughs.
Home Woes and Batting Inconsistencies
DC’s struggles at home continue, with just one win secured in a Super Over at the Arun Jaitley Stadium this season. Their last completed game saw them collapse to 29 for five against Sunrisers Hyderabad, highlighting severe issues in their top and middle order.While Karun Nair’s promotion to opener failed against SRH, the return of veteran Faf du Plessis is a positive development. Alongside Abishek Porel and KL Rahul — the team’s leading run-scorer this season — DC will need a solid start to challenge GT’s potent bowling line-up.
Middle-order hitters like Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, and Ashutosh Sharma could play key roles in the death overs if a stable foundation is laid.
Gujarat Titans: In Form and Unfazed
Gujarat Titans, atop the standings with 16 points from 11 games, have been clinical with both bat and ball. With Jos Buttler, Shubman Gill, and B Sai Sudharsan all surpassing 500 runs this season, their top order has been a driving force behind the team’s success.Though Buttler will miss the final league game against CSK due to national duties, he remains available for the DC fixture.
GT’s middle order, largely untested thanks to top-order dominance, could be vulnerable if DC manages early breakthroughs. Sherfane Rutherford is the only player to have had notable time in the middle.
Their bowling has been equally formidable. Prasidh Krishna leads the league with 20 wickets, supported by Mohammed Siraj (15 wickets) and R Sai Kishore (14 wickets), making GT a well-rounded and challenging opponent.
Match Details
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New DelhiTime: 7:30 PM IST, Sunday
Format: T20 (IPL 2024, Reverse-leg Match)
Squads
Delhi Capitals:Axar Patel (c), Mustafizur Rahman, Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Faf du Plessis, Dushmantha Chameera, T Natarajan, Sameer Rizvi, Darshan Nalkande, Tripurana Vijay, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Manvanth Kumar L, Madhav Tiwari.
Gujarat Titans:
Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Kumar Kushagra (wk), Anuj Rawat (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, B Sai Sudharsan, Mahipal Lomror, Washington Sundar, R Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gerald Coetzee, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Arshad Khan, Ishant Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya, Dasun Shanaka, Shahrukh Khan, Nishant Sidhu, Karim Janat.
As the playoff race intensifies, DC will need a near-flawless performance to topple GT and keep their hopes alive in a highly competitive season.
