The Delhi Capitals are under pressure as they prepare to face the Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League match on Friday, with little time to reflect on their recent disappointing performances.

Led by Axar Patel, the Delhi team has encountered significant challenges this season. Their last two matches showcased a rollercoaster of performances; they scored over 250 runs in one game, only to see the opposing team chase it down, setting a world record. Conversely, they were bowled out for a mere 75 runs against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Additionally, a heartbreaking one-run loss to the Gujarat Titans earlier this month has left the team emotionally bruised. With three wins and four losses, they currently sit seventh in the standings, necessitating an urgent improvement in their performance.

A major concern for Delhi has been the inconsistency in their batting lineup. Players like Lokesh Rahul, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, and Sameer Rizvi have contributed at times, but the team has struggled to perform cohesively.

In their last match, Abhishek Porel stepped up as an 'impact player,' preventing the team from a humiliating all-out score. This was one of the few positives from that game, and the management may consider giving him a chance in the playing eleven.

On the bowling front, there is some good news as fast bowler Mitchell Starc is set to return after receiving clearance from Cricket Australia to play from May 1.

With Lungi Ngidi unavailable, Starc's inclusion could provide a timely boost for Delhi. He is expected to replace either Kyle Jamieson or Dushmantha Chameera.

In their previous match, Delhi's bowlers struggled to defend a low target of 75 runs, but they will need to be more precise against Rajasthan's formidable batting lineup.

Rajasthan's top order has been aggressive, with young batsman Vaibhav Suryaanshi fearlessly facing world-class bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, while Yashasvi Jaiswal is also in excellent form.

Currently positioned fourth in the standings, the Rajasthan Royals enter this match with high confidence, having recently handed the Punjab Kings their first defeat of the season, marking their sixth win in nine matches.

Another positive for Rajasthan is the resurgence of their middle order after a slow start, providing them with better balance and making it harder for opponents to contain them throughout the innings.

Against a struggling Delhi attack, Rajasthan will aim to deliver another strong performance.

For Delhi, the path forward is clear: their batsmen must focus on collective performance rather than relying on individual efforts. With Starc's return, the bowlers need to find ways to control the run rate, especially against a strong top order.

Rajasthan Royals: Shubham Dubey, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Luandré Pretorius, Riyan Parag, Vaibhav Suryaanshi, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Quena Mafaka, Sandeep Sharma, Yudhveer Singh Chark, Ravi Bishnoi, Aman Rao Perala, Adam Milne, Kuldeep Sen, Dasun Shanaka, Sushant Mishra, Vignesh Mishra Puthur, Ravi Singh, Brijesh Sharma.

Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel, Lokesh Rahul, Karun Nair, David Miller, Pathum Nissanka, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Abhishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Aaqib Dar, Nitish Rana, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungi Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mitchell Starc.