IPL 2021: Match 36 – DC vs RR – Preview, Playing XI, Pitch Report & Updates

If the one thing that has remained common during these tough times of the pandemic, then it is the dominating performance of Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the last two years. Even a break from the game could not stop DC’s ruthlessness in the IPL as they comprehensively beat SRH in their UAE leg opener.

With only a win required to secure their qualification chances in the playoffs, DC are looking primed to yet again make the top four in the IPL. With the return of Anrich Nortje to the team, their bowling looks as potent as ever. And with Shreyas Iyer back, the batting too looks complete. Skipper Rishabh Pant and head coach Ricky Ponting will now be hoping to carry forward with the same momentum during the business end of the competition.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals will be jubilant after their nervy last over win over Punjab Kings. But RR would be aware that they cannot get away from such jailbreaks always. So the management would be hoping for a much more dominating performance from the team in their remaining six games in the competition.

The head-to-head record between these two teams currently stands with the RR winning 12 games as opposed to DC's 11 win.

Pitch Report

The match is going to be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The surface will be good to bat in the first half, with the wicket getting slow as the match progresses.

Predicted playing XIs

Delhi Capitals

Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan

Rajasthan Royals 

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Evin Lewis, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Liam Livingstone, Mahipal Lomror, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya, Kartik Tyagi     

Key Players

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer looked in fine touch against SRH as he scored a fluent unbeaten 47. There was a sense of calmness about his knock and DC looked confident throughout the run-chase until he was there. Iyer’s return to the team has also allowed the management to play both Nortje and Rabada in the team. With no pressure of captaincy, Iyer will be looking to make the most in DC’s remaining games.

Chris Morris

Although Tyagi and Mustafizur Rahman hogged the limelight in RR’s close win over PBKS, Chris Morris had a forgettable outing giving away 47 runs in four overs. A class player that Morris is, he would be hoping to put in a much better performance. He is yet to deliver with the bat but is a very dangerous player.