Ahmedabad: As the loss in their previous match is lightning, Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by Virat Kohli, will have to be at their best to beat a formidable Delhi Capitals unit here in the IPL on Tuesday.
While RCB will have to shake off their 69 runs against Chennai Super Kings in their final match and start anew, Delhi’s confidence will be boosted by their exciting ‘Super Over’ win against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday night.
Against the capitals of Delhi, RCB will have to address their misery in the middle order to return to winning style, which can be seen as a battle of equals.
For the RCB, it is important that the starting line-ups – in-form Devdutt Padikkal (171 runs) and Kohli (151 runs) – get off to a solid start at Narendra Modi Stadium.
But the opening duo needed the much-needed support of the middle order, which crumbled against CSK.
People like Glenn Maxwell (198 runs), Ab de Villiers (129 runs) and the everyday Washington Sundar (25 runs) will have to act in harmony against a strong Delhi attack.
Australian Maxwell did justify his high price in the first few games and would run again.
The bowlers of the RCB will have to forget the hammer blow of the CSK batsmen, especially the leading wicketkeeper of the league, Harshal Patel, who was taken apart by Ravindra Jadeja when he conceded 37 runs in his last over.
The fit Mohammed Siraj and Kyle Jamieson will have to perform and deliver, while spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar will also have to bowl tight to contain a strong DC batting sheet full of hard batsmen.
RCB may also be tempted to play Shahbaz Ahmed with the left arm in place of Navdeep Saini or Dan Christian, as the track could be favorable for the spinners.
For Delhi, their opening batsman and leading run-scorer Shikhar Dhawan (259 runs), he is keen to continue his good form while his starting partner Prithvi Shaw (166 runs) was looking for more runs under his belt.
DC boasts a strong middle order consisting of captain Rishabh Pant (125 runs), Australians Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer, who could be very devastating on their day.
If the opening batsmen fail, it rests on Pant and Smith to send the innings.
Delhi will miss the services of as-off spinner Ravichandra Ashwin, who left the team to support his family in the fight against COVID-19.
In his absence, left-hander Axar Patel and experienced bowler Amit Mishra, who wreaked havoc against Indians from Mumbai, will have to bear greater responsibility.
Delhi will probably not tamper with their pass attack, as Avesh Khan, with 11 wickets from five matches, was impressive, and South African Kagiso Rabada can do the damage early.
The team management can play Lalit Yadav, who turns outside and can also bat, in place of Ashwin, instead of going in for a pacemaker.
Source: Telangana Today