3/23 IPL Match Prediction PBKS vs DC Match 2: Who’s the Favorite
Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) will battle it out in the second match of IPL 2024 so read till the end to see another IPL match prediction PBKS vs DC match 2.
The showdown will take place at Mohali’s Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium on Saturday (March 23).
IPL Match Prediction PBKS vs DC: Pant returns
Rishabh Pant will play his first professional game on Saturday after months of layoff following a horrific car crash in December 2022.
The BCCI’s medical panel conducted a thorough examination of Pant after which they declared him fit to play the season. The youngster will keep the wickets as usual and lead Delhi on his return.
It will be nothing short of a miracle to see the Indian star return to action this summer. A few clips on social media of Pant working out after his rehab have sent a wave of cheer among Indian fans who were double-minded over his fitness.
Pitch condition
The Mullanpur ground in Mohali is officially Punjab’s home ground where the PBKS players had their pre-IPL training.
The wicket therein is usually batting-friendly, meaning we are looking at a big total on the board unless bowlers from either side decide to throw some extraordinary spells.
Any team that gets to bat first will ideally look to dominate the powerplay. Getting anything over 60 or 70 in the first six overs will put the bowlers on the back seat and a target of 200 will be in sight from then onwards.
PBKS vs DC: Past records
The Kings and Capitals have played 32 totals against each other, both winning 16 apiece. A perfect record.
Any team who goes on to win this one can flaunt their dominance on the losing side, at least until they clash again in the season and maybe go on to make it 17-17.
IPL Match Prediction PBKS vs DC: Potential Big Performers
Arshdeep Singh
IPL gave Arshdeep Singh the platform he needed to go and make it big for India in the international circuit. And the Punjab pacer did not disappoint the selectors with his performances in T20Is.
He took a whopping 62 wickets in just 44 T20 games for India ever since making his debut against England in June 2022.
Singh has featured in 6 ODIs too, but the format he is known to boss is the shortest one.
His inch-perfect yorkers and slower deliveries are what earned him the most scalps in the IPL. This will be his time to make it big for the team that gave him the opportunity to fulfill his dreams of donning the blues.
If he’s in his golden touch on Saturday, Singh could make the Delhi batters dance on his tunes. His timely variations are what often trigger a collapse in the deathovers.
Mitchell Marsh
He can bowl, he can field and he can throw his bat at the ball. Mitchell Marsh is a complete package that any franchise would love to get their hands on.
The Bison is likely to open the innings with his national-team colleague Warner this IPL.
Marsh may not be known for playing the most classic cover drives like other openers in the league, but his ability to maximize the powerplay makes him a powerful threat for Punjab.
His power-hitting has earned him a formidable reputation as he doesn’t spare any bad balls from going beyond the ropes.
Livingstone
Punjab Kings made one of the best decisions in the IPL auctions in 2022 which was by getting themselves a power-hitter who goes by the name of Liam Livingstone.
The England all-rounder has earned praise globally for his tremendous hitting. PBKS bought Livingstone for a whopping INR11.5 crores.
He has over 4,000 runs in 167 T20s which are quite impressive for someone who plays down the order.
This will be his fifth time playing the IPL and the PBKS management will expect him to play a match-winning knock over Rishabh Pant’s men.
David Warner
Delhi Capitals will have a lot of confidence in their foreign star, David Warner, as the Australia batsman has massive experience playing the IPL.
Warner has been in all sorts of crunch situations in both franchise and international cricket having played for this many years. This will not just help him at an individual level but also help DC make the most of his ample experience.
He has nearly 5,500 runs, which makes him the fifth-highest run-getter in the IPL. He started his IPL journey in 2009 with Delhi and made his return to the Capitals after a 13-year long gap.
The left-handed batter will open the innings and look to take the opposition by storm as he usually does with his style of batting.
His farewell to both ODIs and Tests will have him laser-focused on the shorter version and this can’t be less of a blessing for DC.
IPL Match Prediction PBKS vs DC
On a batting paradise like the Mohali ground, a team with a stronger batting unit is likely to clinch the W. And Punjab Kings seem to lack a little depth with the bat.
They will rely on the likes of veterans like Shikhar Dhawan and Rilee Rossouw. Johnny Bairstwo can also make it big up the order, but there’s no other notable name in the squad.
New sensation Shivam Singh is said to be a game-changer, but we haven’t yet seen what he can do against the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Jhye Richardon, and Ishant Sharma.
On the contrary, the Delhi Capitals will have the services of Pant, Warner, Marsh, Shai Hope, Tristan Stubbs, Prithvi Shaw, and Yush Dhull.
DC seem to have a slightly better, versatility batting unit as compared to their opponents. They have hard hitters like Warner, Pant, and Shaw as well as anchors like Dhull and Hope.
Hence, for our IPL match prediction PBKS vs DC on match 2nd, Pant and Co are most likely to grab two points in their opening game of the IPL 2024.