IPL 2020: DC vs KXIP Game Plan 2 – How to subdue Glenn Maxwell in the UAE
The second match of the IPL 2020 tournament between the blockbuster teams, Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab, could all be about match-ups. Here, we take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the second match of IPL 2020– DC vs KXIP.
DC vs KXIP Game Plan – Does Delhi have a way to stop Glenn Maxwell?
Glenn Maxwell had taken a break from all cricket in late 2019 to focus on his mental health. He was left out of Australia’s squad for the India tour in January this year and then for the home series against New Zealand. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in 6 more months of hibernation. Finally, after close to a year of no cricket, he made a comeback in the England tour, playing all 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs.
While he was nowhere close to his best in the T20Is, he showed exactly how dangerous he can be in the ODI series. He smashed a 77 in the first ODI to resurrect Australia, and scored his second ODI hundred in the decider, taking away both the Man of the Match as well as the Man of the Series awards. Now he is back with the Kings XI Punjab in the UAE, where he scored 300 runs in the 2014 edition which played a big role in him being the MVP of the season.
Bowling to Glenn Maxwell is intimidating already, but when in form and in conditions where he has previously dominated is nigh impossible. Fortunately for Delhi Capitals though, they have the perfect man to get the job done in Amit Mishra. Overall in the IPL, Mishra has dismissed Maxwell four times in just 29 balls. Although that has come at a cost of 11.38 runs per over, the experienced leggie is Delhi’s best bet to get rid of “The Big Show.”
According to a CricViz blog, spinners have found more turn at Dubai than any other IPL venue except the Eden Gardens and Chepauk. Hence, spinners have an economy rate of just 6.62 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which is the third lowest in the world, for all venues to have witnessed at least fifty matches.
This stat should be reason enough to gamble on Amit Mishra against Maxwell. Yuzvendra Chahal is another legspinner who has had the better of Maxwell. He has found success by bowling wide legbreaks, thereby asking Maxwell to fetch it from outside off and go against the turn or to slice it over cover, which is not his strong suit.
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Already having dismissed him every 7.25 balls, Mishra should have enough confidence and skill to execute this plan. Depending on which pitch is used for today’s fixture, one side of the boundary could be longer than the other. Amit Mishra can bowl slow and wide and force Maxwell to hit to the longer boundary.
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If Mishra errs in line, Delhi can attempt to toss the ball to Axar Patel, as Glenn Maxwell in his IPL career averages 20.29 against left-arm orthodox bowlers. This method comes with its own risk as well; Maxwell has scored at 9.67 runs per over against SLA bowlers.