What The Gujarat Lions will have an opportunity to go back to the top of the table when they take on the Delhi Daredevils in Match 23 of VIVO IPL 2016. Both teams are comfortably placed in the top half of the table. Delhi Daredevils have played the fewest matches among all teams – 4, yet their three wins, along with a healthy Net Run Rate, has been sufficient for them to feature among the top four sides. The Gujarat Lions meanwhile have four wins from five. Despite his team’s poor showing in their season opener, the Daredevils captain Zaheer Khan sounded unworried when he said he was hoping the team’s only bad day was out of the way and he was looking forward to some very good days on the field. It has turned out to be that way for DD, who have bounced back brilliantly, even defeating formidable sides like Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. Last season’s top run-getter Shreyas Iyer is yet to find his bearings this season, but given how skilled he is, how hard he works and how well he understands his game, one can expect a big innings is not too far. Despite Virat Kohli scoring a century and RCB posting a challenging score of 180, the Gujarat Lions gunned down the target thanks to contributions all-round from their batsmen. Brendon McCullum fired with his new opening partner Dwayne Smith, while wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik chose the day to score his first half-century in 16 innings to guide his team to a six wicket win. Worries for the team ahead of this match include the availability of Aaron Finch, who was injured in the previous match and flew out to Mumbai to consult a specialist, and the form of Dwayne Bravo – the team’s specialist death overs bowler, who has conceded runs at more than ten runs per over in the last four matches while picking up just two wickets. When 27 April 2016, 2000 Hrs IST Where Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi Weather Temperature: Max 35°c, Min 32°c Humidity: Max 15% Wind: 7kmph The Protagonists Quinton de Kock has been Delhi Daredevils’ best batsman by a mile; the left-hander was top-scorer in the team’s wins against Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The South African was dismissed cheaply in the match against Mumbai Indians; but given he is the only batsman with international experience in the Daredevils top four, the team will expect him to continue batting the way he has done so far this year. On the bowling front, DD will expect that the bulk of the damage will be done by skipper Zaheer Khan and the two leg-spinners – Amit Mishra and Imran Tahir. Gujarat Lions have abundance of match-winners in their line-up. Anyone among Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch and Suresh Raina is capable of destroying opponents and running away with the match. Trivia

Amit Mishra has picked up 6 wickets in the two matches he has played at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground this season; his economy rate in those two matches is 5.00, while his bowling average reads 5.83. Overall too, in 22 IPL matches at the Kotla, he has picked up 34 wickets at an average of 15.05. Delhi Daredevils have the poorest scoring rate in the Powerplay overs in VIVO IPL 2016 – 6.46. Their opponents Gujarat Lions have the best scoring rate in the first six overs – 9.43. Delhi Daredevils’ economy rate of 6.54 in the middle overs is the best among all teams in VIVO IPL 2016. The Gujarat Lions’ four wins have all been in run-chases. The one occasion they batted first – against Sunrisers Hyderabad, they ended up on the losing side. What Next

Delhi Daredevils’ next fixture will be their home tie against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 30. The Gujarat Lions meanwhile will travel to Pune for their return fixture against Rising Pune Supergiants on April 29.