In what is building up to be a highly anticipated contest, Delhi Capitals (DC) will battle it out with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at their first home game of the Indian Premier League 2024 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. The 13th match of the season, scheduled for Sunday, March 31, sees Delhi seeking their first win after starting the season with two losses, whereas CSK, the defending champions, have been in formidable form clinching two straight victories.
CSK began their campaign with a statement, defeating Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets in the season opener and followed it up with a 63-run victory over Gujarat Titans at MA Chidambaram Stadium. Under the youthful leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK has demonstrated why they are the team to beat this season.
Contrastingly, Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals have had a less than ideal start. They failed to defend 174 runs against Punjab Kings and came up short by 12 runs chasing 186 against Rajasthan Royals. Now, returning to their home turf, albeit in Visakhapatnam, Delhi will be keen to leverage the local support and rake in their first victory.
The ACA-VDCA Stadium adds an element of uncertainty to the mix. Preparing to host its inaugural IPL 2024 match, the wicket is known to be conducive for bowling. However, with a fresh pitch for the upcoming game, batters are likely to find some joy as well. Teams have tended to prefer chasing at this ground, as evidenced by the fact that of the ten T20 matches hosted here, only three were won by the team batting first.
The stadium’s T20 history gives an average first innings score of 128, with the second innings average slightly lower at 116, pointing towards pitches that tend to slow down as the game progresses. However, the highest total scored here is a mammoth 209/8 by India against Australia, suggesting that there’s bounty for batsmen too. And it’s not just the men who have written records here; Australia Women’s team holds the record for the lowest total defended at this venue, 138/4 against India Women.
As the teams gear up, cricket enthusiasts are evaluating the predicted playing XIs. DC is expected to field a strong lineup including David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, and Rishabh Pant fronting the batting, while their bowling arsenal boasts Anrich Nortje and Kuldeep Yadav. CSK looks equally potent with captain Gaikwad at the helm alongside seasoned campaigners like Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, and the ever-reliable MS Dhoni. With Deepak Chahar and Mustafizur Rahman handling the bowling responsibilities, Chennai will be confident in their lineup.
Aside from the lineup and pitch details, the fans will also be keeping tabs on ongoing stories, like Dale Steyn’s heartfelt congratulations to Keshav Maharaj on his IPL contract and Ravichandran Ashwin’s public support for Hardik Pandya amid critical scrutiny. Furthermore, Lucknow Super Giants have recently announced a replacement for the injured English pacer David Willey.
This upcoming clash is more than just a game; it’s about resilience, strategy, and the hunger for victory. As the deafening roars of fans escalate and the stadium lights blaze, Sunday’s encounter promises to be a riveting spectacle, showcasing the best of what IPL has to offer. With both teams looking to make a statement, all eyes will be on the prestigious Vizag pitch which could potentially shape the trajectory of their season ahead.
