Delhi Capitals are currently in the second spot in IPL 2021 after escaping with a Super Over win against Sunrisers Hyderabad while Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered their first loss.
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Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered their first loss in IPL 2021 when they were hammered by Chennai Super Kings. More specifically, they were decimated by Ravindra Jadeja alone. The carnage that Jadeja single-handedly unleashed was a sight in this tournament. With the bat, he took apart IPL 2021’s leading bowler Harshal Patel for 37 runs in one over. With the ball, he accounted for AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell. His brilliance in the field ensured Royal Challengers Bangalore finally had that day which they dreaded.
Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, had a narrow escape against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Prithvi Shaw and Steve Smith were in fine form. Axar Patel and Amit Mishra weathered the Kane Williamson storm to take the match into the Super Over. Axar delivered the goods there and Delhi Capitals salvaged a narrow win.
If one looks at the line-up, Delhi Capitals have the firepower to counter Royal Challengers Bangalore’s deadly batting line-up. Maxwel tends to struggle against legspin. Delhi Capitals have Mishra in their line-up. De Villiers has a flaw against left-arm spin and this is what Axar will be exploiting. With Virat Kohli struggling a bit and Devdutt Padikkal the only player in form, there are certain areas of weakness creeping up in Royal Challengers Bangalore.
However, both teams have issues heading into the match. Ravichandran Ashwin is out for an indefinite period while Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson have also withdrawn from IPL 2021 due to the coronavirus situation. Filling the gaps in their absence might be the main challenge.
Delhi Capitals seem to have sorted their composition but the withdrawal of Ashwin has once again thrown a spanner in their works. Royal Challengers Bangalore may not be too impacted with the withdrawal of Richardson and Zampa as they did not feature in too many games. With the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad assisting spin, it might be a good idea for both sides to have the right spinners.
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Steven Smith, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Kagiso Rabada, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers(w), Washington Sundar, Daniel Christian, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Navdeep Saini/Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Match No.22: Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Venue: Narendra Modi stadium, Ahmedabad
Time: 7:30 PM IST
The weather in Ahmedabad is hot and dry with a maximum of 43 degrees and a minimum of 28 degrees. The humidity is 22 percent so dew will not be a factor. The pitch in Ahmedabad will be dry and spinners will get assistance.
Royal Challengers Bangalore have a 14-10 head-to-head advantage against Delhi Capitals but it has been the Capitals who have won the last four encounters.
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