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DC vs SRH Preview: DC look to capitalize on Covid-hit SRH

The second phase of IPL 2021 has just been started and once again covid has made it unwanted presence, as T. Natarajan of Sunrisers Hyderabad has been tested positive this evening and is currently isolating.

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The second phase of IPL 2021 has just been started and once again covid has made it unwanted presence, as T. Natarajan of Sunrisers Hyderabad has been tested positive this evening and is currently isolating. 6 other members from SRH camp, including all-rounder Vijay Shankar and practice bowler Periyasamy Ganesan have been found in closed contacts with Natarajan, and they are also isolating. However, match will go ahead on its time.

Sunrisers Hyderabad:

SRH are going to miss the services of their star batsman Jonny Bairstow, as he opted to not participate in the UAE leg of IPL 2021, as he has been their top performing player in first leg of IPL 2021. This season has not gone well for SRH, currently they are sitting at the bottom of points table. Earlier in first leg, SRH gave captaincy to Kane Williamson from David Warner. Warner also lost his place in playing XI due to his poor form in first leg IPL 2021. This time, with Bairstow not playing Warner might get a chance to play. The squad has already lost their key bowler Natarajan, who was founded covid positive this evening, with Vijay Shankar also isolating SRH might face difficulty to find their best eleven.

Predicted XI

David Warner, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Manish Pandey, Jagadeesha Suhchith, Abdul Samad, Mohamad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed

Read Also: IPL 2021: Deepak Hooda comes under BCCI scanner for Twitter, Instagram post violating guidelines

Delhi Capitals:

This might be the season of Delhi Capitals, considering their squad depth. With Shreyash Iyer returning from injury Dc’s middle order looks solid. DC has performed quite well in Rishabh Pant’s captaincy, in 8 matches DC are currently 2nd on the points table. The deadly combination of Kagiso Rabad and Anrich Nortje can destroy any kind of batting order. With spin duo of R Ashwin and Axar Patel this DC team looks so balanced. However the only problem DC has got is that, with Iyer back in team where will they play Steve Smith.

Predicted XI:

Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c&wk), Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel/Amit Mishra, R Ashwin, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan

Head-to-head:

SRH has got the edge over DC with 11 wins in 19 matches, while  DC winning only 8.

Players to watch-out for:

Shreyash Iyer: After returning from injury Iyer will be very important for DC, considering he is no more the captain of team.

David Warner: Warner might get to play today’s game, earlier in season he didn’t much with the bat. It will be interesting to see how he performs today.

Kagiso Rabada: South African pacer is the most reliable bowler Dc have got, his battle with Warner will a thing to watch

R Ashwin: In first leg of IPL 2021, Ashwin did quite well for DC, this time T 20 World Cup scheduled to be in the UAE, everyone will definitely look forward to bowl him.

Bhubaneshwar Kumar: With recovering from injury and also getting a place in T20 World Cup team, Bhubaneshwar will one of the five to watch.

The match starts at 7:30 pm IST on Star Sports Network and streaming platform Disney plus Hotstar.

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Bowlers may hold the key in high-stakes IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala

Although the media build-up centers on the batting heavyweight clash between Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala is set to be decided by the bowling consistency of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Siraj.

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Flat pitches, towering sixes, and relentless run-scoring have defined the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 so far. However, when Gujarat Titans (GT) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lock horns in Qualifier 1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala, the contest could ultimately hinge on the bowlers.

The HPCA Stadium has proved to be unforgiving for bowlers due to its short boundaries. A teaser of what could unfold was evident during recent net sessions, where Gujarat Titans’ Jos Buttler and Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Tim David regularly launched monstrous hits out of the stadium. In the three matches played at this venue this season, teams crossed the 200-run mark five times, with the lowest score being 199/8. An average of nearly 25 maximums per match has been hit here, promising another potential run-fest.

Moving past the Kohli vs Gill narrative

While media attention focuses on the iconic battle between the ‘King’ Virat Kohli and the ‘Prince’ Shubman Gill—hailed as the heir to Indian cricket’s batting legacy—the true deciding factor might lie elsewhere. Both batters look in pristine touch. Gill occupies the second spot in the Orange Cap race with 616 runs from 13 matches, trailing behind his opening partner Sai Sudharsan. Meanwhile, Kohli has bounced back from a brief mid-tournament slump by smashing a sparkling century, taking his tally to 557 runs this season.

Despite the incredible batting firepower on display, the bowling units are expected to dictate which team blinks last. Media interactions with team managements highlighted that consistency and self-belief within the respective bowling departments have been the defining traits of both squads this season.

