Delhi Capitals (DC) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match 32 of the IPL 2022 edition, on Wednesday evening (April 20). A lot has been said and written about this particular face-off after several Covid-19 cases emerged in the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi camp. Thus, it forced the game to be shifted from Pune to Mumbai, to reduce&nbsp;travel and not let the infection spread out.

Keeping Covid threat aside, the Punjab-Delhi clash is expected to go down to the wire with plenty to grab for both teams. Talking about the Punjab franchise, they have had Liam Livingstone leading the charge with the bat -- with 224 runs at a whopping strike rate of 185.12 -- but they need other batters to step up as well. Their second-best batter remains Shikhar Dhawan, who has 205 runs at a strike rate of 128.93. The likes of Mayank Agarwal and Jonny Bairstow have not done anything extraordinary whereas big-hitters such as Odean Smith and Shahrukh Khan have not found the right rhythm at the death overs. Among the bowlers, Kagiso Rabada will aim for more wickets whereas Punjab will continue to rely on Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dc-vs-pbks-ipl-2022-today-match-prediction-who-will-win-delhi-capitals-vs-punjab-kings-clash-472337">DC vs PBKS, IPL 2022 today match prediction: Who will win Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings clash?</a>

Predicting PBKS XI for DC face-off

Mayank, if fit, will definitely walk into the playing XI. However, Prabhsimran Singh will retain his spot if captain Mayank is unfit. Shikhar, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Shahrukh will retain their respective spots. Will Odean Smith get dropped with Bhanuka Rajapaksa replacing him? Punjab will have too many wicketkeepers to choose from but given Smith's stocks have gone down since the initial few games. The bowling line-up will mostly remain the same, with the onus on Rabada, Chahar and Arshdeep.

Mayank Agarwal (c)/Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh,&nbsp;Vaibhav Arora

Delhi Capitals (DC) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match 32 of the IPL 2022 edition, on Wednesday evening (April 20). A lot has been said and written about this particular face-off after several Covid-19 cases emerged in the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi camp.

Delhi Capitals (DC) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match 32 of the IPL 2022 edition, on Wednesday evening (April 20). A lot has been said and written about this particular face-off after several Covid-19 cases emerged in the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi camp. Thus, it forced the game to be shifted from Pune to Mumbai, to reduce travel and not let the infection spread out. Keeping Covid threat aside, the Punjab-Delhi clash is expected to go down to the wire with plenty to grab for both teams. Talking about the Punjab franchise, they have had Liam Livingstone leading the charge with the bat -- with 224 runs at a whopping strike rate of 185.12 -- but they need other batters to step up as well. Their second-best batter remains Shikhar Dhawan, who has 205 runs at a strike rate of 128.93. The likes of Mayank Agarwal and Jonny Bairstow have not done anything extraordinary whereas big-hitters such as Odean Smith and Shahrukh Khan have not found the right rhythm at the death overs. Among the bowlers, Kagiso Rabada will aim for more wickets whereas Punjab will continue to rely on Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh. ALSO READ | DC vs PBKS, IPL 2022 today match prediction: Who will win Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings clash? Predicting PBKS XI for DC face-off Mayank, if fit, will definitely walk into the playing XI. However, Prabhsimran Singh will retain his spot if captain Mayank is unfit. Shikhar, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Shahrukh will retain their respective spots. Will Odean Smith get dropped with Bhanuka Rajapaksa replacing him? Punjab will have too many wicketkeepers to choose from but given Smith's stocks have gone down since the initial few games. The bowling line-up will mostly remain the same, with the onus on Rabada, Chahar and Arshdeep. Mayank Agarwal (c)/Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora

IPL 2022: Will Odean Smith get dropped? Predicting Punjab Kings' XI for Delhi Capitals face-off

Mumbai Indians inched closer towards elimination after setting themselves up for their first win, only to slump to their fifth defeat on the trot as Punjab Kings won a high-scoring IPL thriller by 12 runs here on Wednesday.

