Last Updated on 2 weeks by Charbel Coorey
IPL 2021 Qualifier 2: DC vs KKR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KOL vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
Kolkata Knight Riders’ magnificent run continued with victory under pressure against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator. But it wasn’t just any victory. It was a victory that forces Delhi Capitals to take note, particularly with Sunil Narine in vintage form.
As the weather starts to cool down a little more in the UAE, the heat on the field increases. Everything is on the line here for a spot in the IPL Final against Chennai Super Kings, and this match has the potential to a cracker.
KKR’s sixth win in eight matches in the UAE leg puts them one game away from the final. Not many could have imagined that the men in purple would be here given they were sitting second-last after the Indian leg, but not many could argue they don’t deserve it either. In addition to Narine, who was player of the match on this ground vs DC earlier this season, the likes of Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Lockie Ferguson have been producing the goods, among others.
So, KKR is certainly capable of giving Delhi a tough game. It will be a test of nerve for Rishabh Pant’s team, who were right in the contest against CSK but fell agonisingly short. The ingredients are there – particularly in the bowling attack – to cause KKR problems, but it all has to click in a do-or-die contest.
How will DC deal with the possibility of being eliminated before the final after finishing top? We shall see.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Delhi Capitals:
- Prithvi Shaw, who is coming off a fine 60 against CSK, smashed a 52-ball 84 vs KKR earlier this season. The right-hander has the potential to take the game away from KKR, which could be crucial given the slow Sharjah track.
- Shaw has an outstanding record vs KKR. He has smashed 323 runs in five matches at an average of 64.60 and strike rate of 171.81. Key player.
- DC will also want Shikhar Dhawan to hit his best form. The experienced left-hander has made starts in recent matches but has not scored the big runs expected of him. He scored 46 (47) and 24 (20) vs KKR in the league stage, part of 758 career runs against them at an average of 29.15 and strike rate of 115.
- Shreyas Iyer has the most runs of any current DC player against KKR. The right-hander has scored 426 runs in 13 matches against them at an average of 38.73 and strike rate of 154.35. He was bowled by Sunil Narine on this ground for 1 earlier in the season.
- Rishabh Pant will be crucial to his team’s hopes. The skipper is coming off a 35-ball 51* vs CSK, part of a string of scores in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 (35*, 24, 39, 26, 15, 10, 51*).
- Pant has a modest average of 24 vs KKR in 11 matches, with a strike rate of 140.31. He scored a 36-ball 39 against them on this ground earlier this season.
- Can Avesh Khan bounce back after a bit of a disappointing outing vs CSK? He was superb against KKR at Sharjah a couple of weeks ago, taking 3/13.
- Anrich Nortje has been in fine form in the UAE leg, taking at least one wicket in each of his seven matches (2/12, 2/18, 1/15, 1/19, 1/37, 2/24, 1/31).
Kolkata Knight Riders:
- Sunil Narine is in some remarkable form. He was player of the match at Sharjah vs DC earlier this season (2/18 and 21 off 10 balls), and then again in an unbelievable all-round display vs RCB (4/21 and 26 off 15 balls).
- Narine has the most wickets of any bowler in KKR-DC matches, with 22 in 18 games at an average of 20.73 and economy rate of 6.81.
- Three games ago, Shubman Gill had an average of just 19 in IPL 2021. He has scored 57, 56 and 29 since. The classy right-hander is in some decent touch, and this is the time to take advantage.
- Gill scored 30 (33) and 43 (38) vs DC this season. Also, Gill has a solid record at Sharjah, with 234 runs in six matches at an average/strike rate of 39/125.13.
- Venkatesh Iyer has struck 67, 8, 38 and 26 in his last four matches. He scored a 15-ball 14 against DC earlier this season. If he makes a start today, can he build on it?
- Nitish Rana is also in some fine touch, which includes a crucial 27-ball 36* against DC earlier in IPL 2021. He has struck a double-figure score in each of his last six matches (37*, 36*, 31, 25, 12, 23).
- How good has Lockie Ferguson been? The pace bowler has been in the wickets in every game he has played in the UAE leg (12 scalps in six matches), including 2/10 vs DC at Sharjah.
- Varun Chakravarthy has taken six wickets in four matches vs DC at an average of 21. However, while he has been economical, Sharjah isn’t a big wicket-taking ground for Varun (24 overs, three wickets, avg. 55.33, SR 48.00).
Stats and Facts
- Head-to-head: Matches 29, DC 13, KKR 15, N/R 1.
- Both DC and KKR won a game each against each other in IPL 2021. The last meeting saw KKR (130/7) chase down DC’s 127/9 at Sharjah.
- Expect KKR to send Sunil Narine up the order. He has a strike rate of 287.5 against Ashwin and 187.5 against Axar in T20 cricket, without getting out to either bowler across 29 deliveries.
- Kagiso Rabada is wicketless in his last four matches and is conceding 10.84 per over in the death overs this season. Anrich Nortje, on the other hand, is conceding just 6.81 per over at this stage.
- Ashwin has the worst average and strike rate among bowlers who have bowled at least 40 overs in IPL 2021 (avg. 60.80, SR 49.0).
- Rishabh Pant in IPL playoff matches: 199 runs in six innings, at an average of 49.75 and a strike rate of 151.91.
Possible Playing 11
Marcus Stoinis’ fitness is still up in the air, and it remains to be seen if DC bring him back for a knockout match. They could persist with Curran, who took three wickets.
Delhi Capitals: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Prithvi Shaw, 3. Shreyas Iyer, 4. Rishabh Pant (c & wk), 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Tom Curran/Marcus Stoinis, 7. Axar Patel, 8. R Ashwin, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Anrich Nortje, 11. Avesh Khan
Andre Russell is training in the nets, but KKR may look to stick with Shakib Al Hasan despite a number of left-handers in DC’s lineup.
Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Venkatesh Iyer, 3. Rahul Tripathi, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Eoin Morgan (c), 6. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7. Shakib Al Hasan, 8. Sunil Narine, 9. Lockie Ferguson, 10. Varun Chakravarthy, 11. Shivam Mavi
Sharjah Pitch Report and Weather
The team who has scored more runs in the powerplay has won eight of the nine matches at Sharjah this season, indicating that run-scoring becomes more difficult after the sixth over.
The average first innings score at Sharjah this season is 137.11, with the chasing team winning six of the nine matches.
More warm and clear weather is forecast.
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: Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill
- All-rounders: Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer
- Bowlers: Anrich Nortje, Lockie Ferguson
Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?
Match Prediction
150 will be a key target for the team batting first in a pressure game. KKR’s great form can hold them in great stead, but DC possess a terrific bowling attack that might just be the difference. DC to win in a tight one.