Delhi Daredevils vs KKR match prediction: How the IPL 2016 match at the Kotla could play out

The Delhi Daredevils put on a mighty impressive batting show, courtesy Chris Morris, in their previous game in IPL 2016. And even if they came up short, by the closest of margins, DD will go into the Indian Premier League match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in confident mood.

Morris was a force of nature in the match against the Gujarat Lions, scoring 82 from 32 balls to take the game to the death, before DD fell short by one run. KKR come into this match at the back of a heavy defeat to the Mumbai Indians. So, both teams will be extra keen on coming up on the winning side when they take the field in Delhi on Saturday afternoon.

Here is a prediction of how DD vs KKR could go

If Delhi Daredevils bat first: Quinton de Kock finds his Chinnaswamy form, belting those cuts and pulls with absolute ease as Umesh Yadav and Andre Russell get taken for a few. Sanju Samson also makes his presence felt at the top, scoring a nicely-timed 30, but it is De Kock who takes all the plaudits, scoring a brilliantly quick half-century. Samson and Karun Nair fall in quick succession, to Sunil Narine, but De Kock and JP Duminy put together a strong partnership, before Morris, still buzzing from that brilliant innings, smashes a fair few out of the ground to take DD to 170.

KKR stumble early in the chase as Gambhir falls to a short ball from Morris. Zaheer Khan then gets Suryakumar Yadav as well, but Robin Uthappa and Shakib Al Hasan steady the KKR ship. However, with the required run rate increasing with every consolidating over, the pressure comes back on Uthappa and Shakib, who fail to accelerate enough. The two fall in the space of an over, to Imran Tahir and Amit Mishra, leaving Andre Russell, Chris Lynn, if he plays, and Yusuf Pathan to knock down 65 runs from the final five overs. Russell smashes a few and so does Lynn, leaving KKR needing 25 from the last two overs. Ten runs come off the penultimate over, and then Russell hits a couple of sixes, off the second and third ball of the final over, to virtually seal the game for KKR.

If KKR bat first: Gambhir continues his flying form, not bothered too much as Uthappa departs early to Zaheer. Suryakumar Yadav and Shakib Hasan come and score a couple of 15-20s, but Gambhir stays strong at the other end. KKR are 74/3 at the halfway stage of the innings, with Gambhir the anchor that holds the innings together. Russell comes in and plays a brilliant innings of 40, starting a little slow at first, before going slam-bang. That helps KKR to 161.

Delhi Daredevils lose Samson early, but De Kock starts fast with Karun Nair giving him good company. Once Nair falls for 25, Rishabh Pant is sent in at No.4 and the talented left-hander comes to the IPL party with a nice 37. De Kock is still at the crease as Pant falls, with Duminy also dismissed for single figures. However, there is Morris again to go into tonk-town, this time in a winning effort, as DD reach the target with seven balls to spare.