Can Pant lead his way to victory in his emotional return? Kings vs Capitals in a battle for supremacy

The IPL fever is already breaking the internet, with the iconic clash between teams leaving cricket fans on the edge of their seats! After RCB’s close call with CSK yesterday, the latter secured an easy inaugural win! This is the true epitome of what IPL stands for, proving the tide can turn in favor of any team at any instantaneous point of time! With 2 matches scheduled for 23rd March, the first much-awaited match will witness the clash between kings vs Capitals. The thrilling encounter will take place at the 22 yards of the MYSI cricket stadium in Chandigarh.

Both PBKS and DC had been IPL finalists in the year 2014 and 2020 respectively, but failed to lift the trophy due to their underperformance. This year, both the teams will be desperate to get a winning start to the tournament! A victory in the opening match will provide a huge boost to the winning team.

Don’t miss the fever that is going to take over the MYSI stadium this afternoon. Watch live cricket for free only at Winexch and tune yourself in with cricket buzz happening around the country.

A quick overview – Kings vs Capitals

The first match of the afternoon will be dominated by just one single storyline – Rishabh Pant’s return to the pitch. However, speculations have already started to arise whether he can quickly adapt himself to the heat of the pitch and resume his agile batting power!

The DC captain survived a car crash and had severe ligament reconstructions in his right knee. His surgeon told Pant will recover six months earlier than expected, walked on crutches, and accelerated his rehab. Now, Pant is hours away from facing off with Dhawan-led Punjab Kings.

Despite Pant played several matches at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru before he was deemed fit by the BCCI, coming back from the hospital bed to the cricket ground was never easy for him.

As for Kings, it is their first match in their new home in Mullanpur. Previously, their home ground used to be the IS Bindra stadium in Mohali, where they managed to win only one out of their five games in IPL 2023.

Overall, statistics reveal that Capitals have a stronger foot over Punjab, as they have won 15 out of the 32 matches that have played against Kings. In the last 2 years, Capitals have secured a total of five wins in six matches.

Additionally, Shikhar Dhawan might prove to be a weak link in the team despite his captaincy skills. This is primarily because Dhawan has not played competitive cricket in the last 10 months. 

Meanwhile, Harshal Patel, who played for RCB last season, was picked by PBKS for a whopping 11.75 cr, and is likely to mark his debut in today’s game.

Missed on the clash? Don’t worry! You can watch cricket highlights today and witness the IPL fever from the comfort of your couch.

Directly from the pitch – Team news 

The English player, Jonny Bairstow, who missed IPL 2023 due to his injuries, is returning to PBKS, strengthening the overall team’s top batting order. Shikhar Dhawan, Sam Curran, and Jitesh Sharma are further additions to the batting line.

The team is looking forward to bridge the gap in their batting line with either Shashank Singh or Ashutosh Sharma, who are aggressive batsmen, with a knack of hitting boundaries.

Based on the training session, DC Captain Pant is likely to drive the game from behind the stumps, playing as wicket-keeper. 

Jhye Richardson is currently recovering from a side strain, clarifying which Capital’s co-owner Parth Jindal said in a statement that it might rule him out from the initial few matches. Capitals will also be without their fierce fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who is still in South Africa.

Key players to watch out for

Arshdeep Singh (PBKS)

Arshdeep Singh can be witnessed as a threat to DC, and can climb up the ladder to establish himself in the books of history. If the left-arm pacer manages to break 2 wickets against DC, he will take the spot of Punjab King’s 4th highest wicket taker of all time.

The young bowler has pocketed a total of 57 wickets in 51 innings, averaging 27.14, and is currently the fifth-highest wicket taker for Punjab. Just ahead of him is Mohammed Shami who bagged 58 wickets during his reign in PBKS. 

Jitesh Sharma (PBKS)

The player made his IPL debut in the year 2022 with PBKS. Sharma has been in the limelight since he made his debut in test cricket, with an amazing strike rate of 141.83.

Having played 54 T20s and scoring 1329 runs so far, PBKS’ vice-captain Jitesh Sharma is expected to be a batting prowess today and put up a strong total in the scoreboard.

Shikhar Dhawan (PBKS)

Though Dhawan has been off the pitch in competitive cricket, he has a knack for accumulating mountainous runs every season. 

Though he is categorized as one of the most underrated players in IPL history, he would love to start the opening match with a bang and secure a win against his former franchise Delhi.

The PBKS captain is the second-highest run scorer in the tournament, totaling up to 6617 runs in 216 innings. He also racked up 50 half-centuries in IPL alone, alongside Virat Kohli.

If Dhawan plays a controlled innings and reaches another 50, he’ll surpass Virat’s record. He could become the Indian player with the most 50+ scores in IPL history. However, David Warner tops the list with 61 half-centuries against his name.

Rishabh Pant (DC)

After BCCI’s clearance towards Pant for playing the IPL, this is a major comeback for the Capitals’ wicketkeeper-batsman. 

The DC captain’s IPL career has been nothing short of amazing. With a strike rate over 147 and an average of 34.61, Pant has bagged a total of 2838 runs in 98 matches. Furthermore, adding to his glory, he has snatched 15 half-centuries against his name in IPL.

Though very few have the capability to bounce back after surviving a major road accident, Pant’s journey to recovery was a miracle. All eyes will be glued on Pant today, promising a spine-chilling encounter in MYSI cricket stadium.

Don’t miss this iconic clash between the rival teams of PBKS vs DC. Watch live cricket for free, and witness Pant’s comeback like never before!

David warner (DC)

A consistent run-scorer in IPL history, Warner had a decent season with Capitals last year. With a total of 6397 runs, Warner is the leading run-scorer among overseas players in IPL history.

The Australian opener has 646 IPL fours, needing just 4 more to become the 2nd player with 650 fours. He’s on the verge of joining an elite group of high scorers in IPL history.

Only Shikhar Dhawan has struck more ground boundaries than David Warner in his IPL career, totaling up to 750 fours.

Pitch & Weather conditions

The 17th season of IPL has unlocked its new 36th venue, which is the MYSI cricket stadium in Mohali. Previously, the home ground for Punjab used to be the IS Bindra stadium. 

The pitch is batting-friendly, with straight boundaries roughly being 81 yards, and long square boundaries being 74 yards. This could play a key factor, given BCCI’s new two-bouncer rule starting this season in IPL 2024.

The rule reinstates that now bowlers can bowl 2 bouncers in a single over. The ball in the center of the pitch is expected to have a good bounce, but it might be two-paced.

The afternoon temperatures are likely to average anywhere around 30 degree celsius. Having FOMO? Don’t worry! Winexch brings you the convenience to watch live cricket for free from the comfort of your home.

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