Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will start Indian Premier League (IPL) 15 on the afternoon of Sunday, 27 March against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, the smallest of all the four venues being used during the league stages of this IPL. With plenty of power-hitters in both teams, we can expect a run-fest in Match 2 of this cricket extravaganza.
Both teams will miss some key players, especially the overseas ones. In fact, the Capitals are among the worst hit, with just two foreign players – Tim Seifert and Rovman Powell – available for selection. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh are playing for Australia, Lungi Ngidi and Mustafizur Rahman are in post-arrival mandatory quarantine, and Anrich Nortje is yet to clear his fitness test.
With limited overseas resources available, Delhi will be banking on Indian talent, especially in bowling. It will be a challenge for Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav and Chetan Sakariya to restrict the power-packed Mumbai line-up on this small ground.
Pant has already confirmed that Powell, who has been in excellent form for West Indies, will bat at either No. 4 or 5. In the absence of Warner, wicketkeeper-batter Seifert is likely to open batting Prithvi Shaw.
Mumbai, too, will miss Suryakumar Yadav, who is recovering from a hairline fracture in his right hand at the National Cricket Academy. In his absence, Tilak Varma may get a chance at No. 3, followed by power hitters like Dewald Brevis, Kieron Pollard and Tim David. At the top, they have a settled pair of Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma.
Their bowling looks sorted too, with Jasprit Bumrah, Tymal Mills, Daniel Sams and M Ashwin. For this game, they are likely to play spin-bowling all-rounder Sanjay Yadav ahead of the batter Anmolpreet Singh.
Likely XIs
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Tim Seifert, KS Bharat, Rovman Powell, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav, Chetan Sakariya
Mumbai Indians: Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Tilak Varma, Dewald Brevis, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Sanjay Yadav, Tymal Mills, Daniel Sams, Jasprit Bumrah, M. Ashwin
Fantasy tips
- Brabourne Stadium has small boundaries. and power hitters like batting here. Both Delhi and Mumbai have plenty of them. So do accommodate them on your fantasy XI.
- Pick more top-order batters. Those down the order may not get to bat.
- Considering the dimensions of this ground, pacers are likelier to do better than the slow-bowlers.
Where to watch
Live streaming of Match 2 of IPL 2022 between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will start at 3.30 PM IST on March 27. You can watch the match on the Star Sports Network and Hotstar.