IPL 2021 Match 29: Delhi have edge over improving Punjab

Tags: Indian T20 League 2021, Punjab XI vs Delhi XI, 29th Match at Ahmedabad, May 02, 2021, Punjab XI, Delhi XI

Published on: May 02, 2021

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

Delhi Capitals (DC) will take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match 29 of IPL 2021 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. DC have had an impressive IPL 2021 campaign so far, and are second on the points table with five wins from seven games. In their last match, they eased past Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), winning the game by seven wickets.

PBKS have had an inconsistent run in IPL 2021 so far. As a result, they are in the middle of the points table with three wins and four losses. In their most recent encounter, they stunned the in-form team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 34 runs. This was the second major upset they had pulled off in three games after having defeated Mumbai Indians by nine wickets.

Prithvi Shaw played a stunning knock for DC against KKR. The six fours he smashed off the first over were out of the world and he did not stop there. Shaw went on to blast his way to 82 in only 41 balls. The DC opener thus won his second man of the match in three games. Shikhar Dhawan helped himself to a fluent 46 as Shaw went berserk.

DC would now want young skipper Rishabh Pant to get among the runs. Shimron Hetmyer played a fabulous innings against RCB so the franchise will be pleased with his return to form as well. DC’s bowling has also been doing well with the likes of Avesh Khan, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav and Amit Mishra shining. The form of Kagiso Rabada though would worry them.

PBKS were led from the front by their skipper KL Rahul against RCB. His unbeaten 91 off 57 took the team to a total from where they could put pressure on even a strong RCB batting line-up. Harpreet Brar was the surprise success story for PBKS as he played a handy cameo with the bat and then got RCB’s big three with his left-arm spin.

While Punjab would be pleased with Chris Gayle’s form as he notched up yet another 40, they would also be hoping that Mayank Agarwal is fit for the next game. Ravi Bishoi has continued to impress with his probing leg spin. Mohammed Shami seems to be finding his rhythm back while Riley Meredith had a decent match against RCB with the ball.

Predicted XIs

PBKS: KL Rahul (C & WK), Mayank Agarwal/Prabhsimran Singh, Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Harpreet Brar, Shahrukh Khan, Chris Jordan, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi

DC: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Steve Smith, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan

--Renin Wilben Albert

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