By Mitchell Starc may find a bit of Vizag exactly what he needs right now. His IPL journey has hit a rough patch, with the left-arm pacer returning combined figures of 0 for 100 in his first two games. kkr, for whom he was a prized signing, have been banking on his prowess to bolster their bowling attack, especially at the beginning and end of innings.
On the eve of KKR’s match against Delhi Capitals, bowling coach Bharat Arun shared insights into his conversations with Starc. “We’ve been focusing on his strengths,” he said, playfully avoiding any mention of the hefty price tag associated with Starc. Arun expressed confidence in Starc’s abilities, considering his vast experience in various cricketing conditions.
Fortunately for Starc, the season is still young, and he now returns to a venue where he had previously enjoyed success, having claimed a five-wicket haul the last time he played there. This history suggests a favorable setting for Starc to regain his rhythm.
For Delhi Capitals, the focus remains on building on their recent success. The opening pair of Prithvi Shaw and David Warner, along with Rishabh Pant’s solid performance, have laid a strong foundation. With a win against CSK under their belt, DC aims to continue their winning streak and exit Vizag with another victory.
Head to Head: DC 15 – 16 KKR
Team Watch:
Delhi Capitals
Injury/Availability: Jhye Richardson is fit and available, confirmed by Ricky Ponting. Ishant Sharma made a successful return from injury in the last game. The availability of Shai Hope, who missed the last two matches due to a back spasm, remains uncertain.
Tactics/Matchups: DC’s top order has been impressive, but they need to strengthen their performance in the middle overs. With ten wickets lost and a poor average and scoring rate between overs 7 to 15, DC will aim to improve their middle-over gameplay against KKR.
Probable XI: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed.
Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR)
Injury/Availability: Venkatesh Iyer, who suffered a back injury in the last match, is fit to play.
Tactics/Matchups: Varun Chakaravarthy might bowl to Prithvi Shaw in the powerplay, given his favorable record against the opener. However, KKR needs their spinners to step up, as they have conceded runs at a high economy rate this season.
Probable XI: Philip Salt (w), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Mitchell Starc, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Key Stats and Quotes:
- DC has won all three matches against KKR since 2022.
- In the recent DC-CSK match at Vizag, pace accounted for most wickets.
- Varun Chakaravarthy, after an expensive spell against SRH, delivered a more economical performance against RCB.
- Anrich Nortje has struggled with figures of 1/48 and 0/43 in IPL 2024.
“We trust in our plans and momentum,” said Bharat Arun, KKR bowling coach.
“We played our best cricket against CSK,” said Pravin Amre, DC assistant coach, aiming for another win in Vizag.
