Ahmedabad: Delhi Capitals (DC) led by Rishabh Pant will look to continue their winning streak when they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday in 22nd game of IPL 2021.
The 22nd match of IPL 2021 will be played between two strong clubs of the tournament, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Both the teams have played 5 games so far, out of which both have won 4 games.
The Delhi Capitals topped expectations, given the players they missed. However, Rishabh Pant and team had three straight wins after their loss to the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw have been playing important knocks at the top and DC are well-prepared to take on the Ahmedabad challenge. They are currently 2nd on the points table. In their last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the team won the game in a thrilling super-over. Apart from Shaw, Dhawan their middle order looks formidable with former Australia skipper Steve Smith, Caribbean power-hitter Shimron Hetmyer and Marcus Stoinis. Though, Hetmyer and Stoinis are not having great form in this year’s IPL, they are the ones who can make comeback at any point of the game.
The comeback of all-rounder Axar Patel to the squad is another positive for the team and the Delhi Capitals look like a complete squad in all characteristics now. The club will miss the services of off-spinner Ravichandra Ashwin, who has left the team to support his family in the battle against COVID-19. In the bowling, Kagiso Rabada and Amit Mishra will be the leading bowlers for Delhi. The team management can play bring back Lalit Yadav, who bowls off-spin and can also bat, in place of Ashwin, or they have an option of India pacer Ishant Sharma.
As for their opponents, Royal Challengers Bangalore, have surprised all in this IPL so far with their four wins in the tournament so far. Except the defeat against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), RCB looks one of the formidable squads in the IPL. Their defeat to MS-Dhoni side came as a reality check. However, RCB will look to make a comeback with a good performance. RCB will need to solve their middle-order muddle, to return to winning ways.
RCB’s in-form openers Devdutt Padikkal (171 runs) and Kohli (151 runs)- have deliver a great start so far in the tournament but their middle order has failed to impress. The middle-order of RCB consists of Glenn Maxwell, Ab de Villiers, Washington Sundar and Dan Christian. In a game against DC, RCB may bring in Daniel Sams who has a impressed in Australia’s Big Bash. Talking about bowling unit, RCB has Navdeep Saini, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj and Yuzvendra Chahal who all are in good form.
Despite both franchises performing extraordinarily so far, the firepower in the RCB ranks could overpower DC on the day. If DC needs to win this match, their lead bowler Kagiso Rabada needs to step-up on a seamer-friendly track.
PROBABLE XI
DC: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Steve Smith, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma/ Lalit Yadav, Amit Mishra, Kagiso Rabada and Avesh Khan
RCB: Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers (WK), Washington Sundar, Daniel Sams/ Dan Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed/ Navdeep Saini, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj and Yuzvendra Chahal