As temperatures cross 40°C in Delhi, the IPL playoff race is equally fiery, with the top three teams tied at 12 points. Tonight, a resurgent Delhi Capitals (DC) host an unbeaten-away Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a high-stakes clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Match Context: Bowling Wins & Homecomings
Both teams arrive with momentum from bowling-led victories:
- DC restricted LSG to 159 after an early onslaught, chasing it down comfortably.
- RCB defended 205 against RR, thanks to Hazlewood’s clutch 19th over (3/33) and middle-over spin choke.
The spotlight shifts to Virat Kohli, returning to his home ground where fans recently thronged for his Ranji Trophy appearance. Opposite him stands KL Rahul, who famously “stabbed” the Chinnaswamy pitch with his bat after defeating RCB earlier this season.
Pitch & Conditions
- Recent stats: Delhi’s 2024 average 1st-innings score was 235 (highest among venues).
- This season: MI defended 205 here, while DC-RR went to a Super Over chasing 188.
- Green-tinged surface: Expected to favor strokeplay but may negate reverse swing.
Key Matchups
- KL Rahul vs RCB: 741 runs at 74.1 avg. (4 fifties, 1 hundred). But Bhuvneshwar (SR 111) and Krunal (SR 106) have troubled him.
- Kohli & Salt vs Starc: Neither has been dismissed by Starc in T20s (Kohli: 88 runs off 51 balls; Salt: 44 off 19).
- Spin Battle:
- DC: Strike at 150+ vs spin but have lost 22 wickets to it (2nd most).
- RCB’s spinners: 17 wickets in wins (avg. 26) vs 1 wicket in losses (avg. 139).
Tactical Notes
- DC: May slot Faf du Plessis as Impact Sub. Rahul’s form is critical, but Axar & Stubbs must counter RCB’s spinners.
- RCB: Hazlewood’s death overs vs Delhi’s lower order (Stubbs, Ashutosh) could be decisive.
Probable XIs
DC: Abishek Porel, Faf du Plessis, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar
RCB: Phil Salt, Kohli, Padikkal, Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Krunal, Bhuvneshwar, Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
Stats That Matter
- Kohli averages 60.45 in T20s at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
- Starc’s 11.37 economy in powerplays is the worst among bowlers (10+ overs).
- DC have lost 7 of 11 games vs RCB since 2021.
Prediction: With Delhi’s batting firepower and RCB’s away record, expect a close contest decided by middle-over spin and death bowling.
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