Last Updated on 2 weeks by Charbel Coorey
IPL 2021 Qualifier 1: DC vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | CSK vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
So, here we are. After 56 matches across two countries and numerous scenarios, the playoffs are all set to begin. To kick off, a team who has never won the IPL – Delhi Capitals – can take a huge step to rectifying that stat by beating three-time champions Chennai Super Kings.
Their meeting a week ago was potentially the first of three meetings between now and the IPL 2021 Final. The Capitals prevailed in a close contest, but as that match and the RCB meeting showed, there are still some areas for Rishabh Pant’s men to work on. Mainly, they will want to nail their finishing from a batting perspective, as well as bounce back quickly from Srikar Bharat and Glenn Maxwell’s onslaught on Friday evening.
Talking of bouncing back quickly, CSK need to do the same. They come into the playoffs on the back of three straight defeats, with the latest being a thumping defeat at the hands of KL Rahul. However, skipper MS Dhoni is too good and experienced as a leader to let that impact his team. The playoffs are a whole new ball game, and CSK will be keen to fix these three key things and get back on track.
So which team can hold their nerve best in Dubai? Delhi have won two of their three matches on this ground this season, including that tough victory over MS Dhoni’s team. In contrast, CSK have won just one of their three games at Dubai, with their only victory coming courtesy of a remarkable comeback vs Mumbai Indians after a terrible start.
All to play for with a spot in the IPL 2021 Final up for grabs.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Delhi Capitals:
- Shikhar Dhawan scored 124 runs in the two matches vs CSK in the league stage (85 off 54 balls and 39 off 35 balls). The left-hander has made three 20+ scores in his last four matches, so will today be the day he goes past 50? He has the third-most runs in IPL 2021, with 544 at an average of 41.84 and strike rate of 128.
- Dhawan loves playing CSK. In 25 matches against them, Dhawan has ammassed 901 runs at an average of 42.90 and strike rate of 129.27. Also, Dhawan has been solid in Dubai this season, with scores of 42, 39 and 43.
- Prithvi Shaw has not been able to replicate his first leg form in the second, but his 48 vs RCB might just be the catalyst to a change in form. Shaw did score a whirlwind 72 (37) vs CSK early in the season, but has a modest record overall vs CSK (9 inns, 213 runs, avg. 23.67, SR 147.92).
- Also, Shaw averages just 20.50 in 10 matches Dubai. Can he improve on these numbers in a big game?
- It is a big game for Shreyas Iyer who has scored 47*, 2 (vs CSK) and 18 at Dubai this season. Overall vs CSK, Iyer has struck 235 runs in 10 matches at an average of 26.11 and strike rate of 110.33.
- Rishabh Pant to produce a big innings? The DC skipper has a great overall record vs CSK, with 252 runs at an average of 42.00 and strike rate of 156.62. He has made scores of 35*, 15 (vs CSK) and 10 at Dubai this season, so the time is now to make a substantial score.
- Axar Patel has been brilliant in IPL 2021 (10 inns, 15 wickets, avg. 16.73, econ. 6.43). He was player of the match against CSK on this ground last week (2/18), and has a total of five scalps in three matches on this ground this season.
- Avesh Khan has been a revelation this season, with the second-most wickets (22, avg. 17.31, econ. 7.38). Three of them came against CSK (2/23 and 1/35), but he has just the one wicket to his name in three matches at Dubai in IPL 2021.
- Anrich Nortje has taken nine wickets in six matches this season at a superb average of 13.88 and economy rate of 5.59. He has taken at least one wicket in every match, including five in three games at Dubai.
Chennai Super Kings:
- How will Ruturaj Gaikwad cope with Delhi’s pace? He has scored 13 and 12 since his majestic 101* vs the Royals, so he will be looking for a big response today.
- He has just the 23 runs in three innings vs DC at an average of 7.67. However, a player with such a brilliant record this season (14 inns, 533 runs, avg. 44.41, SR 137.01) can never be discounted.
