*RCB VS DC PREVIEW*
*BUILD UP:*
*DC COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE NIGHTMARE*
Life is in a sorry state if you’re a Delhi Capitals fan. They have now slipped to four losses in as many games with a NRR in negatives, denying the hopes of their supporters once again and to some extent, bringing down the morals of the entire group.
DC would have favoured their chances last game against a depleted MI at their home ground but a close loss to them, has surely made them reach rock bottom.
Now they face another stern challenge, to turn up against a batting order of the RCB which has been firing well on a ground where even a score of 200 doesn’t give enough confidence.
*THE CHALLENGERS HAVE THEIR TASK CUT OUT*
RCB and conceding runs at the Chinnaswamy is a love story. Season after season they plan everything only to fail again while defending totals. Their return to this venue has been bittersweet, winning one and losing one, but the return of Wanindu Hasaranga should bolster their otherwise thin bowling lineup on a venue that is a graveyard for bowlers.
RCB have just one task ahead of them- to bowl well as a unit, not in phases and not in moments but to scare the oppositions with the white cherry together. With their batting clicking as all three Kohli-Faf-Maxwell got formidable scores the other night, it is only on the bowling front where major work has to be put in. Success in that field, and they should be good.
*GEAR UP FOR A DAY GAME:*
Maiden day game at this venue this season and the pitch could take turn. If it does, RCB should be looking their lips given the return of Hasaranga and the other quality options that they have in the form of Karn Sharma, Maxwell, Shahbaz, Lomror and Bracewell.
On the other hand, DC despite the presence of two top class spinners in Axar and Kuldeep who provide different variety at different stages of the game, would be vary of the form that RCB batters are in mixed with the mediocrity of the DC spinners in the tourney so far.
*RCB PROBABLE XI*
Faf Du Plessis(c), Virat Kohli, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik(wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel/Avinash Singh, Mohammad Siraj, Karn Sharma
With Harshal appearing off colour, It wouldn’t be a bad option to swap him for the express pace of Avinash Singh. People hardly know him and his surprise entry could set the stage on fire for him.
Hasaranga joined the camp on 10th and he has had enough days to access the boundary dimensions and the wicket. His return should be inevitable unless he picks up an injury. RCB’s bowling reserves will be given a boost once he walks in.
*DC PROBABLE XI:*
David Warner(c), Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey, Mitchell Marsh, Axar Patel, Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav, Abhishek Porel, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed
With the form that Axar is showing, DC should look to play him in the Top 5, probably ahead of the struggling Powell. Maximising his effort with bat in an otherwise in consistent lineup should do DC a world of good.
With Mitch Marsh back into reckoning after his wedding, he should enjoy batting at this venue if the pitch remains a belter.
*MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE GAME:*
*FOR RCB-*
Highest run getter- Faf Du Plessis/Virat Kohli
Highest wicket taker- Wanindu Hasaranga/Mohammad Siraj
*FOR DC-*
Highest run getter- Mitch Marsh/Axar Patel(if promoted)
Highest wicket taker- Kuldeep Yadav/Anrich Nortje
*FOR THE GAME AT HAND-*
RCB to get back to winning ways after facing two defeats. The sorry story for DC to continue.