Adapting quickly the key as Delhi Capitals take on at-home Mumbai Indians in low-scoring Chennai
Mumbai have been brilliant at defending low totals so far, while the Capitals have twice chased down big targets
Hemant Brar
19-Apr-2021
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The Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals, the finalists of IPL 2020, will go face to face for the first time this season on Tuesday.Both teams have two wins in their first three games of this edition, and they have done that in conditions they don't generally get at their respective home grounds. Defending champions Mumbai have put up a masterclass in defending low totals on the slow Chepauk pitches, while the Capitals chased down daunting ones with ease at the dewy Wankhede Stadium.
The Capitals will now have to adjust to the conditions in Chennai. At the Wankhede, their batters enjoyed the ball coming on to the bat; that may not happen on Tuesday. What may work in their favour, though, is the conditions in Chennai wouldn't be very different from the ones they get in Delhi. Having said that, they still need to figure out their best XI, especially the bowling unit with Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav still recovering from their heel and calf issues respectively.
Mumbai's playing XI, on the other hand, picks itself, barring one slot that they tinker with depending on the pitch and the opposition. Their bowling has been top-notch but the batting has lacked the usual firepower. After three outings, Suryakumar Yadav's 56 against the Kolkata Knight Riders remains the only 50-plus score for them. And while they have adapted well to the Chennai conditions, the Capitals too may feel equally at home there.
In the news
Hardik Pandya is carrying a niggle, which he picked up during the last ODI against England. That's the reason he hasn't bowled in IPL 2021 so far. On the eve of the match, Mumbai's head coach Mahela Jayawardene said that Pandya wouldn't be bowling till the niggle cools off, which may take a few weeks.Likely XIs
Delhi Capitals: 1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Lalit Yadav, 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Amit Mishra, 11 Avesh KhanMumbai Indians: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma (capt), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Ishan Kishan, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Jayant Yadav, 9 Rahul Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah
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Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo