L Meriwala IPL 2021: Why is Ajinkya Rahane not playing today’s IPL 2021 match vs PBKS?

Ajinkya Rahane not playing: Delhi Capitals have made a couple of changes to their Playing XI in a bid to put their best foot forward.

During the 11th match of the ongoing 14th season of the Indian Premier League between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings in Mumbai, Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant has won the toss and elected to bowl.

“We will like to bowl first. In the second innings there is dew, so we need to make the use of the first 10 overs. I have been talking with the senior players and [head coach] Ricky Ponting,” Pant told Star Sports at the toss.

Being asked to bat first at the Wankhede Stadium, Punjab Kings captain Lokesh Rahul talked about keeping wickets in hand and hoped for making runs unlike their last match against Chennai Super Kings when all they could manage was 106/8 in 20 overs.

“Hopefully we can learn from the last game. The first six overs are key, if we can bat normally. We need wickets in hand. You quickly reflect on those kind of innings. It happens with every team, so you need to forget about it. Hopefully, we’ll be able to make runs on this wicket. It’s a good pitch to bat on so we need to make the most out of it,” Rahul told Star Sports at the toss.

Why is Ajinkya Rahane not playing vs Punjab Kings?

As far the changes for both the teams are concerned, Capitals have handed debuts to couple of players namely Steven Smith and Lukman Meriwala. To accommodate an overseas batsman and an Indian pacer, DC have left out the likes of Ajinkya Rahane and Tom Curran.

Smith, who made his IPL debut for Pune Warriors in 2012 and has since represented Rajasthan Royals (twice) and Rising Pune Supergiants, will be playing for his fourth IPL franchise.

Meriwala, on the other hand, will be playing in the cash-rich league for the first time. Having picked 44 T20s for Baroda, the 29-year old left-arm pacer has dismissed 72 batsmen at an average of 14.54, an economy rate of 6.72 and a strike rate of 12.90.

Where talent meets opportunity indeed 💙

Go well on your @IPL debut, Lukman Meriwala 🤩#YehHaiNayiDilli #IPL2021 #DCvPBKS pic.twitter.com/cqM9JHRRSS

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 18, 2021

Having scored 8 (8) against Rajasthan Royals, Capitals have dropped Rahane after just a lone outing this season. For Punjab, they have handed a debut to veteran Kerala all-rounder Jalaj Saxena, who has replaced spinner Murugan Ashwin in the XI.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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