If there’s one match that you won’t be looking forward to in IPL 2018, then it’s this one that takes place tonight between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers. Apart from fans of both franchises and sports bettors, I don’t think many people will be tuning in to watch a game between two teams that have been under-performers in IPL 2018 and in previous editions of the Indian Premier League as well.
Basically, we’re looking at a match between the 7th placed team and the 8th placed team on the IPL 2018 points table. According to permutations and combinations, Delhi still have an outside chance of 0.005% of qualifying with just 12 points but for that they still need to win their last three games well. Bangalore also have a 10% chance if they manage to win all their four. However, both possibilities seem unlikely.
Teams
The last time these two sides met, AB de Villiers scored an unbeaten 90 in 39 balls to complete the chase in 18 overs but a lot has changed for Delhi since. They were then captained by Gambhir and now by Shreyas Iyer. They’ve also found a dashing opener in Prithvi Shaw while Pant has gone into overdrive in IPL 2018, becoming the first player to score 500+ runs in the season and he will be coming into this game with a century in the last one. Beware RCB bowlers.
For Bangalore, the top three worries are bowling, bowling and bowling. Another thing they need to stop doing is chopping and changing their team in every game. Their bowlers were good in the last two games so there is a little hope, with Southee and Siraj also finding their rhythm, but just when the bowlers have started contributing, the batsmen have failed.
Overall
RCB lead the head to head count between these two teams 12-6 so one would expect them to win with ease, but Delhi have momentum more than anything else. I expect Bangalore to win this unimportant game and stay away from the bottom place on the points table.
