Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals - a star-studded affair on Super Sunday
The death overs battle between the top two teams is likely to be especially exciting
Big picture
Likely XIs
Strategy punts
- There is always a case for Kieron Pollard to be promoted up the Mumbai order and it is extra strong here. He has been obliterating spin this season; 10 of his 12 sixes and 90 of his 160 runs have come against them. Strike rate of 250. Capitals have been the strongest spin attack in IPL 2020 (13 wickets at an economy rate of 6) but even they are likely to have trouble. If things go bad, they will have to turn to Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje and that could mean their two express pacers have fewer overs to bowl at the death.
Stats that matter
- Mumbai have been the best hitters between overs 16 and 20 (strike rate 235).
- And yet Capitals won't be fazed because they have a set of bowlers who have completely taken control of the back end of every single game. (economy rate 9.5)
- Rabada, for example, has taken more death-overs wickets (11) than the entire Rajasthan Royals team (8).
- Capitals aren't short of power either. They have Marcus Stoinis, who has a balls per boundary rate of 3.8 this season. Only Pollard has gone better.
- Away from the spotlight, Rahul Chahar is rapidly becoming one of Mumbai's most dependable performers. So good has he been that he needs only two wickets - currently on seven from six games - to go past Rashid Khan and become IPL 2020's most successful spinner.
- Axar Patel has an economy rate of 4.5 after five matches played. It is the best by anyone who has bowled a minimum of 12 deliveries in the tournament. He is yet to concede a six.
Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo