Just when cricket fans had started contemplating a new champion for the Indian Premier League (IPL), in the forms of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), their four-match winning streak came to a crashing end. Virat Kohli & co. looked like an ordinary team against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their latest encounter. Chasing 192, the Red and Gold Army stumbled from 79/3 to 94/8 in the span of four overs before suffering a humiliating 69-run defeat.
However, RCB will take the CSK outcome as one bad day at work before going face-to-face against last season’s runner-ups Delhi Capitals (DC), on 27 April, in Match 22 of IPL 2021 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both teams have secured four wins in five matches and will have a chance to go to the top of the points table by registering a victory over another.
Led by Rishabh Pant, DC had a nerve-racking super over victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their recent tie. Their openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw, are in decent form. While Dhawan currently holds the Orange Cap list, with 259 runs, Shaw, too, has aggregated 166 runs. Shaw was also adjudged Player of the Match in their last outing against SRH after notching up his second fifty (53 off 39) in IPL 2021.
Last night, Ahmedabad hosted the first game of the season between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). The track helped spinners more than seamers. DC will surely miss R Ashwin in the Bangalore match, who has decided to take a break due to the COVID-19 situation in India.
RCB had only eight overseas players before IPL 2021 began. The count is now down to six, following the departure of Australian duo Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa. Zampa could have added value to his side at this venue.
Keeping the shorter ground size in mind, Kohli may bring Finn Allen in the Playing XI. RCB need a formidable batter between the Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal at the top, and Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers at four and five; Allen can fill the space for his side. Shahbaz Ahmed might be recalled too, in place of Navdeep Saini, who conceded 27 runs in two overs against CSK.
DC are likely to recall Lalit Yadav for Ashwin. Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan, two uncapped Indian cricketers currently topping the wickets chart with 15 and 11 wickets respectively, will be the key men to watch out for once again.
Head to head
RCB have played DC 26 times and have won 15 occasions. One of them ended with no result. Despite that, DC have got the better of RCB in their last four meetings.
Key Players
Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Capitals): ‘Gabbar’ has been in the form of his life since IPL 2021 began. If he stays for more than 10 overs against RCB, Kohli & co. may be in serious trouble. The season’s current Orange Cap holder is currently striking at 142.
Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore): ‘King’ Kohli is not the one who sits and watches the others scoring piles of runs. He may not be at his usual best yet, but it is only a matter of time before he gets going.
Likely XIs
Delhi Capitals: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Steven Smith, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (c), Finn Allen (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Washington Sundar, Kyle Jamieson, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad Siraj.
Prediction
Expecting a close contest. Perhaps an RCB win.