IPL 2018, DD V MI: 5 player battles to look forward to 

While the hosts Delhi Daredevils will be trying to end their campaign on a high, it is a do-or-die game for defending champions Mumbai Indians. If MI lose then they are out of the tournament and with only 1 spot left to be decided for the playoffs, a win for the Rohit Sharma-led side will be enough to take them through. MI are known to thrive on such occasions and they would go into today’s game as the favourites.

DD are coming off an excellent win against the Chennai Super Kings in their previous game and would like to sign off from the tournament by being the party poopers. The players from both sides will be involved in an intense battle this afternoon in Delhi and the game will witness some tremendous battles that will have a big impact on the ultimate result of the game.

Here is a look at 5 of the most important battles.

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#5 Shreyas Iyer v Jasprit Bumrah

After running into some fine form following his elevation to the captaincy, Shreyas Iyer has not really delivered in the last three games and in DD’s last game this season, the captain would definitely like to sign off on a high. Despite all that, Iyer is still DD’s 2nd highest (albeit a distant 2nd) run-scorer with an aggregate of 405 runs. He is averaging 40.50 and striking at 135. In this afternoon’s game, it is his battle with MI’s Jasprit Bumrah that promises to be a very interesting one.

If he comes in to bat early on or if he lasts till the end overs, then he would definitely run into the India fast bowler, who has come back into form after an indifferent start to the tournament. In 13 games so far, Bumrah has taken 16 wickets and has recorded an excellent economy rate of only 6.86 per over. It would be quite interesting to see how Iyer handles him and it is a battle that is going to have a big influence on the game.

#4 Sandeep Lamichhane v Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan

The introduction of the youngster from Nepal has proven to be an outstanding move from DD, albeit a bit too late and in the two games he has played so far, Sandeep Lamichhane has shown that he can rub shoulders with the very best in the business. His control, spin, varieties and variations of pace have been difficult to get away for most players he has bowled to and an economy rate of 5.75 in 2 games is ample proof of the sort of performances he has delivered so far.

In today’s game, he will be up against Ishan Kishan, who might only average 24.54 but there is no doubting his hitting prowess and the exhibition he put on against Kolkata Knight Riders a few games ago must still be fresh on some people’s memories. In that game, he brutalised Kuldeep Yadav and in today’s game, he would definitely try to get on top of Lamicchane early on. This contest could well turn out to be one of the biggest contests of the game.

#3 Amit Mishra v Rohit Sharma

Following a poor start to the tournament, Amit Mishra has returned to fine form after getting is spot back in the side and has been instrumental in DD finding some control in the middle overs. Bowling in tandem with Lamichhane, he has strangled batting sides in the last two games and the duo have only gone for 6.28 runs an over. Overall, he has taken 9 wickets in as many games and gone for 7.42 runs an over.

In today’s game, it is his battle with MI captain Rohit Sharma that is going to have a huge bearing on the ultimate results of the game. It has been a forgettable season for the India star but in a game which MI simply have to win, it would be great if the captain can regain some form and play a match-turning innings. Since he plays in the middle-order, he would run straight into Mishra today and it is a battle that is going to be a very interesting one.

#2 Trent Boult v Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav

Sending in Suryakumar Yadav as an opener has been one of the best decisions from the MI this season and the youngster has delivered handsomely this far. He has emerged as the team’s top-scorer with exactly 500 runs and has clocked an average of 38.46, to go along with a strike rate of 131.57. He has been largely untroubled by most bowlers this year and has given MI excellent starts in almost every game.

In today’s game, he will be up against one of the best new ball bowlers in the world in the form of Trent Boult and that is going to be a big test for him. The Kiwi has everything that one looks for in a fast bowler and that has made him one of the most difficult bowlers to take liberties against. Boult is DD’s highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps and if he can remove Yadav early on, then MI will definitely be in trouble. On the other hand, if the MI batsman can weather the early storm and get runs off him, then DD could be in for a bit of punishment.

#1 Rishabh Pant v Hardik Pandya

Rishabh Pant

The DD wicketkeeper-batsman has had an outstanding season so far and it is Rishabh Pant’s sustained power-hitting that has seen him become one of the IPL’s most dangerous players this year. He has made 630 runs so far at an incredible average of 51.66, but what is even more impressive is his jaw-dropping strike rate of 177.14. Pant is the sort of player who can completely take the game away from the opposition if he gets going and MI would definitely want to get rid of him as soon as they possibly can.

The left-hander has no apparent weakness but in Hardik Pandya, MI have a bowler who has been excellent against left-handed players. The Indian all-rounder is MI’s highest wicket-taker with 18 scalps and he would definitely like to add Pant to his list of wickets today. In the 65 deliveries that he has bowled to left-handers this season, he has only given away 78 runs and taken 5 wickets. This is going to be the battle of the game and one that could ultimately decide the direction of the game.