As the pulsating 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) nears its crescendo, the contest for the remaining three playoff spots is intensifying. The Gujarat Titans have already clinched the first spot, leaving five teams vying for the rest. The Delhi Capitals, unfortunately, have found themselves out of the running, but they now have a unique opportunity to play spoilers in their remaining matches.
The first of these encounters takes the Capitals to the stunning Dharamsala, the home base of the Punjab Kings. The Kings currently rank eighth with 12 points and have the chance to finish with 16 points, thus advancing to the next round—a feat they haven’t achieved since ending up as runners-up in 2014.
The Punjab Kings’ journey in this IPL season has been a roller-coaster ride, starting with two consecutive victories but subsequently experiencing inconsistent form. However, they’re stepping into the upcoming game with renewed confidence, following a 31-run victory over the Delhi Capitals, thanks to Prabhsimran Singh’s century and Harpreet Brar’s four-wicket haul.
Head to Head
The Capitals, despite their disappointing performance this season, will look to their foreign contingent to carry the team. With the Dharamsala pitch not expected to pose a spin challenge, the Capitals can hope for better fortunes after struggling on sluggish wickets in their previous two matches.
Probable XI
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada.
Delhi Capitals: David Warner (c), Philip Salt (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Rovman Powell/Anrich Nortje, Aman Hakim Khan, Axar Patel, Praveen Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Manish Pandey.
Weather Forecast
The upcoming clash will take place against the breathtaking backdrop of the snow-capped Dhauladhar range at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. With lush green grass and pleasant weather in the mid-20s expected, the stage is set for a riveting encounter.
In conclusion, the upcoming match promises to be a nail-biter. Will the Punjab Kings continue their surge, or will the Delhi Capitals play the ultimate spoilers? Only time will tell.
