Visakhapatnam: Riding the wave of their thrilling one-wicket victory against the Lucknow Super Giants in the season opener, the Delhi Capitals are gearing up to host the Sunrisers Hyderabad in what promises to be an electrifying encounter at the ACA-VDCA International Stadium on Sunday afternoon. This game marks the Capitals’ final outing at what they regard as their ‘second home’ for the second consecutive season.
Led by the spin maestro Axar Patel, the Capitals are brimming with confidence following Lucknow’s upset of the high-flying Sunrisers in their last match. That result underscored that even SRH’s formidable batting lineup can be contained if opposing bowlers stick to their plans meticulously.
The return of KL Rahul to the Delhi squad adds significant firepower. Having missed the opener due to the birth of his first child, Rahul honed his skills with India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar in Mumbai before rejoining the team. His inclusion promises to bolster a batting unit that already boasts hard-hitters like Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, and the hero of their last match, Ashutosh Sharma.
All-rounder Vipraj Nigam also rides high on confidence after a promising performance against LSG, enhancing the team’s all-round capabilities.
Meanwhile, the Sunrisers Hyderabad are eager to rebound from their recent setback. The runners-up of the previous season set the tournament alight with a staggering 286/6 in their opening clash against Rajasthan Royals. However, they were brought back to earth by Rishabh Pant’s LSG, whose bowlers managed to silence their renowned batting lineup.
Though Heinrich Klaasen remains optimistic, SRH’s fortunes largely hinge on their top order. Travis Head has shown great form across two matches, and the team is banking on Abhishek Sharma to join the fray with impactful performances. Unlike the previous season where the openers dominated, this year the middle order has had more chances to shine.
Ishan Kishan has experienced a mixed bag, scoring a century on debut for SRH but following it up with a first-ball duck. All eyes will also be on local boy Nitish Kumar Reddy, making his IPL bow on home turf. Since being named the ‘Emerging Player’ last season, Nitish has made strides, debuting in T20I and Test formats for India and impressing on tours to Australia.
SRH’s recent acquisitions, Abhinav Manohar and Aniket Verma, were signed for their boundary-hitting prowess. Verma, in particular, showcased his potential with a brisk 36 off just 13 balls, including five sixes, in the match against LSG.
With both teams eager to prove their mettle, fans can expect a fiercely contested battle as the Delhi Capitals leverage KL Rahul’s return to maintain their burgeoning momentum against the misfiring yet potent Sunrisers Hyderabad.