IPL 2019, KXIP vs DC: 3 interesting player battles to watch out for

The 13th match of the Indian Premier League will be held between Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. With both teams having some stars in their line-up, it is expected to be one hell of a contest. The Mohali pitch is excellent for batting and viewers can expect a run fest in the match unless the bowlers have some other plans.

With some big hitters in both sides and some deadly bowlers too, it should be a cracker of a contest between the two sides who currently hold the fourth and the fifth positions on the IPL points table.

Let us look at three key player battles that could take place in the match.

#1 Rishabh Pant vs Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Rishabh Pant is someone who is an excellent player of spin. He likes to go for the big shots while playing the slower bowlers and it is no wonder why teams want to bowl out their spinners before the southpaw walks in to bat. He has a decent track record against spin and his strike rate goes up considerably while playing spin. However, the same cannot be said for his experiences against Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Mujeeb has a very impressive record against Pant. He has dismissed Pant both the times that they met. The left-handed batsman got bowled by the Afghan spinner once and once got caught to him. However, what makes the battle interesting is that Pant has improved considerably since the duo last met and the way he plays the spinners is much more effective and safer in terms of not giving away his wicket. The southpaw holds the key to his team's batting and will be looking to smash Mujeeb all around the park.

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#2 Chris Gayle vs Chris Morris

The big Jamaican will be key to KXIP's hopes once again [Image: BCCI/IPLT20.com]

There are hardly any bowlers who can stop the big man when he gets going. Gayle's strike rate is unparalleled in this format and there are hardly any bowlers against whom he doesn't perform. Morris is someone against whom Chris Gayle has struggled.

He strikes at just above 100 against the all-rounder and has scored just 40 runs against him. Morris meanwhile has the upper head in the stats between him and Gayle. He has gotten the Universe Boss three times and will be looking to get him for the fourth time now.

Morris had a decent game against Kolkata where he scalped the important wicket of Andre Russell and he will be looking to improve on his performance. Gayle meanwhile has been amongst the runs and is currently ranked fifth in the race for the Orange Cap. He will be looking to get a high score again but with Chris Morris bowling to him, it certainly isn't going to be a cakewalk.

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#3 Prithvi Shaw vs Andrew Tye

Prithvi Shaw scored an authoritative 99 against KKR two days ago [Image: BCCI/IPLT20.com]

The captain of the 2018 U-19 World Cup winning Indian squad announced his authority over the game by smacking a lightning quick 99 against KKR in their last game. He agonizingly fell short of his century by one run and it was heart-breaking to see the champion walk back to the pavilion without reaching the 3-figure milestone. However, he will be high on confidence and will be backing himself for another huge score. He has amended the way he approaches the game and he will be looking to go big against KXIP.

In his only outing against Kings XI Punjab which was also his debut, he played a handy knock of 22 runs off just 10 balls. Andrew Tye meanwhile has been in good form and was also the Purple Cap holder the previous season. He has been extremely good especially with his slower balls which are hard to hit.

Shaw opens batting for Delhi while Tye bowls in the Powerplay which makes this contest a very exciting one. It should be one hell of a match with Shaw wanting to prove that age is just a number in the game.

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