Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has picked key players to watch out for in the Qualifier 1 clash between the Delhi Capitals and the Chennai Super Kings. Dubai Cricket Stadium will host the contest on Sunday, October 10.

Aakash Chopra feels Rishabh Pant will play a remarkable inning in the qualifier match. The Delhi Capitals skipper averages 32.90 in 14 matches this season. However, he hasn’t played as well as his team would expect him to. Aakash said:

“I am expecting that Rishabh Pant finally has to play a knock that is for posterity, which you watch repeatedly and remember. He has not done that this year; he has made runs, but that knock is missing. If this team has to do well against the opposing bowling attack and win this encounter, then Rishabh Pant has to fire.”

Spinning and swinging together as one! 💪#StrongerTogether #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛 @snj_group pic.twitter.com/9UiFsD4Unp

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 10, 2021

Aakash Chopra picked Deepak Chahar as the key player for the Chennai Super Kings. Deepak has had a decent season so far, with 13 wickets in as many matches. He has struggled to pick wickets upfront in the UAE leg. Aakash feels that Chennai Super Kings’ fortunes will depend a lot on Deepak Chahar’s spell initially. He said,

“Deepak Chahar has the upper hand against Prithvi. Once again the contest will be very interesting. Josh Hazlewood and probably Moeen Ali will be called for Shikhar Dhawan because he has problems against spin at times. So those are the two contests I am looking forward to watch.”

“I feel CSK will become weaker if Deepak Chahar doesn’t take wickets with the new ball. Deepak Chahar has not been picking wickets with the new ball in the second half,” Aakash Chopra added.

Shardul Thakur has been exceptional: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra heaped praise on Chennai Super Kings’ allrounder Shardul Thakur, who has been the leading wicket-taker for the franchise this season. He added that Shardul will hold the key for Chennai Super Kings’ with his all-around performance.

“Shardul Thakur has been exceptional. Shardul Thakur comes and makes a match of it when you have lost everything. So, this match will depend a lot on Lord Thakur with the ball and with the bat, I think Sir Ravindra Jadeja towards the end. Of course, everyone knows about the openers,” Aakash Chopra concluded.

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