Picking a combined DC-CSK playing XI for IPL 2024 ft. Axar Patel, Rachin Ravindra
Delhi Capitals (DC) take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in match number 13 of IPL 2024 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, March 31. The Delhi-Chennai clash will be the second game of the double-header.
DC are yet to get on the IPL 2024 points, having lost both their games. They went down to Punjab Kings by four wickets in their tournament opener. In their second match, they came second best against Rajasthan Royals, registering defeat by 12 runs. Chasing 186, DC finished with 173-5.
In contrast, Chennai Super Kings, under new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, have begun their title defense in an excellent manner. They thumped Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets at home.
In their second game, they got the better of Gujarat Titans by 63 runs at Chepauk. After posting 206-6 on the board, CSK held GT to 143-8.
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In the head-to-head battle, Chennai Super Kings have a significant 19-10 lead over Delhi Capitals. As the teams gear up for Sunday's clash, we pick a combined DC-CSK playing XI for IPL 2024:
Openers: Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
The CSK duo of Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad would open the innings in the combined Delhi-Chennai XI. Rachin has had a terrific start to his IPL career. He slammed 37 off 15 against RCB and 46 off 20 against Gujarat Titans.
Chennai Super Kings captain Gaikwad was dismissed for a run-a-ball 15 against Bengaluru and contributed 46 off 36 against Gujarat. He's yet to set IPL 2024 on fire but has provided glimpses of what to expect.
Middle order/ All-rounders: Shivam Dube, Rishabh Pant (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Tristian Stubbs, Axar Patel
Shivam Dube has been exceptional with the bat since shifting base to CSK. He contributed an unbeaten 34 off 28 in the chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and followed up with a brilliant 51 off 23 against Gujarat Titans. Even in a team of proven performers, he's turning out to be an X-factor player.
DC captain Rishabh Pant has had a disappointing start to IPL 2024 both as captain and batter.
While Delhi Capitals have lost both games they have played, Pant has failed to make a mark with the bat. He has made 18 and 28 in his two innings. However, he still finds a place in the combined XI on the basis of his reputation as a match-winner.
Daryl Mitchell has not done anything exceptional for CSK in IPL 2024, but he has made handy contributions with both bat and ball. The Kiwi scored 22 against RCB and 24* against Gujarat. He also got the wicket of Vijay Shankar in the second game, courtesy of a brilliant MS Dhoni catch.
Tristian Stubbs played a fine knock for Delhi Capitals against Rajasthan Royals in a losing cause. He hammered 44* off 23, slamming two fours and three sixes. Stubbs can be a handy batter when it comes to playing quickfire knocks.
Given what he brings to the table, it's difficult to leave out Axar Patel from the combined DC-CSK playing XI for IPL 2024. Axar has contributed 21 and 15* in the two games. He has been economical with the ball, registering figures of 0-25 against PBKS and 1-21 versus RR.
Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaleel Ahmed
Delhi Capitals' Kuldeep Yadav would be the main spinner in the combined XI. The left-arm wrist-spinner was brilliant against Punjab Kings, registering figures of 2-20.
He dismissed Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma to keep DC's hopes alive in the contest. Kuldeep was slightly expensive against RR, with figures of 1-41, but got the big wicket of Jos Buttler.
Deepak Chahar, Mustafizur Rahman and Khaleel Ahmed would be the main pacers in the DC-CSK combined playing XI. Chahar impressed with 2-28 against GT, getting the early scalps of Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha.
After his brilliant four-fer in the IPL 2024 opener against RCB, Mustafizur impressed against Gujarat Titans as well, registering figures of 2-30 in four overs. Delhi Capitals' left-arm pacer Khaleel has done a good job for his team. He claimed 2-43 against Punjab and 1-24 versus Rajasthan.