Indian Premier League 2019 Match 45, Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

When these two sides last met, Royal Challengers Bangalore were in a funk. Their batsmen were collapsing, the bowlers were leaking runs, and the losses were piling up – Bangalore just couldn’t get a break. All of which prompted Virat Kohli, the Bangalore captain, to play a bizarre knock – he scored at a run-a-ball mostly, and his 33-ball 41 comprised just 3 boundaries.  

Bangalore are a different side now. AB de Villiers has found form. Kohli has kept the runs coming when needed. The bowlers have had a lift. Four wins in their last 5 games and, though they are still at the bottom of the table, their Playoffs hopes are alive. Win their next 3 matches, and with a bit luck, they might yet make the Playoffs to complete a stunning comeback.

Posing a challenge to that fairytale of sorts is Delhi Capitals. They have been one of the more impressive sides in the tournament this year, quietly going about their business, steadying ship despite wobbly middle-order concerns early on.

Delhi are now just 2 points behind leaders Chennai Super Kings, and have a game in hand. They are well-positioned to finish at the top, along with Mumbai Indians, and cannot afford a loss here, if they harbour hopes of doing that.

Both teams will no longer have their English contingent. That’s particularly tough on Bangalore, who will lose the in-form Moeen Ali. They will also be without South Dale Steyn, who starred in his brief two-match appearance before a shoulder injury ruled him out of the tournament. Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee are expected to take their place in the XI – how the changes affect Bangalore remains to be seen.

Head to head

The two sides have clashed 23 times in IPL history. Bangalore lord over Delhi in their head-to-head records – they’ve won 15 times to Delhi’s 7. Delhi’s victory earlier this season snapped Bangalore’s 5-match winning streak. Sunday should be interesting.

Key players

Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Capitals): Delhi have plugged their batting concerns, and a lot of that is due to Dhawan. He has been in fine form this year, and will head into the Bangalore clash after scoring consecutive half-centuries against Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals. His wicket will be crucial for Bangalore, and the earlier the better.

Tim Southee (New Zealand): Within two matches, Steyn showed how much of a lift he can provide the overall attack of Bangalore – after his arrival, the likes of Navdeep Saini and Umesh Yadav lifted their game. This is the sort of effect Southee was expected to have, and it’s the sort of role he will need to fulfil for Bangalore in the coming games.

Likely XIs:

Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Colin Ingram, Axar Patel, Chris Morris, Amit Mishra, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Parthiv Patel (wk), Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Akshdeep Nath, Marcus Stoinis, Colin de Grandhomme, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini

Prediction

It’s a tough one to call. But Delhi have been poor at home this year, and Bangalore, riding on a high, will probably capitalise.