Last Updated on 3 weeks by Charbel Coorey

DC vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 34 | DC vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Wankhede Pitch Report

COVID-hit Delhi Capitals hit the Punjab Kings for six last time out, and come into this game with confidence. Rajasthan Royals, courtesy of the brilliant Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, have the opportunity to go top of the table today. So, the stakes are high in this mid-season clash.

Both teams have things going for them. For Delhi, their net run rate is now the best in the league after demolishing the Kings, and their bowling attack and opening batting combination is looking quite handy. For the Royals, the form of Hetmyer in addition to Buttler and Chahal is cause for optimism, and the Obed McCoy-Trent Boult combination in the pace attack could give them another dimension as they try keep teams quiet.

This match was originally scheduled for Pune, but has been moved to the Wankhede due to COVID-19 in the DC camp. If both teams are at their best, we will be treated to another thriller; perhaps the kind we saw in the RR-KKR match – one of the great IPL Matches in recent times.

Possible Playing 11

Both teams should stick with the same XI from their last match, unless there is injury or illness.

Delhi Capitals: 1. David Warner, 2. Prithvi Shaw, 3. Sarfaraz Khan, 4. Rishabh Pant (c & wk), 5. Rovman Powell, 6. Lalit Yadav, 7. Axar Patel, 8. Shardul Thakur, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Khaleel Ahmed, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Jos Buttler, 2. Devdutt Padikkal, 3. Sanju Samson (c & wk), 4. Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Karun Nair, 6. Riyan Parag, 7. R Ashwin, 8. Trent Boult, 9. Obed McCoy, 10. Prasidh Krishna, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Delhi Capitals:

• David Warner is back to his best. The opener has smashed three half-centuries in a row, and has a strike rate of 152.80 in IPL 2022. This includes a 38-ball 66 on this ground six nights ago vs RCB.
• If Warner can get through the powerplay, he could really get going. He has an excellent record against Yuzvendra Chahal in T20s: 76 balls faced, 128 runs scored, one dismissal, SR 168.4.
• Prithvi Shaw is also in terrific touch. He has smashed 217 runs in six matches this season at an average of 36.16 and strike rate of 170.86. Also, he has good numbers at the Wankhede: 6 inns, 192 runs, avg. 32.00, SR 162.71.
• However, Shaw averages just 18.29 in seven matches vs Royals. Boult has dismissed him three times in 18 balls, while Chahal has dismissed him twice in 18 deliveries, although Shaw has scored an impressive 39.
• Rishabh Pant has outstanding numbers against the Royals: 7 inns, 300 runs, avg. 60.00, SR 164.84. He also has 300 runs at the Wankhede at an overall average of 37.50 and strike rate of 174.42.
• After four wicketless matches, Axar Patel has taken three in his last two, including a great spell of 2/10 vs Punjab. He has taken four wickets in five matches vs RR since 2019, but only concedes 6.78 per over.
• Axar has a good head-to-head record vs Sanju Samson: 60 deliveries, 67 runs conceded, two dismissals.
• Khaleel Ahmed has taken 10 wickets in five matches this season, with at least one scalp in every match. He will be key against Jos Buttler today, as he has dismissed the great opener once in 15 deliveries whilst only conceding 20.
• Kuldeep Yadav, who has taken 13 wickets in six matches this season, has figures of 2/36 in 35 deliveries in all T20s against Jos Buttler. Also, Kuldeep could be key against Hetmyer, who has scored just 30 runs in 35 deliveries against left-arm chinaman bowling in T20s, with two dismissals.

Rajasthan Royals:

• What a season Jos Buttler is having. He is playing the aggressive anchor role perfectly, with 375 runs in six innings this season (SR 156.90) with two half-centuries and two centuries. Also, Buttler has strong numbers at the Wankhede: 22 inns, 626 runs, avg. 32.95, SR 146.95. Can he improve on some of the head-to-head stats against DC’s left-arm bowlers?
• Sanju Samson averages just 23.40 vs Delhi, but his six-hitting against spin (SR of over 200 this season) will be key. While he has been dismissed twice by Axar in the IPL, he has never been dismissed by Kuldeep (39 off 31 balls).
• Shimron Hetmyer’s strike rate of 179.83 is the third-highest among players with at least 200 runs this season. He comes up against his former franchise today, and he will be motivated to perform.
• Hetmyer could look to go after Axar Patel. The West Indian averages 76 and strikes at 139 against left-arm orthodox in T20 franchise cricket.
• Trent Boult has dismissed Warner twice in 45 deliveries in T20s, whilst only conceding 38 runs. He has also dismissed Shaw three times in 18 deliveries, conceding just 19 runs. His battle with the in-form DC openers will be key.
• Yuzvendra Chahal is having a dream season, where has won games for RR off his own bowling. Last match, he took a hat-trick, part of a little spell where he took a remarkable 5/2 off his last 1.1 overs.
• Chahal has taken 17 wickets and is striking every 8.4 deliveries in IPL 2022.

Also read: “Was looking forward to joining spin twins R Ashwin & Yuzvendra Chahal” – Rassie van der Dussen

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 24, RR 12, DC 12.
• Delhi have won six of the past seven matches between the teams.
• R Ashwin has taken just the two wickets so far this season, but RR could use him to keep Warner quiet. Ashwin has dismissed Warner five times for 159 runs in 127 deliveries in T20s (econ. 7.54).
• Rishabh Pant could be the crucial man to take on RR’s spin twins. He has scored 57 off 44 vs Chahal (one dismissal), but just the 18 off 18 vs Ashwin so far (no dismissal).
• Shardul Thakur has dismissed Devdutt Padikkal three times in 19 deliveries in the IPL, whilst conceding only 17. However, Buttler has his measure, with 90 off 57 in all T20s (two dismissals).
• Obed McCoy has figures of 2/47 in 34 deliveries against Rovman Powell in T20s. They could come up against each other in the late overs today.

Wankhede Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score at the Wankhede this season is 158.17. There has been a touch of slowness about the pitches on this ground in IPL 2022, with the likes of Dinesh Karthik able to break free the most.

The Royals won batting first at the Wankhede against Lucknow last week after scoring 165. Yuzvendra Chahal took 4/41. RCB then won batting first against Delhi after scoring 189/5.

170 could be the magical total here. There have been 17 scores of 170+ batting first on all grounds in IPL 2022, and the team batting first has won 12 of them.

Another clear and warm evening is forecast, with dew expected.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Jos Buttler, Rishabh Pant
• Batsmen: David Warner, Shimron Hetmyer
• All-rounders: Axar Patel
• Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult

Match Prediction

That score of 170 is going to be important batting first. The chasing team is likely to have an advantage with dew around, so any score below 170 will be a challenge to defend.