There is a double header in the Indian Premier League on Saturday with the opening match coming from Delhi as the improving Delhi Daredevils take on an unconvincing Mumbai Indians side in another key match for both sides.
Delhi Daredevils
After a poor defeat to begin their season Delhi have come to life in their last two matches with two comfortable run chases of different size. They flew past an inadequate Kings XI Punjab total two games ago before riding the wave of a Quinton de Kock century to beat Bangalore last time out.
If there is a concern for the Daredevils then it comes in the fact that they appear to rely on de Kock a little too much with the bat although they do have quality aside from him in their line up. They will need to be ready for when the day comes that the South African doesn’t get going.
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai have been lacking consistency this season. I don’t think the injury to Lendl Simmons helped them. He would have been a big part of their plans and the same can be said for Lasith Malinga too but they’ve had time to get over those losses and the signs were they are back on the right track if the evidence of their win over Bangalore is anything to go by.
Crucially for Mumbai, Kieron Pollard showed good form in that run chase against Bangalore and a fit and firing Pollard means they can go a lot harder at the top of their innings knowing they have plenty of batting to come. I’m expecting Mumbai to be dangerous from here.
Team news
The wicket in Delhi has been turning in recent times so there is a chance that Imran Tahir gets into the side. You would think Carlos Brathwaite would be the one most likely to make way but after two wins on the board it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the Daredevils are unchanged.
Mumbai are unlikely to change too much after a good of their own last time out but the form of Parthiv Patel is becoming a concern and with Jos Buttler ready and waiting to take the gloves the left hander may not be able to afford too many more failures.
Form
Delhi Daredevils: LWW
Mumbai Indians: LWLLW
Head to head: Delhi Daredevils 8-8 Mumbai Indians
In Delhi: Delhi Daredevils 4-2 Mumbai Indians
Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium
We’ve seen plenty of the Feroz Shah Kotla in recent weeks with it hosting matches in both the T20 World Cup and this tournament and the wicket is definitely on the slower side of tracks in the competition.
In the first game of the IPL season here it was a low scoring affair although we shouldn’t attribute that to the wicket necessarily. Kings XI Punjab’s batting was dreadful on the day and they could only put up 111 after falling flat on their face against the spin of Amit Mishra. Delhi chased that total down at over eight an over so the wicket might not be as tough to bat on as it may seem.
Betting
Both sides go into this match off the back of wins last time out but it is probably a bigger match for the Mumbai outfit than Delhi as they have played two extra matches. I’d probably side with them too as it is generally around this time of the season where they get going but there isn’t a whole lot of value in them sadly.
One area where there is value in the visitors is in the most sixes. Delhi have only hit 10 sixes in three matches which included just four in a huge run chase on a tiny ground in Bangalore earlier in the week. Of those sixes Quinton de Kock has hit half of them so if he falls early you wonder just how many sixes the home side will hit.
On the flip side of that Mumbai hit eight sixes on their own against Bangalore in midweek and have 29 in five matches in total so they are much more proficient in hitting sixes and now that both Jos Buttler and Kieron Pollard look in good touch I’m expecting Mumbai Indians to hit the most sixes in this match.
Tips
Back Mumbai Indians Most 6s for a 4/10 stake at 2.05 with Bet365
Back them here:
