Fantasy Pick: Red-hot Warner remains obvious captaincy choice
May 21: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals, 69th Match, Wankhede Stadium
Safe XI: Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, David Warner (capt), Tim David, Tilak Varma, Mitchell Marsh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed (vice-capt), Anrich Nortje
Captain: David Warner
Capitals' leading scorer this season has amassed 427 runs in 11 games, with his average (53.37) and his strike rate (151.95) being the best in the league among the top ten run scorers. Since 2016 against Mumbai, he has scored 389 runs in eight games at an average of 64.83, which makes him the obvious captaincy's choice in our safe XI. His last three scores against Mumbai are 36, 85* and 60.
Vice-captain: Khaleel Ahmed
Even after missing three games due to injury in this season, he is one of the top wicket takers with 16 wickets in nine outings at an average of 18.18. In the three games he has played against Mumbai, Khaleel has taken six wickets. Whenever Rishabh Pant wanted wickets, Khaleel has been his go-to-man, as the left-arm seamer has taken 12 wickets in the 20 overs he bowled after powerplay.
Hot Picks
Mitchell Marsh: One of the best T20 players in the world right now has proven why he has been rated so high in the recent games. He has especially been good in powerplays scoring 115 runs at a strike rate of 136.90 with just two dismissals in that phase. His last two scores are 89 (62) and 63 (48) and he has also taken four wickets in the three innings he bowled.
Ishan Kishan: The Mumbai wicketkeeper-batter has been in fine form with both the bat and behind the wicket as well featuring in the top fantasy players in all of Mumbai's last five games. He has scored more runs against Capitals than any other IPL opposition with 386 runs in 12 games at an average of 48.25 and a strike rate of 147.33. He has also taken ten catches and effected two run outs this season.
Differential Picks
Rohit Sharma: Ishan Kishan's opening partner and Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma finally looked to be in good touch in the last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad scoring a 36-ball 48. Since 2019 in Wankhede Stadium, he has scored 357 runs in ten games at an average of 39.66 and a strike rate of 135.74. He is the second highest run scorer in powerplays in 2022, scoring 303 runs in 18 T20s.
Anrich Nortje: Finally, after overcoming all injury troubles, Anrich Nortje is back to his prolific wicket-taking form having taken seven wickets in his last four outings. He has taken five wickets in five outings against Mumbai. In the four overs he bowled in death overs this season, he has taken four wickets at an economy of 8.50
High Risk XI: Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma (vice-capt), David Warner, Rovman Powell, Tim David, Mitchell Marsh (capt), Daniel Sams, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed