IPL 2020: DC vs KKR Game Plan 1 – The Middle Overs Trick While Chasing

DC vs KKR – The eleventh match of the IPL 2020 tournament between the teams, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, could all be about match-ups. We take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the sixteenth game of the IPL – DC vs KKR

DC vs KKR – The middle overs trick

The Sharjah Cricket Stadium has been a nightmare for bowlers in the two games this season. In the 4 innings, the average runs per overs has been 10.88 and a total of 865 runs have been scored. Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders are two teams with power-packed batting lineups that can take advantage of the small boundaries and relatively flatter tracks.

While it may seem that run-scoring has been easy, a closer look at the games gives an idea of where the bowlers can actually dictate terms.

In both the games so far, teams batting second have seen a significant dip in scoring rate, while it is the exact opposite for the teams batting first, who have scored 3.5 runs per over more than the chasing team in overs 7-15. In games where the overall run rate has been above 10, playing out the entire middle overs phase at a run rate below 9 means leaving too much to score at the death.

Does that mean teams should look to bat first?

While the teams batting second have struggled to maintain the rate in the middle overs, keeping wickets in hand might prove to be the key for scoring heavily at the death. Rajasthan Royals had lost just 2 wickets going into the last 5 overs, while Chennai Super Kings had lost as many as five.

Looking from the batting perspective, both sides have enough firepower to score massive runs at the death. But slowing down in the middle phase might prove to be costly for KKR , given DC have 2 overs from Rabada at the death, while it is not the case with DC. While KKR have won 64.70% of the games they have chased since 2018, with smaller boundaries where you might just be out-batted in the first innings itself, facing a superior death bowling attack while chasing might not be a great idea.

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With as many as 7 bowling options containing of enough variety, Karthik’s luxury of the options in hand along with the scoreboard pressure will hold KKR in good stead in the middle overs while defending.

For DC, they need to make sure Shimron Hetmyer is utilized better. Sending him ahead of Shreyas Iyer with a license to unleash himself against the relatively inexperienced KKR bowling attack will not be a bad ploy at all.