- A 25+ score coming for Faf du Plessis? The right-hander has struck four scores of 25+ in his last five matches, including 76* in his last outing vs Punjab on this ground. Also, he averages 30.27 in 11 innings vs Delhi.
- This is a big game for Moeen Ali, who has fallen away a little with 43 runs in his last four innings. Also, Moeen has struggled at Dubai this season, with just five runs in three innings, including two ducks.
- He scored 36 (24) and 5 (8) vs DC in the league stage, and could be a key bowler against DC’s left-handers. He is always a player to watch given his ability to deliver on any given day.
- Ambati Rayudu has been one of the real positives of CSK’s season. His 256 runs come at an average of 32.00 and strike rate of 153.29, including knocks of 23 (16) and 55* (43) vs DC. Overall for CSK vs DC, Rayudu has scored 244 runs at an average of 61.00 and strike rate of 148.78.
- Ravindra Jadeja has struck 459 runs since the beginning of IPL 2020 at an incredible average of 57.38 and strike rate of 157.37. Overall for CSK vs DC, Jadeja has scored 188 runs in 12 innings at an average of 31.33 and strike rate of 146.88. He also has 14 wickets in 15 innings at an average of 24, including 2/28 last week on this ground.
- Dwayne Bravo will be key at the death. He was expensive vs DC last week (1.4 overs, 1/20) and went the distance vs Punjab too (0/32 off two overs). However, before that, Bravo was superb, taking figures of 3/25, 3/24 and 2/17.
- Overall for CSK vs DC, Bravo has 16 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 23.19.
- Need something to happen? Call on Shardul Thakur. Thakur has been outstanding in the UAE leg, with 13 wickets in seven matches including 2/13 in four overs vs DC. Importantly, he has taken at least one wicket in each of those seven matches.
Stats and Facts
- Head-to-head: Matches 25, DC 10, CSK 15.
- Delhi Capitals beat Chennai Super Kings twice in the league stage, and have won their last four matches against them.
- Ashwin has dismissed just two right-handers in IPL 2021 at an economy of at 8.1 compared to 6.3 against left-handers.
- Shimron Hetmyer will be key as DC’s finisher. With some luck, he did score a crucial 28 off 18 balls to beat CSK last week. His 188 runs this season come at an average of 37.60 and strike rate of 170.90.
- Kagiso Rabada is wicketless in his last three matches, including vs CSK. He does have five wickets in four matches against them at an average of 21.20, and strikes every 17 deliveries at Dubai (16 wickets). He is capable of bouncing back.
- Deepak Chahar has dominated Prithvi Shaw in T20 cricket, with six dismissals in 56 deliveries for just 62 runs.
Possible Playing 11
Delhi Capitals are hopeful that Marcus Stoinis will be available for this match.
Delhi Capitals: 1. Prithvi Shaw, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Rishabh Pant (c & wk), 4. Shreyas Iyer, 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Marcus Stoinis/Ripal Patel, 7. Axar Patel, 8. R Ashwin, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Anrich Nortje, 11. Avesh Khan
CSK have a decision to make on Suresh Raina or Robin Uthappa. Raina has the second-most runs in CSK-DC matches (552, avg. 29.05), but DC have a battery of pacers to test him with short stuff.
Chennai Super Kings: 1. Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Moeen Ali, 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. Robin Uthappa/Suresh Raina, 6. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Shardul Thakur, 10. Deepak Chahar, 11. Josh Hazlewood
Dubai Pitch Report and Weather
The chasing team has won seven of 10 night matches at Dubai this season. The average first innings score in all Dubai matches this season is 151.54, so the toss can prove quite crucial given dew is likely.
More clear conditions are forecast in the UAE.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.
Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
- Wicket-keepers: Rishabh Pant
- Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad
- All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel
- Bowlers: Avesh Khan, Shardul Thakur
Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?
Match Prediction
This has the potential to be a classic. Given that chasing teams have an edge at Dubai, this one could come down to whether the team bowling first can restrict their opponent to around the 140-150 mark. DC start as favourites, but this will be close.