A target of 199 looked imminently chaseable when teenagers Dewald Brevis (49 off 25 balls) and NT Tilak Varma (36 off 20 balls) were at the crease but Punjab bowlers did well enough to restrict MI to 186 for nine at the end of 20 overs.

Odean Smith (4/30 in 4 overs) redeemed himself after the horror last two balls against Gujarat Titans as he got two wickets in the final over for Punjab. For Mumbai, eight wins in nine games with this kind of bowling attack looks near impossible.

However, if there was one positive, it was Brevis's batting. It took eight balls before Brevis could get going as he unleashed a cover drive and a straight drive off Arshdeep Singh to tee off. A pulled six off Smith settled his nerves before he decided to wreak havoc with India international Rahul Chahar's nerve.

A boundary was followed by four huge sixes as Chahar first lost length and then his bearings as one long hop after another was deposited into the stands. The Baby AB's transformation from boy to a man happened with that 29-run over which showed that MI had made a 10-year investment.

He was finally out one short of his maiden IPL fifty but not before leaving everyone yearning for more. At the other end was Tilak, who had already made an impression, showed great game sense by letting Brevis do the heavy lifting before he himself hit some marvellous sixes including an audacious slash over point off Smith.

The duo added 84 runs in just 6.5 overs to turn the match head on before their successive dismissals did again bring Punjab back as fortunes swung like a pendulum. Suryakumar Yadav (43 off 30 balls) wasn't in best rhythm and Kieron Pollard (10, 11 balls) season just got from bad to worse.

Finally, it was Surya, who took matters in his own hands with a six over extra cover off Vaibhav Arora and then opened the face to slash it over backward point for a six as 33 were required off last three overs. However, it was Kagiso Rabada, who removed Surya in the 19th over, caught by Smith in the deep after which there wasn't much resistance left from MI.

Earlier, skipper Mayank Agarwal and veteran Shikhar Dhawan struck their first half-centuries of the season as Punjab Kings rode on a fine start from the openers to post a challenging 198 for five.

Punjab Kings have deployed "attack is the best form of defence" philosophy during this edition of the league and there was no shift in policy as they added 97 in less than 10 overs to provide a perfect launchpad but Jasprit Bumrah's (1/28 in 4 overs) brilliance kept the score below 200.

Bumrah's toe-crusher which yorked the dangerous Liam Livingstone helped MI to keep things under check with 99 runs coming off the last 10 overs.

Agarwal, who wasn't having a great run before this game, brought his customary square off the wicket shots on the off-side and straight lofts of spinners to score 52 off 32 balls. Dhawan took his own time while playing the second fiddle but still kept up the tempo letting Agarwal go for the whole hog during their stand. But he did accelerate after that before getting out for 70 off 50 balls.

It was Mumbai's domestic bowlers like Basil Thampi (2/47 in 4 overs) and Murugan Ashwin (1/34 in 4 overs), who aren't measuring up match after match but skipper Rohit Sharma is helpless due the lack of options.

Despite knowing Agarwal's propensity to make room and smash through off-side, he was fed with length balls outside the off-stump by Thampi and Tymal Mills. When they bowled short, the pace was used to good effect.

In the case of Ashwin, the PBKS skipper would come down the track to loft him straight but he did get his man when Agarwal went for one shot too many.

Dhawan went onto his 45th IPL half-ton but the shot that showed his authority was a disdainful slog sweep off a 137 click delivery from Thampi.

Thampi did got his revenge by getting Dhawan holed in the deep before rookie Jitesh Sharma (30 no off 15 balls) smashed 23 off Jaydev Unadkat (1/44 in 4 overs) in the 18th over to get the momentum back which had slipped after a few dismissals.

Mumbai Indians inched closer towards elimination after setting themselves up for their first win, only to slump to their fifth defeat on the trot as Punjab Kings won a high-scoring IPL thriller by 12 runs here on Wednesday.

