IPL 2020 got off to a magnificent start with MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings getting the better of Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians in an exciting opening match in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Fifties from Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu helped Chennai Super Kings chase down the target to win by five wickets and four balls to spare. The action now shifts to Dubai where Delhi Capitals will take on Kings XI Punjab in the opening game at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Delhi Capitals will be led by Shreyas Iyer while Kings XI Punjab will be led by KL Rahul.
Iyer and Rahul are the two young faces of Indian cricket and their captaincy wil be closely monitored in the tournament as India seeks life after Virat Kohli. Shreyas Iyer helped Delhi Capitals reach the second qualifier in IPL 2019 while Kings XI Punjab have been inconsistent, qualifying for the play-offs just once in the last eight years and that was in IPL 2014. Overall, in 24 matches, Kings XI Punjab have a 14-10 head-to-head advantage against Delhi Capitals.
Weather conditions
The weather in Dubai will he hot, with maximum of 37 degrees and a minimum of 27 degrees. The humidity will be at 53 percent and dew will play a major factor.
Pitch report
The Dubai International Cricket stadium is called the Ring of Fire as the floodlights surround the entire upper deck of the stadium. The pitch in Dubai will be favour the batsman as it will be a flat wicket and there will be some initial swing for the pace bowlers. As the game progresses, the pitch will assist spin. However, dew might play a major factor.
High and low scores
The highest score at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is 211/3 while the highest score that has been chased down is 183 by Afghanistan. But, statistics have shown that batting first is a good option in Dubai.
Probable Playing XIs
Delhi Capitals: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Kagiso Rabada, Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane, Ishant Sharma, Harshal Patel
Kings XI Punjab: Chris Gayle, KL Rahul (c and wk), Mayank Agarwal, Glenn Maxwell, Sarfaraz Khan, Mandeep Singh, Krishnappa Gowtham, Sheldon Cottrell, Mohammed Shami, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ravi Bishnoi
