Long story short, Delhi Capitals cannot make it to the knockout round or the playoffs. But Punjab Kings can still make it provided they win all the remaining two matches, including the one against DC.
PBKS and DC are scheduled to play May 64 of TATA IPL 2023 on May 17, 2023, at 7:30 pm IST. HPCA Stadium, Himachal Pradesh, will host it. Kings have defeated Capitals previously by 31 runs. There is no question about how the current match can roll out. It will have a greater significance for Punjab as it can advance to the next stage.
Struggles Of Delhi Capitals
Rishabh Pant missing the tournament is one factor. What is pinching them the most is their strategy for the opening pair. Warner is doing the job well, considering he has bagged 384 runs in 12 matches of IPL 2023. The skipper could have chosen to open with Indian batters, backing visitors to handle the middle over.
It is evident that Axar Patel has a lot of potential to leave a considerable impact but only gets to play fewer overs. Promoting him up the order is one way to go. Mitchell Marsh often comes one down but fails to capitalize on the opening foundation.
Similarly, Rilee Rossouw may want to pick up on the dancing tunes better to deliver a 5+ score in the next event. DC’s middle order can fall like a pack of cards, and that is precisely where their weakness lies.
PBKS – A Block Or An Opportunity
A loss will not affect the chances of DC making it to the playoffs. PBKS will look at it as an opportunity to add 2 more points to their names and climb up from the 8th position. Twelve points will not suffice the chances; however, adding 4 points from the remainder will.
Shikhar Dhawan and Liam Livingstone, left-handed & right-hander, respectively, pose a threat to opponents. They have been a significant backbone of the batting line-up.
Further supported by Arshdeep Singh, who has so far picked up 16 players in 12 matches. Sam Curran looks out of form this edition and could be targeted by DC batters to gain momentum. His previous spell versus DC was restricted to 2 overs with an economy of 9.
Significance Of Match 64 For DC
Delhi is at the bottom of the TATA IPL 2023 leaderboard with 8 points. Losing 8 matches and winning just 4 has hurt their sentiments and chances of advancing to the next match. DC comes to face PBKS after losing 2 matches consecutively.
Winning the next match against PBKS will lift their motivation, helping them to craft strategies for the next edition of the Indian Premier League. DC could, at the most, climb up to the 8th spot. A higher spot becomes available only if it drastically improves the net run rate.
The upcoming event with Punjab sees them in a lower position, with some of the best betting sites for cricket, predicting only a 46% chance of winning Match 64. DC has two more matches to go. CSK will follow in the last match to clinch victory to their name.
Key Players For Delhi Capitals
Match 44 versus Gujarat Titans fits perfectly for a discussion in this segment. DC beat GT by 5 runs after setting one of the lowest targets in TATA IPL 2023 of 131. Phil Salt and David Warner will set the foundation for the rest of the team.
After that, it remains to be seen how the bowling unit performs. Ishant Sharma and Khaleel Ahmed could pick crucial wickets with an economy of 5.75 and 6.00, respectively. Kuldeep Yadav can come as a surprise even without picking up any wickets. Axar Bapu Patel needs to stick to his all-rounder abilities and manage to go to the top of the batting order.
Potential Consequences Of DC vs. PBKS
DC and PBKS have played 12 matches each. They have 2 more matches to go, thereby meaning that they can add four points to the table. This will positively affect Punjab, for it can go from 12 points to 16 points with a chance to make it to the next stage. On the other hand, DC will at least finish with the total points entering a double digital lane.
DC, finishing two matches on a winning note, will climb to the 8th spot (minimum). While PBKS winning its 13th and 14th match will have its name registered for the knockout. Punjab’s situation still depends on how other teams finish their league matches.
DC must win for its confidence and to end its journey with positivity.
Conclusion
Warner stepped up for DC when the team needed him the most. The match against PBKS on May 17, 2023, for TATA IPL 2023 will speak volumes about his leadership since the team needs to back itself after so many defeats.
One potential outcome is Punjab winning the match and DC giving it another shot in the next edition. Look out for Warner and Dhawan’s rivalry on the field of HPCA Stadium as Arshdeep Singh and Ishant Sharma try to restrict each other’s teams.
