DD vs KXIP 22nd Match Prediction

DD vs KXIP Team Previews

Delhi Daredevils

Having lost four games from a total of five, Delhi Daredevils will be hoping for a happy homecoming. Individuals have done well for Delhi Daredevils, but they've struggled as a team. Against Royal Challengers Bangalore, they put up a challenging total of 174 on a pitch that was slow and turning, but their bowlers failed to do anything against unorthodox yet brilliant AB de Villiers.

The two guys retained ahead of the IPL were the stars in batting as the duo scored a fifty each in quick time. Delhi Daredevils were reduced to 58 for 2 at one stage, but a 51-run counter-attacking knock by Shreyas Iyer let Delhi Daredevils back in the game. Rishabh Pant went berserk in the final overs and used RCB's death bowling woes to his advantage. He scored 85-runs off 48 deliveries which had six fours and seven sixes.

Delhi started off well with the ball as Maxwell got rid of Manan Vohra in the second over of the innings. Virat Kohli and Quinton de Kock steadied the ship for a while before the left-handed opener became a victim of indecisive running between the wickets. AB de Villiers then launched a counter-attack on Delhi's bowlers who could do nothing about it. Nadeem, Tewatia, and Patel were smashed for 86 in their eight overs combined. They tried to resort to negative bowling tactics of bowling on and outside leg stump which backfired.

Delhi fans have seen some brilliant performances from some extremely talented in their team. But those performances have often been their alone and have lacked partnerships, be it bowling or batting. Trent Boult was the only bowlers who looked like picking a wicket and actually picked one. Delhi Daredevils are crashing like the previous year's IPL and they badly need someone or something to inspire them to get back into the hunt.

Kings XI Punjab

Who would have thought that the man who got rejected twice at the IPL auctions will make such a difference as he scored back-to-back fifties after being picked up? Certainly, not many believed so. Chris Gayle has turned back the time as he's looked more fit and solved KXIP's opening woes with his powerful batting.

While Chris Gayle has stolen all the headlines with a fairytale-like comeback, the other opener, KL Rahul, has matched him step to step. Following Gayle's inclusion in the playing eleven, Mayank Agarwal had to leave his opening slot only to be shifted to 1-down. Mayank Agarwal hasn't fired yet in the tournament, but his strong numbers in recent-most domestic competition suggest that big innings would be around the corner.

KXIP lacked a genuine fast bowler in their bowling attack, but that hasn't deterred them from playing their natural, aggressive brand of Cricket. With the likes of Nair, Yuvraj and Finch to follow, a rare Chris Gayle failure (only if it happens) should not worry KXIP considering the way the bowlers bowled well in the death overs.

KXP is the only team to score as quickly and consistently in powerplay as they've done in this IPL. Much of its credit goes to KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, and Chris Gayle who have been relentless yet watchful and have scored at will. Yuvraj Singh hasn't had a chance to bat in their last two games and their middle order hasn't been tested. They have an excellent variety of spinners available with them and given the way things have panned out, hitting against the spinners have been tougher as compared to that against quick bowlers. With their batsmen in superb form and their bowlers doing well in the recent games, a tough challenge awaits Delhi Dare Devils.