The 40th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 pits Delhi Capitals (DC) against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, tonight, at 7:30 PM IST.
While GT currently hold the upper hand in the points table with four wins from eight matches. DC will be buoyed by their dominant six-wicket victory over the Titans last week where their bowling attack bundled out GT for a mere 89 runs.
However, DC’s form has been inconsistent. Their bowlers were recently taken to task by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), conceding a mammoth 266 runs and losing the match by 67 runs. Rishabh Pant, leading from the front, remains the team’s highest run-scorer with 254 runs, ably supported by Tristan Stubbs (199 runs) and the explosive newcomer Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has notched two fifties in his three outings. The opening partnership of Prithvi Shaw (174 runs) and David Warner (167 runs) has lacked consistency, failing to provide the solid starts DC desperately need.
DC’s bowling attack boasts the wicket-taking prowess of Khaleel Ahmed (10 wickets) and Mukesh Kumar (9 wickets). The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav (10 wickets at an economy of 7.70) and Axar Patel (6 wickets at an economy of 6.82) have been particularly impressive, effectively controlling the middle overs.
GT, on the other hand, head into the clash on a winning note, having defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS). However, their batting has been a cause for concern with only Shubman Gill (298 runs) and Sai Sudharsan (269 runs) showing consistency in the top order. Apart from the two top batters, Rahul Tewatia (149 runs) is the only other batsman with over 100 runs to his name, highlighting their struggles.
GT’s bowling attack, in stark contrast to their batting, has been a bright spot. The pace duo of Mohit Sharma (10 wickets) and Umesh Yadav (7 wickets) have been reliable, while their spin trio of Rashid Khan (8 wickets), Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, (6 wickets), and Noor Ahmad (5 wickets) stands out as the most successful in the tournament with a combined tally of 19 wickets and an exceptional economy rate of close to 7.5 runs per over. DC sit just behind with 18 wickets.
Head-to-Head:
Historically, the encounters between these two teams have been closely contested. In their four previous IPL meetings, Delhi and Gujarat have emerged victorious on two occasions each.
This upcoming match promises an enthralling battle, with both teams vying for crucial points to climb the IPL 2024 points table.
Where-to-watch:
OTT: JioCinema