So far this season, Delhi’s opening combination has been a game of roulette. Between Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, and the most recent addition, Karun Nair, the Capitals have shuffled through three different pairs in their last five matches. The results? Partnerships of 23, 34, 0, 9, and 0 — hardly the kind of starts that inspire confidence.
The inconsistency can partly be attributed to Du Plessis’ injury, and the South African’s fitness will be under close scrutiny ahead of this key clash.
Despite the shaky starts, DC have won five of their seven games, with their middle-order — under the guidance of KL Rahul — operating like a well-oiled machine.
However, against Lucknow’s efficient bowling unit, that might not be enough.
LSG’s bowling — featuring the likes of Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, and the slightly expensive but experienced Shardul Thakur — has quietly but effectively choked opposition batters.
Avesh Khan’s clutch death overs, especially in the two-run win against Rajasthan Royals, showcased LSG’s growing belief that they can turn games from any situation.
With that in mind, Delhi can ill afford another poor start. They’ll want their openers to lay a platform, rather than repeatedly leaving the middle-order to clean up the mess.
On the other hand, Lucknow have found solidity at the top. Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and Aiden Markram have consistently fired, giving LSG the edge in the Powerplay phase.
There’s a curious irony at play: while both teams have performed well — each with 10 points — their captains have had contrasting individual campaigns.
For LSG, Rishabh Pant’s form has been a growing concern. The flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter has scored just 106 runs in eight matches, with 63 of those coming in a single innings. His overall strike rate of 98 is uncharacteristically low, raising questions about his impact.
Pant will now be tested against a quality DC bowling attack featuring Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Vipraj Nigam, and Mukesh Kumar.
Meanwhile, Axar Patel — leading DC — has fared better with the bat, scoring 140 runs at a strike rate of 159. But that improvement has come at a cost. With just one wicket from seven matches and an economy of 9.36, his bowling has taken a backseat.
The increased responsibility of captaincy and a higher batting role may be taking a toll on Axar’s primary skill. The DC think-tank will want their skipper to find balance and contribute more effectively with the ball to add depth to their attack.
