Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings square off with winners set to break into top four
The losers of the match, however, will be pushed to the brink of elimination from the playoffs' race
Big picture
In the news
Likely XIs
Strategy punts
- Kings could tie Marsh up with spin. Since January 2021, he averages 25.85 against spin at a strike rate of 122.51. In the same period, his average against pace is 65.53 and his strike rate 150.53.
- Warner has been severe on Rahul Chahar, hitting the legspinner for 61 runs off 34 balls without getting out even once. So Kings could avoid introducing Chahar into the attack when Warner is at the crease.
- There doesn't seem to be a straightforward answer to how to stop Livingstone. Since the start of 2021, his lowest average (17.66) is against left-arm wristspin, while the lowest strike rate (133.11) is against left-arm orthodox spin. Capitals could take a punt on Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel against him.
Stats that matter
- Among those who have played at least six innings in IPL 2022, Jitesh Sharma (180.88), Livingstone (175.73) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (175) are second, third and fourth, respectively, in terms of the strike rate in the first ten balls faced. Only Dinesh Karthik with 185.26 is above them.
- Kagiso Rabada has dismissed Warner five times in 83 balls. But Warner has taken 124 off him, at a strike rate of 149.39.
- Kuldeep has dismissed Shikhar Dhawan twice in 37 balls while giving away only 34 runs.
- Mayank Agarwal has scored only 36 runs off 43 balls against Axar but has never been dismissed by him.
Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo