Delhi will be keen to avoid any further stumbles after enduring two losses in their previous four games
Pic: iplt20/BCCI
Having opted to bowl first, Delhi Capitals will aim to secure two vital points when they take on a faltering Kolkata Knight Riders in their upcoming Indian Premier League clash on Tuesday. With the tournament entering its decisive phase, Delhi will be keen to avoid any further stumbles after enduring two losses in their previous four games, including a disappointing defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday.
At the top of the order, Abhishek Porel has brought a sense of urgency with his aggressive strokeplay. However, veteran Faf du Plessis, who struggled in his comeback match, will need to quickly adapt to the slower conditions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium if he is to make a meaningful contribution.
KL Rahul, Delhi’s leading run-scorer this season, found it difficult to accelerate against spin during the last match. Yet, the experienced campaigner will be confident of taking the attack to KKR’s formidable spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy.
KKR, on the other hand, will look to regroup after a disappointing run that has seen them collect just seven points so far. Placed seventh in the standings, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side is in urgent need of a turnaround, having suffered back-to-back defeats and a washout in their previous three games.
Issues have surfaced across all departments for Kolkata. Their batting unit remains unsettled, particularly at the top, where the constant rotation between Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz alongside Sunil Narine has failed to provide stability. Much of the scoring responsibility has fallen on Rahane and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
The middle order, comprising Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, and Ramandeep Singh, has failed to consistently deliver, further compounding KKR’s struggles with the bat.
Bowling has also proven to be a weak link for the Knight Riders. Their inability to strike early in the innings has allowed opposition teams to post commanding totals. A glaring example came in their last match against Punjab Kings, where they conceded a 120-run opening stand in a rain-curtailed game.
Delhi’s fielding woes, meanwhile, were exposed in their loss to RCB, with Porel dropping a critical catch of Krunal Pandya, an error that cost them dearly. With both teams eager to bounce back, Tuesday’s fixture promises to be a high-stakes encounter with potential playoff implications.
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