*Please come back after the toss for updated team news*
Match Details
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals, Match 20, IPL 2019
7 April 2019, 4 pm IST
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Venue
The last game at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium showed that it remains one of the most batting-friendly wickets in India. Over 410 runs were scored across 20 overs, with the ball soaring into the stands as many as 20 times.
We can expect more of the same in tomorrow’s clash, with chasing being the preferred option for the captain winning the toss.
Preview
Delhi Capitals have had a mixed start to the season, with two wins and three defeats under their belt. While they have had more lows than highs, the team has shown significant improvement this season. They will want to get back on the right track in Bangalore on Sunday.
Royal Challengers Bangalore, on the other hand, have been as underwhelming as ever. They have had five losses in a row and just don’t seem able to get over the line. They will be desperate to get their first points on the board against Delhi.
Head-to-head
Total matches – 22
Won by Royal Challengers Bangalore – 15 (68.18%)
Won by Delhi Capitals – 6 (27.27%)
No result – 1 (4.55%)
Form (recent first)
Royal Challengers Bangalore – L L L L L (abysmal form)
Delhi Capitals – L L W L W (poor form)
Last match’s playing XI and possible changes
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Virat Kohli (c), Parthiv Patel (wk), AB de Villiers, Marcus Stoinis, Moeen Ali, Akshdeep Nath, Pawan Negi, Tim Southee, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj
Possible changes: Umesh Yadav in for Saini
Delhi Capitals
Shreyas Iyer (c), Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Colin Ingram, Chris Morris, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Tewatia, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sandeep Lamichhane, Prithvi Shaw
Possible changes: Harshal Patel to come in for Tewatia
My dream XI
Wicket-keeper
Rishabh Pant has had a mixed start to the season, having put in both good and irresponsible performances with the bat. He has been fairly solid behind the stumps though and remains the most destructive batsman in the Delhi line-up.
Batsmen
AB de Villiers found form against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday and is likely to take that into the game against Delhi. The South African is a joy to watch when on song, and his contribution has been very important to RCB’s batting success over the years.
Virat Kohli notched up a masterful 84 against KKR and was unlucky to find himself on the losing side. The RCB and India captain seems to have regained his mojo and is likely to kick on from here till the end of the season.
While Colin Ingram has had starts with the bat so far this season, he has been unable to convert them into tall scores. However, he is still one of the cleanest hitters of the ball in T20 cricket, and the batting-friendly surface in Bangalore might just bring out the best in him.
Prithvi Shaw, India’s newest sensation with the bat, is an important figure in Delhi’s top order. He made a swashbuckling 99 against KKR last week, and the teenager will be desperate to continue performing well for his team.
All-rounders
For reasons unknown, Moeen Ali didn’t bowl a single delivery in RCB’s loss to KKR, despite the ball gripping the surface. Kohli will likely bring him into the fray against Delhi in an attempt to correct the decision-making errors he made on Friday.
Axar Patel has been one of the most consistent performers in IPL over the years. He has started this season with two scalps in three games and will want to get more wickets under his belt going forward. He also played a nice little cameo – 23 off 13 balls – against SRH to push DC to a fighting total.
Bowlers
RCB have a million problems, but Yuzvendra Chahal’s form isn’t one of them. While his team has suffered massive defeats this season, the leg-spinner has been in a league of his own. He holds the Purple Cap with nine wickets in four games and has bowled at an exceptional economy rate of 6.45.
Harshal Patel was drafted in the DC side for the last two games and was decent on both occasions. He is coming off an impressive season in domestic cricket, and having played for RCB in the past, the right-arm pacer will have a better understanding of the conditions.
Kagiso Rabada, arguably the best pacer in the world, bowled a fantastic Super Over against KKR to take Delhi to victory after the scores were tied. He has seven wickets in five games so far and is third in the Purple Cap race.
Sandeep Lamichhane, the first Nepal cricketer to play in the IPL, has had a decent start to the season. He has four wickets in three games at an average of 22 and economy under 7.5. He will be crucial in containing RCB’s run flow in the middle overs.
Captain and vice-captain: AB de Villiers and Rishabh Pant
Other options: Virat Kohli and Prithvi Shaw
Player to watch out for: AB de Villiers
The South African legend smashed a 32-ball 63 in his last innings and seems to be in the groove now. If he begins to fire regularly, RCB’s chances of turning their season around would increase significantly.
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