IPL 2024 MI vs DC Preview - Bloodied and bruised. Who can pick themselves up off the canvas in must win match?

Key match stats

Pitch Stats – Wankhede Stadium IPL records

Pitch stats from the 10 most recent IPL matches played at the Wankhede Stadium

Team form MI vs
MI: LLL
DC: LLWL

Recent meetings: IPL 2023 - MI won by 8 wickets

Weather

General Forecast: Dry and Clear
Chance of dew: Very Low

Preview MI vs DC

I feel that any review of the last 2 matches that these franchises featured in should come with a warning that they are not suitable for under 18s or people of a nervous disposition, such was the margin and manner of defeat they both suffered.

In the case of MI their top order was ripped apart by a superb spell of swing bowling from Rajasthan's 2 left-armers that left their innings in disarray. As if things on the field couldn't get much worse for them, then off it the anti-Hardik sentiment has continued to grow to the point that even the Mumbai fans are booing him!

Of course no one has ever accused sports fans of not being fickle and a match a performance from Pandya and an MI win today might see a very different reception for him. However, to say that things are tough at the moment would be an understatement.

The other big question is whether this is just a poor start for MI (it wouldn't be the first time in the IPL) or is there a rift in the dressing room that is contributing to below average performances? I had MI down as one of the pre-tournament favourites but if they lose again tonight then it's getting to the stage of them needing a miracle to even make the playoffs.

The same could be said of DC too and they need to pick themselves up off the canvas after getting thrashed around Visakhapatnam by Sunil Narine and co.

It was a real chalk and cheese bowling performance from the Capitals when compared with their efforts against CSK earlier in the week. On that occasion, their powerplay attack swung the ball and bowled with great accuracy and threat to put the opposition batsmen under pressure.

However, against KKR they lost control of the innings early on and never looked likely to regain it. Without Kuldeep Yadav in the middle overs and Mukesh Kumar who had bowled so well at the death in the previous game, that didn't come as much of a surprise. They really need those 2 back and fit as soon as possible.

DC might hope that they can rediscover that early movement at the Wankhede based on what we witnessed in the last match here. However, that game took place under lights in the relative cool of the evening while this match is a 3:30pm start local time and it will be baking hot.

The Wankhede also continues to be a venue where the team chasing wins more often than not. That's a problem for DC though who since the start of the 2022 season have won just 3 out of 15 games when batting 2nd in the IPL. That does include a match here at the Wankhede in 2022 where they beat KKR after reducing them to 37 for 4 and chasing down their total of 146 with relative ease.

I get the feeling that they'll need a similar low scoring match today because I don't see this DC batting line-up being able to post many 200+ scores let alone chase one down.

MI vs DC head to head

DC bowling vs MI batting

We certainly know that the Wankhede does offer a bit more pace and carry than many of the other venues used in the IPL and that could suit the likes of Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed and Ishant Sharma all of whom have reasonable records on this pitch.

Ishant Sharma T20 record at the Wankhede

As noted above, DC's chances in this game look likely to rely on an opening burst from their pace bowlers, with Kuldeep Yadav highly unlikely to be available. Axar Patel is a very effective bowler at limiting opposition batsmen, especially right handers (see stats below) but Kuldeep offers that genuine wicket taking option in the middle over phase that can't be easily replaced.

Batsmen	T20 Average vs Axar	T20 Strike Rate vs Axar
RG Sharma	25.5	83.6
SA Yadav	53.0	86.9
HH Pandya	29.0	100.0
D Brevis	n/a	120.0
TH David	10.0	87.0

Axar Patel has done a great job of limiting MI's right-handers in previous T20 encounters

One player who does look likely to be back for this match is Suryakumar Yadav. Earlier reports had suggested that he might be absent into next week as weel, so it does feel like MI hurrying back a star player in order to save their season while risking further injury. What we do know is that he loves batting at the Wankhede and that the home fans love him which under the current circumstances might help take a bit of the heat of Hardik.

Sky T20 record at the Wankhede

It'll be interesting to see where Sky bats for MI. You'd assume that he'll replace Naman Dhir in the side but does that mean he'll play at 3? He's batted there in the past but more recently has been used at 4 or 5 and come in outside the powerplay. If that's the case again, could we see Hardik move up the order?

However MI line-up, you do fancy that they have the fire power to do some real damage in the later overs at this venue and against this DC attack. The Capitals are going at 13.4 an over at the death, the worst economy of any side in IPL 2024.

MI bowling vs DC batting

MI were forced to bowl Bumrah early in the RR game in the hunt for early wickets but that doesn't mean they shouldn't attack this DC top order in exactly the same manner, regardless of the match situation. Take out Warner who has 105 runs for DC in the powerplay this season and things might start to unravel quite quickly.

Pant T20 head to head vs Bumrah

That being said, MI will want to keep an over or 2 of Bumrah up their sleeve for when Rishabh Pant comes to the crease given his amazing head to head record against his national teammate.

The nervousness around using Bumrah early in the innings isn't being helped by the ineffectiveness of MI's spinners so far in IPL 2024 who between them have taken just 2 wickets and are going at nearly 11 an over, offering Hardik neither control or penetration. Turns out things are a lot easier when you're captaining Rashid Khan!

MI spin-bowlers combinbed stats for IPL 2024 to date

As I'm sure we'll see with many sides playing against MI this season, the simple tactic for DC will be to see off Bumrah and attack weaknesses at the other end. Whether they can do that successfully or whether a few of MI's other bowlers can step up to the plate could have a major bearing on the result of this crucial game.

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All stats used in this blog are from my own databases which are freely accessible below
IPL player head to head records
IPL player records by stadium
IPL stadium records.
Images are my own with the exception of player profiles and highlights within GIFs which are not intended to infringe copyright- read full disclaimer. Background images are used under a creative commons license or otherwise royalty free.