It’s time for the first Qualifier at IPL 2020. The two best teams meet and one will go directly to the final. Here are some strategies that the Indians of Mumbai and the capital cities of Delhi could use to make the game their own.
Win
It is not in anyone’s hands, but the draw has taken on additional importance not only towards the end of the tournament, but also in the matches between these two teams. The capitals hitters will face some crucial face-off challenges against the Mumbai Indians, which will be discussed later, but they are best handled with one goal in mind and not by hitting first, which is what they have done in their two games against Mumbai. . Surprisingly, of his own free will in the first instance.
Overall, only 23 of the 56 games have been won by teams that won the draw, but, since October 22, the number has increased to 11 out of 17. And 13 of those 17 games, regardless of the draw, have been won by chasing sides. The dew has grown thicker and the pendulum has tilted toward the chase. The best a team that hits first can hope for is for the dew to settle early to put both sides at a disadvantage, as it did in the match between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals, incidentally in the same place as Qualifier . .
Mumbai is a daunting proposition anyway. They have only lost three games in regulation time and it took three Super Overs to beat them in overtime. In four of the five games Mumbai failed to win, they defended totals. You need all the help you can get in a great game against Mumbai: win the draw and ask them to beat first.
Don’t let Boult attack
In the two games between these two sides, Trent Boult, a pitcher thrown by the Capitals after the last IPL, has taken a wicket in the first over. The confrontation between the higher order of the Capitals and Boult is one-sided. Only Shikhar Dhawan enjoys an advantage, but he’s a left-handed hitter – if the ball rocks, it could spell trouble. There may be a temptation to knock Shaw out, or even open with Marcus Stoinis (16 of Boult’s eight balls total), but it could still be too early to attempt something so dramatic.
The best way, perhaps, is for the starters (Dhawan’s responsibility) to make sure Boult doesn’t hit early, even if that means playing him for three overs at Powerplay.
Attack the other bowlers in Mumbai
If the Capitals decide to keep an eye out for both Boult and Jasprit Bumrah, it is imperative that they go after the two spinners and James Pattinson (or Nathan Coulter-Nile if selected). It’s not going to be easy: Krunal and Rahul Chahar have thrown 15 overs for 90 runs in Capitals vs Mumbai matches at this IPL, but if he comes out, it will force Mumbai to either exhaust Bumrah’s overs early or go to Pollard. Both are a victory. This is where playing Shimron Hetmyer, a left middle hitter, becomes important. The two Mumbai spinners return the ball and the Capitals need to use Hetmyer and Rishabh Pant to unsettle them. In their tied match against Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai didn’t even drop Krunal Pandya despite the 2-0-12-0 numbers because their left spinning hitters in the middle were too hot to hit with the left arm spin.
Hit the three Ps with rhythm
The main reason for the invincible appearance of Mumbai is the lower middle order of Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya. Their only common weakness: hard lengths at a high pace. In Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, the Capitals have two bowlers who can exploit it. They must have at least four overs for these hitters. Again, it’s easiest to do when Mumbai hits first.
Axar attack
Capitals are well aware of this. In the two games between these two teams this season, the Capitals did not defeat Axar Patel in the first and did not even play him in the second. Axar’s budget bowling has been a big part of the Capitals’ success, but it will be tested against Mumbai, which has Quinton de Kock and Ishan Kishan for sure and Saurabh Tiwary if Rohit Sharma fails. They could even promote Krunal Pandya if Ashwin has been seen without harm.
Ashwin vs. left-handed hitters
In the first match between these sides, the Capitals did not use Ashwin as an attacking option. In the second, the target was so low that Mumbai could afford to play him. None of their left-handed hitters, not Rohit Sharma or Suryakumar Yadav enjoy a good matchup against Ashwin. This is a great opportunity for Ashwin, maybe not 100% fit, but apparently fit enough to play, to land decisive shots for his team.
Mumbai can afford to keep an eye out for Ashwin because the Capitals will be careful to keep up with Rabada and Nortje for the lower-middle order. Kieron Pollard is the only one who has dominated Ashwin in terms of hit rate in the past, but he also attacked him four times. So don’t really expect Mumbai to promote Pollard or Hardik to unsettle Ashwin, but expect Suryakumar to take over and others to act attentive.
Bowl Krunal Pandya early
In the two matches between these two teams, Krunal the bowler has played an important role with combined figures of 7-0-39-2. Shreyas Iyer, the Capitals’ great hope in case a wicket falls early, has 27 of 29 deliveries since the left arm twist this year. He has spoken to them twice, including once with Krunal. Mumbai only needs to see Dhawan’s back early, after which they can control their fighting.
Bumrah a Pant
Barring a round at the Wankhede last year, Rishabh Pant has had a torrid moment against Bumrah. Mumbai will be waiting, with Bumrah, to try to ensure that Pant does not choose this match to change a normal season.
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