IPL 2020: Delhi need to play same aggressive style against Mumbai

Dubai - MI have dominated this tournament by winning nine out of the 14 league games with 18 points

It has been a riveting season of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League. We have now reached the climax of the tournament with two of the most deserving teams, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capital playing the finals. They have been touted as favourites from the start of the tournament.

MI has dominated this tournament by winning nine out of the 14 league games with 18 points, two out of the 5 games were lost very closely in the Super Overs.

DC’s journey this year has been nothing short of a roller coaster in which the team has peaked at just the right time making it reach to the final for the first time ever in the history of IPL. They were off with a good start but lost out in the middle matches facing four back-to-back defeats but came out strongly in their last game against RCB. Mumbai Indians have beaten Delhi Capitals comprehensively, twice in the league games and once in the playoffs.

Now with the final match today, the question on every member of the Delhi Capital’s franchise is that how will they get past against the mighty elephant Mumbai Indians?

DC has to ensure that they play the same attacking brand of cricket similar to their performance in the playoffs against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sending Marcus Stoinis along with Shikhar Dhawan to open the innings will send out the message to the opposition that DC too will be playing an aggressive brand of cricket. Another player to be sent up the order is Shimron Hetmyer, as he can attack Rahul Chahar as well as Krunal Pandya being a left-hander. The addition of leggie Pravin Dubey will be also an attacking option against Mumbai as leg-spinners are match winners on their day.

Another important factor that would definitely be on captain Shreyas Iyer’s mind is that all the four finals won by MI were by batting first and Iyer would definitely opt to bat first if he wins the toss.

Also DC has to attack Krunal Pandya, James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile so that Mumbai would have to change their bowling plans. In the qualifiers, Stoinis had taken apart Chahar and the leg-spinner was clueless, and went for 35 runs in two overs. DC also needs to ensure that they don’t give early wickets to Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult like the qualifiers.

It’s a common saying that if you can’t beat the opposition, join them. But here I would to say if Delhi has to get past MI, they need to play the same aggressive brand of cricket as Mumbai has been doing to the opposition.

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