Inconsistent Capitals look to climb table against weakened Royals

Big picture

Delhi Capitals' campaign has been beset by setbacks on and off the field. In the lead-up to their crucial game against Chennai Super Kings, another fresh Covid-positive case emerged from Capitals' camp, which shook up their plans so much that one of their assistant coaches James Hopes revealed to host broadcaster Star Sports that they didn't have their team meeting until they got together at the venue.

Capitals suffered a 91-run drubbing at the hands of Super Kings, but despite that, they are the only team apart from Super Kings to have a positive net run rate in the bottom six of the points table. They can potentially stay in control of their own fate should they win their last three games and, in that scenario, their superior net run rate could give them an edge over their closest rivals - Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Rajasthan Royals are better-placed in the dash to the playoffs, but they will now have to rejig their XI in the absence of their designated finisher Shimron Hetmyer who has flown back home to Guyana for the birth of his child. Jimmy Neesham and Rassie van der Dussen are among the options to replace Hetmyer, whose unavailability will test the batting depth of Royals who previously had R Ashwin at No. 7.

Likely XIs

Delhi Capitals: 1 David Warner, 2 KS Bharat/Prithvi Shaw, 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Rovman Powell, 6 Ripal Patel/Lalit Yadav, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Khaleel Ahmed

Rajasthan Royals: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Jos Buttler, 3 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 4 Devdutt Padikkal, 5 Riyan Parag, 6 Jimmy Neesham/Rassie van der Dussen/Daryl Mitchell, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Trent Boult, 9 Prasidh Krishna, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Kuldeep Sen

Strategy punt

Whether Devdutt Padikkal bats at the top or middle, unleash Anrich Nortje on him. The fast bowler has snagged him twice in three innings while giving up 12 off eight balls.

Stats that matter

• Prasidh Krishna has a good head-to-head record against David Warner in the IPL: two strikes in three innings while conceding 28 runs off 21 balls.

• Jos Buttler has taken Kuldeep Yadav for 54 off 33 balls at a strike rate of 163.63 while being dismissed just once in the IPL.

• Royals have struck 102 sixes, the most by a team this IPL, to Capitals' 81. In fact, Royals are the only team to have hit more than 100 sixes so far this season.

• No spin attack has more wickets than Royals' 32 this season. Those wickets have come at an excellent average of 20.91 and economy rate of 7.71.

• Warner (163.28) and Shaw (159.50) have the best strike rates among batters who have faced a minimum of 50 balls in the powerplay this season.

• Axar Patel is one strike away from 100 IPL wickets.