IPL 2021: Qualifier 1 - DC vs CSK : Preview, Playing XI, Pitch Report & Updates

The league stage of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) is done, with Delhi Capitals (DC), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) making it to the playoffs. After a gap of one day, the first Qualifier will be played between DC and CSK at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (October 10).

Both teams are coming from the losses and will be eager to get back to winning ways. DC suffered a close loss against RCB. They had the match under control for the most part only to flounder in the end. DC management though would be pretty happy with the performance openers Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw against RCB. The duo’s timely return to form is a much-needed boost to the DC, whose middle-order batters have blown hot and cold.

Meanwhile, their opponents, CSK, were thoroughly outplayed by PBKS in their last league game. That was also the third loss for the team, who surprisingly have slipped after reaching the playoffs. CSK’s problem is also the same as DC as their middle-order batters have failed to get going. Barring Ambati Rayudu, the rest of them have not scored runs briskly as they would have liked. CSK have also lost two games this year to DC.

Pitch Report

The Dubai International Stadium will play host to DC and CSK match. So far, the pitch in Dubai has looked the best among the three venues. It has stayed consistent throughout the match thus chasing is slightly an easier task.

Predicted XIs

Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (Captain/WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Lalit Yadav/Ripal Patel, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan.

Chennai Super Kings: Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina/Robin Uthappa, MS Dhoni (wk/Captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.

Key Players

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer had a rare failure against RCB the other night as he could score only 17 runs. This is his first low score in the UAE leg of the IPL. That shows the amount of consistency in which he has gone about his business. Iyer is the vital player in the middle order and his runs have helped the team win games.

Ravindra Jadeja

CSK all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been superb with both bat and ball. What has been impressive about Jadeja this season is his batting. He has finished the games well in the death overs and has allowed CSK to post huge scores.