Mumbai Indians inched closer towards elimination after setting themselves up for their first win, only to slump to their fifth defeat on the trot as Punjab Kings won a high-scoring IPL thriller by 12 runs here on Wednesday. A target of 199 looked imminently chaseable when teenagers Dewald Brevis (49 off 25 balls) and NT Tilak Varma (36 off 20 balls) were at the crease but Punjab bowlers did well enough to restrict MI to 186 for nine at the end of 20 overs. Odean Smith (4/30 in 4 overs) redeemed himself after the horror last two balls against Gujarat Titans as he got two wickets in the final over for Punjab. For Mumbai, eight wins in nine games with this kind of bowling attack looks near impossible. However, if there was one positive, it was Brevis's batting. It took eight balls before Brevis could get going as he unleashed a cover drive and a straight drive off Arshdeep Singh to tee off. A pulled six off Smith settled his nerves before he decided to wreak havoc with India international Rahul Chahar's nerve. A boundary was followed by four huge sixes as Chahar first lost length and then his bearings as one long hop after another was deposited into the stands. The Baby AB's transformation from boy to a man happened with that 29-run over which showed that MI had made a 10-year investment. He was finally out one short of his maiden IPL fifty but not before leaving everyone yearning for more. At the other end was Tilak, who had already made an impression, showed great game sense by letting Brevis do the heavy lifting before he himself hit some marvellous sixes including an audacious slash over point off Smith. The duo added 84 runs in just 6.5 overs to turn the match head on before their successive dismissals did again bring Punjab back as fortunes swung like a pendulum. Suryakumar Yadav (43 off 30 balls) wasn't in best rhythm and Kieron Pollard (10, 11 balls) season just got from bad to worse. Finally, it was Surya, who took matters in his own hands with a six over extra cover off Vaibhav Arora and then opened the face to slash it over backward point for a six as 33 were required off last three overs. However, it was Kagiso Rabada, who removed Surya in the 19th over, caught by Smith in the deep after which there wasn't much resistance left from MI. Earlier, skipper Mayank Agarwal and veteran Shikhar Dhawan struck their first half-centuries of the season as Punjab Kings rode on a fine start from the openers to post a challenging 198 for five. Punjab Kings have deployed "attack is the best form of defence" philosophy during this edition of the league and there was no shift in policy as they added 97 in less than 10 overs to provide a perfect launchpad but Jasprit Bumrah's (1/28 in 4 overs) brilliance kept the score below 200. Bumrah's toe-crusher which yorked the dangerous Liam Livingstone helped MI to keep things under check with 99 runs coming off the last 10 overs. Agarwal, who wasn't having a great run before this game, brought his customary square off the wicket shots on the off-side and straight lofts of spinners to score 52 off 32 balls. Dhawan took his own time while playing the second fiddle but still kept up the tempo letting Agarwal go for the whole hog during their stand. But he did accelerate after that before getting out for 70 off 50 balls. It was Mumbai's domestic bowlers like Basil Thampi (2/47 in 4 overs) and Murugan Ashwin (1/34 in 4 overs), who aren't measuring up match after match but skipper Rohit Sharma is helpless due the lack of options. Despite knowing Agarwal's propensity to make room and smash through off-side, he was fed with length balls outside the off-stump by Thampi and Tymal Mills. When they bowled short, the pace was used to good effect. In the case of Ashwin, the PBKS skipper would come down the track to loft him straight but he did get his man when Agarwal went for one shot too many. Dhawan went onto his 45th IPL half-ton but the shot that showed his authority was a disdainful slog sweep off a 137 click delivery from Thampi. Thampi did got his revenge by getting Dhawan holed in the deep before rookie Jitesh Sharma (30 no off 15 balls) smashed 23 off Jaydev Unadkat (1/44 in 4 overs) in the 18th over to get the momentum back which had slipped after a few dismissals.

IPL 2022: Mumbai Indians' losing streak continues as Punjab Kings beat Rohit Sharma & Co. by 12 runs

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IPL 2022: Will Odean Smith get dropped? Predicting Punjab Kings' XI for Delhi Capitals face-off

IPL 2022: Mumbai Indians' losing streak continues as Punjab Kings beat Rohit Sharma & Co. by 12 runs