Bengaluru: Eager for a comeback, Delhi Capitals (DC) needs a concerted and collective effort to get their hopes up as repeated losses with bowling and batting both misfiring have placed their IPL dream in jeopardy. Come the IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), a clinical performance would be required against the batting-heavy team that RCB is boasting the likes of Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell.
DC have not got the start into the tournament as they would have liked to and have endured four back-to-back losses resulting in no points gain so far for them. It almost seems that nothing is clicking for them at the moment except for David Warner trying to hold the innings together and Axar Patel with his powerful cameos. The others, meanwhile, have simply not contributed enough to help the team's cause.
Despite Warner being slotted as the second-highest run-getter, his strike-rate of 114.83 has been a concern to them that has been losing wickets in bulk, which further has not allowed the captain to score freely. Prithvi Shaw hasn't been able to fire as his technical deficiencies against pace have laid bare once again -- an issue that will require time to be mended. Sarfaraz Khan's replacement, Manish Pandey too does not have any special performance to show for himself while debutant in the last match, Yash Dhull failed to provide any ray of home for the depleted DC side against MI.
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The scarcity of talent in the Indian bench strength leaves them with Ripal Patel to rely on. The team would look to introduce power-hitter Phil Salt in place of Rovman Powel as he can keep the run-rate running while Warner can hold the other end. Delhi's pacers have been taken to the cleaners although Anrich Nortje and Mustafizur Rahman did well against MI albeit in a losing cause. But more will be expected of them at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, which is a belter of a track.
Spinners Axar and Kuldeep Yadav are also yet to churn out match-winning performances. RCB, on the other hand, will look to get back to winning ways. After making a winning start, RCB lost their way, falling to back-to-back defeats. The likes of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis have contributed with the bat and would be eyeing another good show come Saturday. Glenn Maxwell being back amongst runs is also a good sign for the hosts.
Mohammed Siraj has been exceptional with the new ball but death bowling woes continue to plague RCB as their bowlers have leaked runs at an alarmingly high rate. Death overs specialist Harshal Patel has looked a jaded version of himself and RCB would hope others step up. Star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has linked up with the squad and is expected to walk right into the playing XI, strengthening the bowling department.
Squads:
Delhi Capitals: David Warner (c), Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, Aman Hakim Khan, Abhishek Porel (wk), Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav, Rovman Powell, Rilee Rossouw, Anrich Nortje, Mustafizur Rahaman, Chetan Sakariya, Mukesh Kumar, Phil Salt, Lungi Ngidi, Praveen Dubey, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Vicky Ostwal, Ishant Sharma, Manish Pandey, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Yash Dhull.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudesai, Karn Sharma, Siddarth Kaul, David Willey, Wayne Parnell, Himanshu Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh, Sonu Yadav and Michael Bracewell.
Match starts at 3:30 PM IST. (PTI)
