Play off spot at stake for renewal DC

Parth Jindal, the co-owner of Delhi Capitals, was pretty straightforward when he summed up what he expects out of his team's last league stage encounter. "Never liked anyone doing any favors for us anyway - the equation is simple - we win on Saturday and we get the opportunity of going further in IPL - if we don't - then we are out and don't deserve to be in the playoffs, have full confidence in my boys - let's do this Delhi Capitals."

He really couldn't have said anything much more. That's just how straightforward his team's chances stand when they take on Mumbai Indians on Saturday evening at the Wankhede Stadium. A team with all to lose going up against a team that has nothing to lose. A team that is yet to win an IPL title going up against a team that has pocketed the most trophies over the last 14 seasons. A team high on emotions against going up a team that's simply going through the motions of the tournament. A team that's desperately in need to find its best XI going up against a team that is more inclined in testing its bench strength.

There are pros and there are cons as to where Delhi Capitals stand in the context of the contest, but the eventual goal is as simplified as Jindal has made it out to be. After an entire season of winning a game and then losing one, DC's head coach Ricky Ponting believes that his team has finally found the momentum after breaking the trend with a victory in the previous game. Whether it's a facade of confidence or a genuine feeling, he is hopeful that the team has peaked at the right moment to go for the ultimate glory.

Eventually, the one result on Saturday that will decide their fate - whether it's the ambition of the big cup, or like their opponents of the day, a ticket back home.

When: Saturday, May 21, 2022, 7:30 PM IST

Where: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

What to expect:Even as dew hasn't played a big part in the last few games at the Wankhede Stadium, chasing teams have won three of the last four matches at the venue. 71 percent humidity is expected with the weather.

Head to head:Mumbai Indians 16 - Delhi Capitals 15

Team Watch

Mumbai Indians:

Tactics & Matchups:Jasprit Bumrah has been successful in keeping Rishabh Pant in check, conceding only 47 runs in 42 balls and dismissing the southpaw six times in the process. The DC captain, who is going through an indifferent form would do well to see off the challenge from the in-form pacer

Probable XI:Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Tilak Varma, Tristan Stubbs, Tim David, Ramandeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya, Jaydev Unadkat/Arjun Tendulkar, Riley Meredith

Delhi Capitals

Injury/Unavailability:Prithvi Shaw's injury concerns continue. It's uncertain if he will be available for the crucial encounter.

Tactics & Matchups: Rohit Sharma has struggled against Khaleel Ahmed and Axar Patel, both of whom have combined to dismiss him only thrice in 75 balls but conceded at less than run-a-ball.

Probable XI:Sarfaraz Khan, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (wk), Lalit Yadav, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Khaeel Ahmed

Did you know?

Delhi Capitals' last six opening partnerships read: 0, 5, 0, 16, 0 and 0. The five partnerships before this sequence fetched them 336 runs at 67.20.

David Warner has stroked six fifties against Mumbai Indians in 19 innings, averaging 44.07 and striking at a rate of 138.87

Jasprit Bumrah has picked 20 wickets in 18 matches against DC. Meanwhile, Javdev Unadkat has picked 19 in 9. The left-arm pacer has also been only marginally more expensive than Bumrah against DC.

Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan are the second-highest scoring opening combination of the season behind Rahul and Quinton De Kock

What they said:

It's been an up and down season for us, but we've played some good cricket. I always talk about playing our best cricket at the business end of the tournament and peaking at the right time. I've got a feeling that the boys are about to do that. - Ricky Ponting, Delhi Capitals coach

We have to be brutally honest, we haven't played good cricket. Like I said earlier, the intensity, we haven't taken control of crucial moments in certain matches. If we had that done, we had the confidence to get those four-five wins in a row, we would be fighting for the play-offs. It's that kind of a season. Definitely disappointed, but having seen the skills of especially the youngsters, it's us going back to the drawing board and finding solutions. - Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai Indians coach