RCB vs DC Preview, IPL 2024: In-form Bengaluru wary of volatile Delhi in a must-win match

Pushed into a tight corner, Royal Challengers Bengaluru rose above ir frailties to notch four wins on trot to stay alive in race to play-offs, but a volatile Delhi Capitals offer m a different challenge in ir penultimate IPL league match here on Sunday.

In run-up to this match, RCB h beaten Gujarat Titans twice, Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderab once each.

While victory over SRH valiant, RCB did not face much challenge from floundering Titans and Kings.

But Capitals are a team unlike any or as y have oscillated between brilliant and ordinary in span of a few days.

On April 27, Rishabh Pant-led side posted a hefty 257/4 in ir 10-run win over Mumbai Indians and on April 29, y me a lowly 153/9 while capitulating against Kolkata Knight Riders.

RCB, currently seventh with 10 points from 12 matches, will desperately hope not to run into that brilliant Capitals as a defeat can undo ir good work in last four matches.

But ir confidence will be high, courtesy strong and consistent batting effort led by talisman Virat Kohli.

Kohli is leing run-getter in this IPL with 634 runs but, more importantly, those runs have come at a brisk rate of 153, giving RCB early momentum while setting or chasing targets.

Along with Kohli, ditional runs from skipper Faf du Plessis, Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green and Dinesh Karthik have provided ir bowlers, who have responded to call splendidly, with a cushion.

transformation of RCB bowlers in last four matches have been nothing short of remarkable.

Mohammed Siraj has found his mojo after a 10-day break, and he has received excellent backing from fellow pacer Yash Dayal and left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh.

After match against PBKS, overall run-rate of Siraj (9.4) and Dayal (9) have gone under 10 for first time this season, not a mean feat in a tournament where runs were scored at a breakneck pace.

ir skills will be tested first by Jack Fraser-McGurk, who has teed off to make 309 runs from seven matches at an impressive strike-rate of 235.87.

McGurk took opener's slot once David Warner – 167 runs from 7 matches at a strike rate of 135 – h to sit out with an injury, and he has not me absence of veteran felt even once.

His opening partner Abhishek Porel too has me runs at 157 strike rate, though DC management will be happier to see him ding more consistency to his game.

Skipper Pant and Tristan Stubbs too have been among runs me at a fair clip and duo has to fire mandatorily against in-flow RCB bowlers. In bowling department, DC will feel that y might have a slight edge.

Spinners Kuldeep Yav and Axar Patel have been thrifty while sharing 24 wickets among m as y have maintained economy rates of 8.2 and 7.3 respectively – gold dust while ors have gone above 10.

ir combined eight overs will have a massive say in match, as wrist-spinner and his left-arm comre will have to contain free-flowing RCB batters in middle phase.

If pacers Khaleel Ahmed (14 wickets, 9.68) and Mukesh Kumar (15 wickets, 10.94) can inflict some blows upfront, DC can hope to contain home side.

Teams (from): Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan.

Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant(wk/c), Sumit Kumar, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yav, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Kumar Kushagra, Praveen Dubey, Lalit Yav, Liza Williams, David Warner, Jhye Richardson, Anrich Nortje, Yash Dhull, Mitchell Marsh, Ricky Bhui, Rasikh Dar Salam, Vicky Ostwal, Swastik Chikara.

Match starts at 7.30 PM.