The 56th match of the IPL 2021 will be played on Friday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Both teams last met in the IPL 2021 season’s second match.
In that match, Chennai Super Kings batted first and produced a par total of 188 runs. However, with seven wickets remaining, Delhi Capitals were able to knock down the target.
Shikhar Dhawan smashed 85 runs off 38 balls in that game, and Prithvi Shaw was as impressive with 72 off 38 balls. Take a look at how both clubs have fared so far this season.
Delhi Capitals:
The Delhi Capitals have performed admirably in both the first and second legs of the IPL 2021. They have climbed to the top of the points table with 10 wins in 13 games. While they have advanced to the playoffs, it remains to be seen where they will finish at the end of the league stage. The Capitals have a high net run rate, and even if they lose their final game on Friday against RCB, they will still finish in the top two.
The only concern in the batting order is Prithvi Shaw’s dismal form. In the previous game, Shikhar Dhawan scored 39 runs off 35 balls. His knock would boost his self-assurance. Since his comeback to the team, Shreyas Iyer has already made a few significant contributions. Rishabh Pant has been overly aggressive on several occasions, which has cost him his wicket. Marcus Stoinis must play more responsibly now that he is not in the starting lineup.
Shimron Hetmyer’s unbeaten 18-run knockoff off 10 balls will boost his confidence as he leads his team to victory in a crucial match against CSK. The bowling unit appears to be as formidable. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are two deadly fast bowlers for the Delhi Capitals, and the addition of Avesh Khan has only bolstered their attack. Axar Patel is a big fan of the UAE’s slow tracks, and Ashwin is also a big help.
Overall, the Delhi Capitals appear to be a difficult club to beat and a strong favourite for the game on Friday. They are coming off a three-wicket win and will be looking to keep the winning streak going.
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
With eight wins in 13 games, Royal Challengers Bangalore is now ranked third. Virat Kohli was ecstatic after losing the final game to SRH, which cost them a top-two position. Even if they win on Friday, they are unlikely to finish second in the league, putting them in third place at the end of the season.
Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal aren’t in the best of condition. Padikkal had an uncommon outing against Hyderabad, while Virat Kohli was also forced to leave early. The decision to send Daniel Christian to the third position didn’t work out either.
In the batting order, Glenn Maxwell is their lone consistent performer. He’s been outstanding. However, the other batsmen must also stand up to the plate, or things in the knockouts may go haywire. AB de Villiers hasn’t been given many opportunities to bowl, and this is something that RCB should consider.
In the final game, AB de Villiers couldn’t get his team home with 13 runs needed in the final over. De Villiers hasn’t seen much action in the centre of the field. Only then can the RCB expect him to deliver if he is sent early. Harshal Patel has been handling the ball exceptionally well.
He enjoys taking wickets and ensuring that RCB play well with the bat. The outstanding spells of Yuzvendra Chahal and Shahbaz Nadeem have also kept them in good stead.
When it comes to batting, RCB has a lot of space for development. In the powerplay, someone must also assist them in picking wickets. Harshal Patel may have a bad day in the next games, and RCB must be aware of this.
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