Both sides have had trouble with player availability and have not established their ideal lineups.
Who will break the duck first in the broader picture?
In the first three matches of IPL 2023, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals have been mirror images of one another. Both teams have lost all three games they’ve played, and neither team has managed to get their first win.
Both teams have had issues with player availability due to a combination of injuries and personal issues. Mumbai’s captain Rohit Sharma missed the last game due to illness, while Delhi’s Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out with a back injury. Both teams are still determining when these players will be able to return, and they are still determining how many games each player will be able to play before they’re unavailable again.
Both teams are still determining their best XI, and they need ready-made answers for how to improve their chances of success this season.
The Capitals’ starting duo is their biggest concern. David Warner has hit two half-centuries in three games, although his runs have been made at a meager strike rate of 117.03. In contrast, Prithvi Shaw has played only 17 balls throughout three innings. Shaw might hide Warner’s difficulties and provide a foundation for the middle order if he gets going.
Mumbai’s bowling assault is the primary source of trouble. They were mainly relying on Jofra Archer in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. But he also had pain in his right elbow and was forced to skip their last match against the Chennai Super Kings. That has taken away priceless experience from their bowling team.
The Capitals’ head coach, Ricky Ponting, called for “soul-searching” following the team’s most recent loss. The captain of Mumbai, Rohit Sharma, remarked, “Starting with me, the senior guys need to step up.” One of them will open their account on Tuesday, a blessing in disguise.
Team news: Archer’s health is in doubt
The degree of Archer’s pain still needs to be officially updated. Mumbai is unlikely to rush him back because the right elbow has also held him out.
It leaves the team only one option: wait until he is completely healed and let him play again.
However, Archer’s injury history makes it hard for Mumbai to rely on him as a reliable source of power in the lineup. He has had an injury-plagued season, missing six games this year with hamstring problems. He also missed time in 2016 with shoulder issues and had surgery on his left knee in 2015.
With so many injuries piling up on each other, it seems unlikely that Archer will be able to perform at his full ability when he returns from his latest setback.
The Washington Capitals are facing a significant injury crisis heading into their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Their top scorer, Khaleel Ahmed, could miss this encounter due to a niggle. They will also miss Mitchell Marsh, who missed their previous game and returned to Australia for his wedding.
The injury list has grown significantly over the last few days. Tom Wilson also suffered an ankle injury during warm-ups for their previous game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. They also lost defensemen Dmitry Orlov and Michal Kempny to injuries in that game.
These injuries are coming at the wrong time for the Capitals, who are struggling in the standings with just ten points from their first seven games of the season.
Player Impact Strategy
Delhi Capitals
The Capitals may add Chetan Sakariya if Khaleel is not healthy. Shaw will be in the starting XI if they choose to bat first. Mukesh Kumar may replace him in the second inning and make an impression. If they bowl first, it’s the opposite.
Probable bat-first XI:
David Warner, the skipper, is followed by Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey, Rilee Rossouw, Rovman Powell, and Lelit Yadav, Axar Patel is number seven, followed by Abishek Porel (wk), Chetan Sakariya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Anrich Nortje.
Probable bowling XI:
David Warner, the team’s captain, is followed by Manish Pandey, Rilee Rossouw, Lalit Yadav, Rovman Powell, and Sixth Axar Patel, Abishek Porel, 7 (wk), Eighth Chetan Sakariya, 11 Mukesh Kumar, 10 Anrich Nortje, and 9 Kuldeep Yadav
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai may consider substituting Sandeep Warrier for Arshad Khan, given that he has allowed 14 runs throughout two games. They can employ Tilak Varma and Kumar Kartikeya as their impact players.
Probable batting first XI:
Ishan Kishan is the wicketkeeper, followed by Ishan Sharma (captain), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Hrithik Shokeen, Piyush Chawla, Jason Behrendorff, and 11-year-old Sandeep Warrier.
Probable bowling XI:
Ishan Kishan, Ishan Sharma, Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Tim David, Piyush Chawla, Hrithik Shokeen, Kumar Kartikeya, Jason Behrendorff, and Sandeep Warrier are the first through eleven in order of captaincy.
Statistics that matter: Rohit’s difficulties
- In the IPL, Rohit last reached a half-century 24 innings ago. He has 470 runs scored with a strike rate of 120.20 and an average of 19.58.
- In T20 cricket, Axar Patel has held Rohit quiet, allowing only 41 runs off 49 balls with two dismissals. Five hitters have hit 100 or more sixes in T20s since 2022 began. On Tuesday, four of them will compete: Rovman Powell (101), Tim David (124), Rilee Rossouw (123), and Suryakumar Yadav (101)
- . Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the fifth participant on that roster. (101).
Win the toss and bowl; the conditions are pitch.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium has staged 31 Twenty20 games since the year began. The pursuing teams have won 23, lost 6, and tied 2. There was plenty of support for quick bowlers when the Capitals faced the Gujarat Titans here last week. If the same event occurs again, it’s difficult to predict whether Mumbai or the Capitals will prevail.
