Match Context
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Venue: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
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Pitch: Batting-friendly with good pace and bounce, likely to support high scores (200+ potential). Spinners may get some grip in the middle overs.
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Weather: Warm (25-28°C), no rain expected.
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Toss: Chasing might be preferred due to consistency of the pitch and possible dew, though batting first has also been successful recently.
Key Updates
Delhi Capitals (DC)
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Injury/Availability: KL Rahul is back after missing the opener due to his daughter’s birth, replacing Sameer Rizvi in the middle order. This strengthens DC’s batting depth.
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Tactics: Mitchell Starc’s dominance over SRH openers (Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma) last season (7 runs off 11 balls, dismissing both once) makes him a critical asset in the powerplay. Kuldeep Yadav might be used early to target SRH’s top order.
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Probable XII: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel (wk), KL Rahul, Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
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Injury/Availability: No changes expected after their loss to LSG, with Pat Cummins likely sticking to the same XII. No injury concerns.
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Tactics: Kuldeep Yadav has struggled against Heinrich Klaasen (39 runs off 22 balls, no wickets), so SRH might look to attack him in the middle overs. However, Kuldeep’s record against SRH’s top order (Head, Abhishek, Ishan Kishan) could prompt DC to bowl him early.
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Probable XII: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Varma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (c), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Zampa
Key Players to Watch
Delhi Capitals
- KL Rahul: Fresh from a break, Rahul’s experience and ability to anchor could stabilize DC’s innings. A strong vice-captain option.
- Jake Fraser-McGurk: Explosive in the powerplay, he’s a high-upside pick on this batting-friendly pitch.
- Mitchell Starc: His matchup against SRH’s openers (Head and Abhishek) is a game-changer. Expect early wickets.
- Kuldeep Yadav: With a favorable record against SRH’s top order, he could be pivotal if used strategically.
- Axar Patel (C): All-round value with bat and ball, especially if the pitch assists spinners later.
- Ashutosh Sharma: After his 66* vs LSG, he’s a differential pick with finishing potential.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Travis Head: In scintillating form (114 runs in 2 games), he’s a captaincy favorite on this pitch.
- Abhishek Sharma: Complements Head in the powerplay, making him a consistent point-scorer.
- Heinrich Klaasen: A middle-order destroyer, Klaasen’s record against Kuldeep (39 off 22) boosts his appeal.
- Pat Cummins (C): Reliable with the ball and handy lower-order batting make him a safe pick.
- Mohammed Shami: His pace and swing could trouble DC’s top order, especially Faf and Fraser-McGurk.
- Nitish Reddy: An emerging all-rounder, offering value with bat and occasional bowling.
Suggested Fantasy XI
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Wicketkeepers: Heinrich Klaasen, KL Rahul
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Batsmen: Travis Head (C), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abhishek Sharma
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All-rounders: Axar Patel, Nitish Reddy
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Bowlers: Mitchell Starc (VC), Pat Cummins, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami
Captain and Vice-Captain Choices
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Captain: Travis Head – His current form (strike rate 193.22) and the batting-friendly pitch make him a top choice.
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Vice-Captain: Mitchell Starc – Early wickets against SRH’s openers could rack up big points, especially if DC bowl first.
Strategic Insights
- Powerplay: SRH’s Head and Abhishek vs Starc is a key battle. If Starc strikes, DC gain an edge; otherwise, SRH could post a massive powerplay score. Fraser-McGurk and Faf will also look to exploit SRH’s new-ball bowlers (Shami, Cummins).
- Middle Overs: Kuldeep’s matchup with SRH’s top order (dismissed Head, Abhishek, Kishan multiple times) vs his struggles against Klaasen will decide his impact. Axar and Zampa could also play a role if the pitch slows.
- Death Overs: Starc, Cummins, and Shami are premium picks for their death-bowling skills. Klaasen and Ashutosh Sharma could dominate here with the bat.
- Differential Picks: Ashutosh Sharma (DC) and Nitish Reddy (SRH) are low-ownership options with high potential.
Prediction
SRH’s batting firepower (Head, Abhishek, Klaasen) gives them a slight edge on this pitch, but DC’s bowling (Starc, Kuldeep) and Rahul’s return make it competitive. A score of 200+ is likely if batting first, with chasing being the preferred option. Fantasy points will favor top-order batsmen and early wicket-takers. Adjust your team based on the toss and final XI.
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