DC vs PBKS in IPL 2021: Rishabh Pant ready to take 3 Big selection decisions before he finalize Delhi Capitals Playing XI

April 18, 2021

DC vs PBKS in IPL 2021 – Delhi Capitals Playing XI: Delhi Capitals (DC) play their third match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) this Sunday, 18th April, when they lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Wankhede Stadium. The Rishabh Pant-led side started IPL 2021 with an easy 7-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) but later lost against Rajasthan Royals (RR) by three wickets in a low-scoring affair.

Ahead of their clash against Punjab Kings, Rishabh Pant and DC will need to respond with 3 major key decisions in terms of team selection in a bid to overturn their fortunes. Let’s see what they are.

DC vs PBKS in IPL 2021: Rishabh Pant ready to take 3 Big selection decisions before he finalize Delhi Capitals Playing XI

DC vs PBKS in IPL 2021- Tom Curran very costly, set to be dropped for Nortje in DC XI

The good news for DC is that Anrich Nortje is back and is likely to replace Tom Curran. An expensive buy in the IPL 2021 auction for 5.25cr, the English bowling all-rounder has failed to live up to his price tag so far. On the other hand, the likely addition of Anrich Nortje in the playing XI will only bolster Pant’s bowling attack which lost its bearings during the last match with Curran’s lack of pace on a slow track being cannon fodder for RR’s Chris Morris and David Miller.

Nortje brings more pace and substance in the attack. Along with fellow Proteas Kagiso Rabada who was excellent the other day and Chris Woakes and Avesh Khan, DC will have quite a handful of pace battery in their arsenal.

DC vs PBKS in IPL 2021- Is Ajinkya right choice as No. 3, shouldn’t he be replaced with Steve Smith?

Delhi Capitals suffered a batting collapse against RR and it was skipper Rishabh Pant, who bailed them out. This time around, they need a better response but will DC change the look of their side by bringing in Steve Smith at No 3?

This decision could bode well. Also, Ajinkya Rahane was unimpressive during last game as he scored as he scored just 8 runs in his previous outing. Will Pant bring in experience of Steve Smith in the line-up?

The Aussie although hasn’t played a match in the IPL 2021, but he can appear in the upcoming match. Though he has played only a few home matches in this calendar year, he has mostly performed well with the bat and his addition can make the Delhi Capitals batting line-up stronger.

However, if Smith plays – DC will have to see which 4 foreigners can fit in XI? Rabada, Woakes can’t be dropped. Banton can make way for Smith but then Nortje doesn’t get to play.

DC vs PBKS in IPL 2021- Stoinis neither scoring nor bowling with any confidence is a pressing concern

Marcus Stoinis was the glue that kept the balance of the Delhi side together in the previous season of the IPL. However, this season, so far his contribution has not been big. He has bowled three overs and conceded 41 runs and somehow the batsmen have found it easy to score against Stoinis’ right-arm medium pace. With the bat as well, he scored a five-ball duck against Rajasthan. It seems at this moment, Stoinis is not able to read the pace of the pitch.

DC need to decide on Marcus Stoinis as well. They have England’s Sam Billings waiting on the bench and could bolster the batting lineup.

DC vs PBKS in IPL 2021- Delhi Capitals Probable Playing XI:

Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith/Sam Billings/Marcus Stoinis, Rishabh Pant (c&wk), Chris Woakes, R Ashwin, Lalit Yadav, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje / Tom Banton, Avesh Khan