IPL 2018 - Match 52 - DD vs CSK Preview

What can we say about these two teams? They’ve had two completely contrasting seasons in IPL 2018, with Chennai Super Kings being one of the two teams who have qualified for the playoffs and Delhi Daredevils languishing at the bottom of the points table, a place they have made their home over the years in the Indian Premier League. Honestly, this is a game for sports bettors and fantasy league players. For the rest, it’s a dead rubber.

It’s a no-brainer when you compare these two teams on paper, as the Chennai captain MS Dhoni has way more experience than the newly appointed Delhi captain, Shreyas Iyer. You will find all of the CSK top order in brilliant form but we can’t say the same about Delhi, whose foreign players have disappointed them very badly this season. They have discovered great local this this year, however.

Teams

With 8 wins in 12 games, Chennai have reached the playoff stage in each of the 9 seasons of the Indian Premier League that they have been a part of. They know how to handle the pressure involved in the business stages of tournaments and I don’t expect them to slip-up now. Sunrisers lost their first game after qualifying but you can’t expect the same from CSK, who will be looking for wins in both their remaining games, before the playoffs begin.

Now, Chennai could use this game to try a few things, such as Faf du Plessis back in for Sam Billings, or Imran Tahir in for David Willey. They might even choose to rest Shane Watson to let du Plessis get another hit this season. However, it shows how good your squad is, if you can afford to keep the likes of du Plessis and Tahir out of the playing eleven. They are looking like a champions side now, with Dhoni in smacking form, and their injured pacer Deepak Chahar back into the side as well.

Delhi on the other hand, have nothing to lose and just pride to play for. I won’t be surprised if we see some team changes in their team as well. Earlier in IPL 2018, Gautam Gambhir stepped down as captain and was then dropped. Can we see him come back to the team for a farewell, given that he may not play another IPL season? Junior Dala could get a game, while Delhi will have to pick one between the out of form Munro and Roy as well.

IPL 2018 has been the best for the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant. The Delhi batting has relied comletely on these three with no one else contributing consistently. With the ball, Trent Boult has had a great season in which he has picked up 15 wickets, but where are the rest of the bowlers? One would expect much more from experienced bowlers like Amit Mishra, but it wasn’t to be this season.

Overall

Chennai have clearly dominated previous encounters between these two teams in the Indian Premier League, leading the H2H count 12-5. No one will forget the 211 CSK scored in the reverse fixture, with Delhi trying their best in the 198 they scored in return. I’m expecting Chennai to win and fight for the top spot on the IPL 2018 points table.

Watch the highlights from the last game between these two:

IPL 2018 – Match 52 – Delhi vs Chennai Preview

Teams

Overall

Read also: