It sounds sweet when a toss makes both the captains happy, even at this stage of a tournament. Shreyas Iyer chose to bat even being at the right side of the coin. He decided to take off pressure from his excellent but inconsistent batting unit. And it worked. As I said in my last article on SRH vs DC: Qualifier 2# Match Preview, it’s not a bad decision to defend in a pressure game. But David Warner was very comfortable with Shreyas’ decision, as he wished to chase. SRH began well and the way they attacked Delhi completely spoke of their homeworks. With six fielders on the leg side, Sandip Sharma happened to trap Stoinis at silly mid-on. It was a tough catch and somehow dropped from Holder’s palm. Delhi with their blueprint try to recover and continued to build a good score.

When you come to a game like a semi-final, you have to chase 180 or 190. It was why SRH were happy to restrict Delhi under 190. But an absolute beauty from Rabada cost Hyderabad their first wicket in the second over. Warner was unlucky again as the ball hit the pad well outside leg and stormed into the stumps. In the middle, Williamson and Holder built a long partnership but failed to get over the line.

Having won just two matches from seven encounters, Delhi are to challenge a promising Mumbai Indians. Still, a lot of areas to take care of. Mumbai Indians had enough time before today’s match and therefore, they can expect fresh legs and arms.

Preview

Against Quinton de Kock, Delhi may go with Stoinis and Rabada at the start, as two South Africans might get predictable. So Nortje can be introduced a little later. R. Ashwin should be brought in the powerplay. He is a champion and if Delhi wish to do well in this game, he has to bowl well with all his experience of playing final so many times. If Axar Patel makes playing XI, he should be well aware of left-hand striker Ishan Kishan. They have to be more accurate with length, as they have to stop Mumbai from rotating strikes.

I think Shekhar Dhawan has enough quality to control Bumrah, go against Coulter-Nile and Boult. So Stoinis and Dhawan can give a solid start. You know, in a final, you have to face the great bowlers and you must answer in a delicate way. Many a time, it happens that a captain takes responsibility in a final and young Shreyas Iyer has every chance to bloom at a big stage. With Rishabh Pant and Rahane in the middle, Hetmyer must take the responsibility to cheer from dugout…..to let them supply enough courage to go hard and make them feel that he is ready.

Mumbai only need Rohit to fire. Quinton de Kock, Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav all are in great touch and especially, the way Yadav is toying with the spinners is a matter of concern for any opposition. If the lower middle order must handle any crumbling at the start, Pollard and  Hardik Pandya have no replacements this year. They have the best bowling unit and apart from being economical, they have wicket taking ability.

To Conclude

At Dubai, today, I think, both sides will wish to bat first. With dew in the second half, though, it’s always easier to chase, in the captans’ minds, the pressure of the final and the slowness of the wicket are going to take the upper hand. Both teams have good players in reserve bench. So playing XI may change in the final, if they try routine replacement.