Powerplay battles to decide the finalist

For RCB, veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the charge alongside Kagiso Rabada for GT, with both spearheads locked as the joint-highest wicket-takers across the two sides at 24 wickets each. Bhuvneshwar holds a slight edge due to a superior economy rate. Close behind them is GT’s Mohammed Siraj, who has taken 17 wickets so far. With supporting acts like Josh Hazlewood, Jason Holder, Prasidh Krishna, Rasikh Salam Dar, and spinners Rashid Khan and Krunal Pandya in the mix, the match promises an intriguing tactical battle.

Gujarat Titans’ assistant coach Vijay Dahiya acknowledged that negotiating Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the powerplay will be a massive task, but reminded that GT possesses equal firepower in Siraj and Rabada. “If you talk about the powerplay, our numbers are among the best in this tournament,” Dahiya stated.

RCB captain Rajat Patidar echoed similar views, placing immense faith in his bowling attack to stop GT’s prolific opening duo of Gill and Sudharsan. “Our strength is bowling. The way we bowl in the powerplay will be very crucial. We’ll look for early wickets and that is what we have done throughout the tournament,” Patidar remarked.

In a tournament dominated by towering batting displays, the team whose bowling unit holds its nerve under the Dharamsala lights will seal a direct spot in the IPL final.

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IPL 2026 playoff race heats up as Sunrisers Hyderabad lead qualification odds at 75%

Sunrisers Hyderabad lead the IPL 2026 playoff race with the highest qualification probability, while Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings remain locked in a close contest for the final spot.

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SRH

The IPL 2026 playoff race has intensified further, with the latest qualification projections showing a clear edge for Sunrisers Hyderabad, while the battle for the final knockout spot remains wide open among multiple contenders.

According to updated playoff probability estimates following recent matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad hold the strongest position among all teams still in contention, with a 75% chance of qualifying for the top four. Their consistent performances have kept them comfortably ahead in the mid-table scramble.

At the same time, the race behind them has become increasingly tight, with several teams separated only by small percentage margins and net run rate factors beginning to play a decisive role.

CSK, RR and PBKS in close fight for fourth spot

The most competitive battle is currently for the fourth playoff position, where three major franchises remain in contention.

Chennai Super Kings are placed at around 35.5% qualification probability, keeping their campaign alive but under pressure after inconsistent results in recent matches.

Close behind them are Rajasthan Royals, who continue to hover in a similar range with nearly identical chances, making every remaining fixture crucial for their campaign.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have seen their prospects weaken further, slipping to around 31% despite still being in the playoff mix. Their position in the points table remains vulnerable as they struggle to build momentum in the final stretch of the league stage.

Other contenders and overall standings

Elsewhere, teams like Gujarat Titans continue to maintain a strong hold on qualification scenarios with a high probability of finishing in the top four, despite occasional setbacks.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already secured qualification status, strengthening their position at the top end of the table.

The mid-table remains highly competitive, while Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders continue to fight mathematically but face tougher paths due to lower probabilities and net run rate challenges.

What the numbers mean going forward

With only a few league matches remaining, the playoff cutoff is expected to settle around the 16-point mark, making every remaining fixture critical. Net run rate is also likely to become a key deciding factor if multiple teams finish on similar points.

Sunrisers Hyderabad remain in the strongest position, while the battle between Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings is expected to go down to the final set of league matches.

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IPL 2026 playoff race tightens as RCB and CSK feature in key qualification projections

RCB and CSK feature in updated IPL 2026 playoff qualification projections, with Bengaluru at 92.6% and Chennai at 41.7% as the race tightens.

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The IPL 2026 playoff race is intensifying as teams move deeper into the league stage, with qualification scenarios highlighting a closely contested battle for the top four spots.

According to recent playoff probability projections reported in media coverage, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) currently hold a strong position with a 92.6% chance of qualifying for the playoffs. Their consistent performances have placed them among the leading contenders for a top-four finish.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), meanwhile, remain in the mix but face a more challenging path ahead. Their qualification probability stands at 41.7%, meaning the five-time champions will need strong results in their remaining fixtures to stay in contention.

The updated projections underline how competitive the tournament has become, with small changes in form significantly impacting playoff chances at this stage of the league.

While only select team probabilities have been highlighted in the available data, the overall playoff race remains open, with several teams still competing for the remaining qualification spots as the league phase progresses.

The coming matches are expected to play a decisive role in shaping the final top four standings for IPL 2026.

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