Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Qualifier 1: MI vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

After 56 matches, filled with speculation, debates and predictions as to who will make the IPL 2020 playoffs, the final four has been decided.

IPL 2020, one of the most competitive in recent times (although games were one-sided in the past week), has provided a release from everything going on around us. Viewership is up 28% compared to IPL 2019, and the anticipation has gone up a notch as we get closer to finding out who the champions will be.

Mumbai Indians remain favourites to take out the Title. There is an argument that they have played better cricket in 2020 than in their Title-winning 2019 season, as just about all their wins were achieved by a big margin. At the same time, their defeats, except for their last game against SRH, were closely fought. So, as key players return after a rest from an inconsequential game, can they hit their straps right away and lock in a spot in the IPL 2020 Final?

Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, endured a very rocky period towards the end of the league stage. Four defeats in a row, including an embarrassing defeat against MI, increased concerns that they may actually even miss the playoffs. However, a strong performance against RCB brought smiles back on the faces of all involved, and can act as a confidence-booster ahead of this big clash. So, can Shreyas Iyer’s men take a huge step towards achieving Delhi’s first ever IPL Title?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Quinton de Kock has a big role to play in this one. The classy opener has struck 395 runs in his last 10 knocks at an average of 49.38. This includes scores of 53 (36) and 26 (28) vs DC.
• But, the big question is can QdK build on his run of starts? MI will want him to build on scores of 18, 26 and 25 in his last three games.
• Rohit Sharma returned from injury last game, much to the confusion of many. The MI skipper has the most runs in MI-DC games, with 565 at an average of 33.24 and SR 130.79.
• Shikhar Dhawan returned to form with a half-century last match vs RCB. It is no coincidence that DC lost four games in a row where Dhawan was out cheaply. He will be crucial today, and possesses a really strong record vs MI: 22 inns, 733 runs, avg. 43.12, SR 129.05.
• Ajinkya Rahane made his first significant contribution of the season with 60 (46) last game. So, DC will be hoping for more of the same. It could happen, as Rahane has a solid career record vs MI: 18 inns, 591 runs, avg. 36.94, SR 124.68.
• Ishan Kishan has been superb for MI, but most of his great contributions have come as opener. Can he deliver in the middle order? He is coming off 33 (30) vs SRH, but MI will want greater fluency from a player who smashed 72* off 47 balls vs DC a few days ago.
• Watch out for Suryakumar Yadav. The elegant right-hander has had a superb season (13 inns, 410 runs, avg. 41.00, SR 150.18), which includes scores of 53 (32) and 12* (11) vs DC this season.
• Will Rishabh Pant burst into life? The left-hander has been quiet in IPL 2020, with a strike rate of just 112.35. His excellent record vs MI, though, is cause for optimism: 8 inns, 240 runs, avg. 34.29, SR 155.84.
• The Hardik Pandya-Kieron Pollard duo will be key for MI. Hardik has been rested in recent games, and needs to overcome a sub-par record vs DC (121 runs, avg. 15). Pollard is coming off 41 (25) vs SRH, and can be counted on to produce when needed: 259 runs in IPL 2020, three dismissals, SR 193.28.
• Krunal Pandya has an excellent batting record vs DC: 8 inns, 235 runs, avg. 39.17, SR 179.39. Plus, he has eight wickets to his name against them.
• Kagiso Rabada (25 wickets) is back as the Purple Cap holder after Jasprit Bumrah (23 wickets) was rested vs SRH. The battle between these two will be key. Bumrah completely dominated DC a few days ago on this ground, with 3/17.
• Trent Boult is also set to return after being rested. The left-arm seamer also destroyed DC a few days ago with 3/21.
• Anrich Nortje has played a key role for DC this season, and he will be key once again. The fast bowler has taken 19 wickets in 13 matches in 2020, and is coming off a player-of-the-match performance vs RCB (3/33).

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 26, MI 14, DC 12.
• Mumbai Indians won both meetings vs Delhi Capitals in the league stage. In the first meeting, MI chased down DC’s 162 at Abu Dhabi. In the second, MI strolled to the target after restricting DC to 110/9.
• Bumrah to be used against the DC middle order? Dhawan, Rahane and Iyer have a combined total of 159 runs at a strike rate of 134.75 against Bumrah with no dismissals. In contrast, Pant, Stoinis and Patel average less than 12 against Bumrah in T20s (SR below 110).
• R Ashwin has dismissed Quinton de Kock three times in five innings.
• Prithvi Shaw has scored just 49 runs in his last seven innings.
• Shreyas Iyer to perform if DC bat first? His record when batting first is 320 runs in nine innings at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 133. When batting second, the performances are not at the same level: 5 inns, 101 runs, avg. 20, SR 98.

Possible Playing 11

Mumbai Indians: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Rohit Sharma (c), 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Ishan Kishan, 5. Kieron Pollard, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Rahul Chahar, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Delhi Capitals: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Prithvi Shaw, 3. Ajinkya Rahane, 4. Shreyas Iyer (c), 5. Rishabh Pant (wk), 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Axar Patel, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. R Ashwin, 10. Daniel Sams, 11. Anrich Nortje

Dubai Pitch and Weather Report

The team batting first has won 15 of 24 matches at Dubai. However, chasing teams have had more joy in recent times, winning six of the last nine games. In these nine games, the average winning score batting first is 178.66. In the other six games where the chasing team won, the average first innings score is 153.5.

So, with dew around, the team batting first might need a score around the 175-180 mark to feel safe.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

The team batting first needs to put a strong score on the board. Mumbai Indians’ greater batting depth could count for plenty in this game, as DC have been reliant on Shikhar Dhawan in recent times.

Thanks for reading!