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IPL preview: Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad

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16th September, 2020
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16th September, 2020
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Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad are two of the more fancied teams for the 2020 edition of the IPL. Here is how each team is shaping up.

Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals had a wonderful season last year, as they qualified for the playoffs after a seven-year absence.

Shreyas Iyer did a good job as captain, under the watchful guidance of coach Ricky Ponting. Last year, they lost the second qualifier against Chennai Super Kings. Therefore, this year they will want to play the final and win the title.

In batting, they have added Ajinkya Rahane, Marcus Stoinis and Alex Carey – who can all play as openers. However, they may continue with Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw. Therefore, there will be a lot of competition between the players, which will increase the pressure to perform well consistently.

In the middle-order, the Capitals have added Shimron Hetmyer. Moreover, they already have Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Keemo Paul. Also, Stoinis and Carey can play as finishers.

Delhi have an impressive blend of talented spinners and pacemen. Their experienced battery already contained Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel, Axar Patel and Sandeep Lamichhane.

Now they have added Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohit Sharma, Anrich Nortje, Daniel Sams and Tushar Deshpande.

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Delhi Capitals probable playing XI
Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sandeep Lamichhane, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada.

It is evident that the Capitals have got a lot of options this time. Hence, they have a very strong chance to make it to the playoffs again.

Kagiso Rabada. (Photo by Steve Haag/Getty Images)

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad were lucky to qualify for the finals last year, as they were just slightly ahead on net run rate than Kolkata Knight Riders.

David Warner and Jonny Bairstow had a wonderful season, both averaging above 55. Further, Warner was the orange cap holder. However, the rest of the batsmen struggled a little bit.

In bowling, Khaleel Ahmed and Rashid Khan were the leading wicket-takers for them.

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This year they have got Warner as a captain under whose leadership they won the title in 2016. Further, they have got a new head coach in Trevor Bayliss, who was also the coach of England’s World Cup-winning team.

In the top order, Hyderabad have Warner and Bairstow, which they are unlikely to change after their success in 2019. However, they are currently both running hot and cold in England for their respective teams.

In the middle order, Sunrisers have a mixture of experienced and young players. This year, they have added India’s under-19 captain Priyam Garg, along with Virat Singh, Fabian Allen, Abdul Samad and Mitchell Marsh.

These new arrivals complement experienced campaigners Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Mohammad Nabi, Wriddhiman Saha, Shreevats Goswami, Abhishek Sharma and Vijay Shankar.

Last season, the middle order struggled a bit, this season again there will be pressure on Pandey and Shankar to take the responsibility if the top order fails to score. Moreover, if the middle order fails to perform it increases pressure on bowlers.

In the bowling unit, Sunrisers look pretty similar to last year. In 2019, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a season below his usual standards. This year again, a lot will depend on him and Rashid Khan. However, they will need their other Indian bowlers to ease the pressure off Kumar and Khan.

Sunrisers Hyderabad probable playing XI
David Warner (c), Jonny Bairstow, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Mohammad Nabi, Abhishek Sharma, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Basil Thampi.

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As always, a lot will depend on Warner, Kumar and Khan. If their middle order performs better and the bowling unit does well they have a strong chance of making into the playoffs.

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