Seeking home comforts after multiple reverses at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi Capitals (DC) will be desperate to buck the trend when they take on a rejuvenated Kings XI Punjab in the IPL on Saturday. Shreyas Iyer & Co. has been at ease on the road, winning three matches on the trot after an authoritative beginning in Mumbai.
However, things have turned out quite differently in their home ground, where they found the pitches far from friendly.
Rishabh Pant will again be in focus after his fiercely-debated World Cup exclusion, having failed in Thursday's defeat at the hands of Mumbai Indians.
Disappointed at being ignored for the showpiece, the highly-rated young wicketkeeper-batsman will certainly look to prove a point.
Standing in their way will be mid-table team Kings XI Punjab, who are also eyeing the title that has so far remained elusive.
Ravichandran Ashwin's outfit will not be short on confidence, having easily beaten Rajasthan Royals three days ago.
The likes of Chris Gayle, K L Rahul, David Miller and Mohammed Shami will look to capitalise on Delhi's miserable record at home, and with Ashwin leading from the front, it may not be an improbable task for the confident visiting team.
Squads:
Delhi Capitals: Shreyas Iyer(C), Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Colin Ingram, Keemo Paul, Axar Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Amit Mishra, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma, Hanuma Vihari, Ankush Bains, Chris Morris, Sherfane Rutherford, Jalaj Saxena, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Nathu Singh, Bandaru Ayyappa, Colin Munro, Manjot Kalra.
Kings XI Punjab: Lokesh Rahul (WK), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Sam Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin (C), Andrew Tye, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Karun Nair, Moises Henriques, Varun Chakravarthi, Harpreet Brar, Simran Singh, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Hardus Viljoen, Ankit Rajpoot, Arshdeep Singh, Darshan Nalkande, Agnivesh Ayachi.
IPL 2019, DC vs KXIP, Match 37: 'Host' of problems for Delhi ahead of clash against Punjab
Agencies
Updated at:
21 Apr 2019 12:33 AM (IST)
Considering the trouble of the DC batsmen to adapt to the wicket at the Kotla, it will again be a case of KXIP starting favourites on Saturday
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