Parth Jindal, co-owner of the Delhi Capitals, was forthright in summarising what he wants from his team’s last league stage match. “Never liked anyone doing any favors for us anyway – the equation is simple – we win on Saturday and we get the opportunity of going further in IPL – if we don’t – then we are out and don’t deserve to be in the playoffs, have full confidence in my boys – let’s do this Delhi Capitals.”

Also read: IPL 2022: RR beat CSK by 5 wickets to secure play-off berth

He couldn’t possibly have said anything else. That’s how simple his team’s chances are when they face the Mumbai Indians on Saturday evening at Wankhede Stadium.

A team with everything to lose versus a team with nothing to lose. A team that has yet to win an IPL crown takes on a team that has won the most trophies in the last 14 seasons. A team full of emotions versus a squad simply going through the motions of the event. A team in desperate need of finding its best XI takes on a team more interested in testing its bench strength.

Also read: Baby Malinga part of CSK’s plans for IPL 2023, skipper MS Dhoni confirms

There are advantages and disadvantages to where the Delhi Capitals stand in the competition, but the ultimate goal is as simple as Jindal has made it out to be.

After an entire season of winning one game and then losing the next, DC head coach Ricky Ponting believes his team has finally found its stride after breaking the trend with a win in the previous game. Whether it’s a phoney confidence or a genuine one, he believes the team has peaked at the appropriate time to go for the ultimate prize.

Also read: Will definitely play in IPL 2023, confirms CSK skipper MS Dhoni

Finally, the outcome on Saturday will determine their fate – whether it’s the big cup or, as their opponents of the day, a ticket back home.