IPL 2018, RCB vs DD Match Prediction: Who will win today's match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils
Virat Kohli's proclamation about Royal Challengers Bangalore's being a strong bowling side before the start of the tournament has fallen flat on his face. While the batting line-up (as always) is loaded with superstars, the bowlers have failed to turn up, leaking runs aplenty. The same has been the case for Delhi as well, who have their own set of bowling woes to deal with, despite an impressive array of batsmen.
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It's a battle of equals in a way, a clash of the bottom-placed, aiming for redemption.
Time: 2000 IST
Venue: Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
If Royal Challengers Bangalore bat first
Predicted score: 170+
As has been the case several times in the past, Virat Kohli has held the batting together like a glue, sticking around in his own inimitable style when the rest of the side has fallen like ninepins. He was seething with rage when the rest of the batting collapsed in the previous game, and the Orange Cap holder will want more from the likes of AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock.
On paper, Delhi's line-up looks fairly strong - Trent Boult and Mohammed Shami can be quite a handful with the new ball, but the Indian pacer hasn't looked at his best so far. The guile of the experienced Shahbaz Nadeem can be fairly helpful at the Chinnaswamy. The inclusion of Jayant Yadav in place of Gurkeerat Singh could boost their bowling further.
If Delhi Daredevils bat first
Predicted score: 160+
Gautam Gambhir has not been able to galvanise the Daredevils like the Knight Riders, but the veteran batsman is known to put in a performance when the chips are down. The side would want him to stick through, and the rest of the batsmen to play around him, if they intend to put up a strong total at the small Chinnaswamy grounds. In Roy, Maxwell and Pant, they have the arsenal to do so.
Bangalore's bowling has come a cropper, and they need a quick change of fortunes to claw their way back into the tournament. Chahal hasn't been up to his best, while Umesh Yadav and Chris Woakes have blown hot and cold. There could be a case for including mystery spinner Murugan Ashwin in place of the woefully out-of-form Sarfaraz Khan.
Match prediction:
History favours the Royal Challengers going into the game - since 2011, the side has won 11 of the 12 games against the Delhi Daredevils, although the head-to-head at the Chinnaswamy is tied at 3-3. While the Delhi side seems to be a tough task to handle when in form, the Bangalore team won't be easy to face at home, despite their lack of confidence. The likes of Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chahal know the surface inside out, and if two of the three can fire together, the job will be done for the men in red and black.
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