Right now, Mitchell Starc could really use a little Vizag.
With combined statistics of 0 for 100 in his first two games, the left-arm pacer’s long-distance relationship with the IPL has ended in an unpleasant reunion. The Kolkata Knight Riders have fallen behind in this cycle in both new ball striking and economical late-inning play, and it is largely because of him that they have had to pay a premium for his services.
Asking about his talks with Starc, bowling coach Bharat Arun was questioned the night before KKR’s game against the Delhi Capitals. The playful response was, “Nothing about the price!” Yes, we have discussed his advantages. He must be aware of what success is and requires, in my opinion. Given his extensive experience and his ability to perform in many environments, it’s only a matter of time until you witness Starc in his prime.”
Luckily for Starc, the season is still very early, and he is returning to a location where he previously amassed a five-wicket haul. The devastation caused by that stretch was so great that an ODI that Vizag had to wait three years for barely lasted 37 overs overall.
Bowling here is a potential that Starc could certainly appreciate, as even a couple of nights ago during the DC-CSK match, just seven overs of spin were bowled out of 40 overs. However, it might require some readjusting for a team that has always relied heavily on its spinners.
For the Delhi Capitals, it will be about carrying over the themes from their previous encounter. The pairing of David Warner and Prithvi Shaw again at the top paid off well, while Rishabh Pant grooved to the Dhoni shouts from his long career. Assistant coach Pravin Amre said that this was the opening partnership they had in mind at the auction table. After the runs started to come in, players like Mukesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed also responded, scoring their first points of the year.
After defeating CSK—a team that entered the game with two wins out of two—DC would aim to depart Vizag with two victories out of two and a high sense of confidence. However, following their victory in Bengaluru on the road, Shreyas Iyer’s team might not be the easiest opponent, so be prepared for a competitive game.
When: 7:30 PM local time during Match 16 of the IPL 2024, DC vs. KKR
Where: Visakhapatnam’s Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium
What to anticipate: Another spinners’ cemetery? Arun Bharat is unsure. On the day of the match, he stated, “The pitch keeps changing like the weather.”
The home team undoubtedly loved it and would want another taste, so it’s conceivable that Vizag offers up another pitch where pacers make the decisions. If DC wins the toss, it will be intriguing to watch what they decide to do. Their decision to bat against CSK was the second most popular option in limited-overs cricket, even more so than in the IPL, but Pravin Amre believed it was mostly due to their request that CSK chase.
Head to Head: 16 KKR – DC 15
Collective Eye:
The Delhi Capitals
Injury/Availability: Jhye Richardson is healthy and available, as Ricky Ponting has stated. The only unanswered question now concerns Shai Hope, who missed the previous two games due to a back spasm. Ishant Sharma made a successful recovery from his ankle injury in the most recent game.
Strategies/Matchups: DC has a fragile underbelly in the middle overs, despite the fact that their most recent victory was built on contributions from the top order. They are leading the league in wicket losses (10), have the lowest average (20.30), and the second-lowest scoring rate (7.52) between overs 7 and 15. This season. They should put more effort into that, especially when playing KKR.
David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma, and Khaleel Ahmed are the likely members of the starting XI. [Rasikh Dar Salam/Sumit Kumar, Impact Sub]
Knight Riders of Kolkata
Injury/Availability: Bharat Arun stated that Venkatesh Iyer is “fit and raring to go” despite the fact that he injured his back in the previous game.
Strategies/Matchups: Varun Chakaravarthy’s powerplay bowling to Prithvi Shaw shouldn’t come as a huge surprise as the spinner has a favorable matchup against the opener, who has a record of 37 runs, 25 balls, and 3 dismissals. Nevertheless, KKR wants their spinners to perform better. As predicted, they have bowled the most spin overs this year, but they have only taken three wickets and given up runs at an economy rate of 8.78. Seamer Vaibhav Arora might make an impact on this Vizag pitch. He took the new ball last season but hasn’t played yet this year.
Assumed starting XI: Philip Salt (w), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Sunil Narine, Mitchell Starc, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell. [Vaibhav Arora/Suyash Sharma, Impact Sub]
Were you aware?
KKR has not defeated DC in this cycle; since 2022, the two teams have won all three of their meetings.
In the DC-CSK match two nights ago at Vizag, nine wickets were lost to pace and only two to spin.
In KKR’s opening match against SRH, Varun Chakaravarthy produced his most costly stint in the IPL, conceding 55 runs in two overs before finishing with a score of 0/20 against RCB.
Anrich Nortje’s dismal performance in the Indian Premier League 2024 campaign is further evidenced by his figures of 1/48 and 0/43 in his two appearances thus far.
What they expressed:
“The team is really energetic and we have a lot of enthusiasm. Nothing compares to success. We are prepared and have complete faith in our plans.” – KKR bowling coach Bharat Arun.
“We played our best cricket, but CSK also emerged victorious with two wins. It matters not what ideas they have; rather, what matters is how we play and how we will give it our all. Since it’s our final game in Vizag, we also want to go out on a high note.” -Assistant coach for DC, Pravin Amre
