IPL 2018, RR vs DD Match Prediction: Who will win today's match between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils
Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils go into their second game of IPL 2018 knowing that one of them will get off the mark in the tournament. Who does that will largely depend on which batting side is able to rack up more runs.
In the first game, Royals solid top-order didn't quite live up to their potential and they had to rely on some cameos to get them to a below par score as they kept losing at regular intervals. Delhi Daredevils, on the other hand, got blown away by a KL Rahul blitzkrieg and never truly recovered from that.
Both teams will be vying for their first win and it will be interesting to see if either makes changes to either their side or their batting order as they look to make that happen.
The return of Glenn Maxwell bolsters an already strong batting line-up but their only major concern is their bowling, which appeared a little toothless against Punjab. Whether that was because of the knock by KL Rahul or whether that will be a regular occurrence is something only time will tell.
With Jofra Archer not fully fit yet, Royals are unlikely to tinker with their side but they might rejig their batting order. The roles of Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi and the two Englishmen, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler might see some change.
Date: April 11
Venue: Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur
Time: 20:00 IST
If Rajasthan Royals bat first
Predicted score: 170+
Despite Steve Smith's absence, Royals still boast of a strong batting line-up, which was expected to be their finest attribute this season. However, that is not how it panned out in their opening game as their batting didn't live up to the expectations.
Although the Royals are unlikely to make any changes to the side, they will need openers D'Arcy Short and Ajinkya Rahane to get them off to a good start. Rahul Tripathi, who was a revelation as an opener last was asked to bat in an unfamiliar middle-order role and it will be interested to see if he continues in that role.
Sanju Samson might have to bat slightly lower and while the likes of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes can provide the perfect finish to the innings, they can't be asked to do that and also set up a platform in every game.
Delhi Daredevils bowling line-up doesn't look as strong without Rabada and with Maxwell coming in, that is good news for the finishers in the Royals, who will be key to them getting a score in excess of 165.
If Delhi Daredevils bat first
Predicted score: 180+
The arrival of Glenn Maxwell will mean that Daniel Christian will have to be the one to drop out. While that bolsters their batting, that also means that they have one more player, who could possibly open the innings.
With Gautam Gambhir locked down for one spot, it will be interesting to see if Delhi persist with Munro or give someone like Iyer or Gambhir a go at the top of the innings. Whoever opens, Delhi still have an explosive middle-order with Rishabh Pant, Glenn Maxwell and Chris Morris in the middle-order.
Given the fact that the Royals bowling line-up is far from the most intimidating in the tournament, the middle-order will fancy their chances of making useful contributions and getting the team to an above par score. A lot though, will depend on the start given by the openers. If they get off to a flyer, no total is out of the question, especially with the kind of batting firepower that Delhi have.
Still, a total in excess of 180 should be what they are looking for, especially given their batting and the nature of the pitch at Jaipur.
Match prediction:
As both Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils have a strong batting line-up, it is clear that it will come down to which side can rack up more runs. Irrespective of who comes out on top, the battle between two of the strongest middle-orders in the tournament will be one to watch out for. Considering the fact that Delhi Daredevils holds the record for the highest run chase in IPL history and they have an experienced campaigner in Gautam Gambhir leading the side, that will give them an edge, even though Rajasthan Royals are playing at home.