IPL 2021: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Capitals Betting Tips

IPL 2021: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Capitals – Preview and Prediction. Every match of the IPL we will provide betting tips. Also, have a listen to the Bet Central Podcast below.

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Betting Preview

The race for the top spot in this season’s Indian Premier League is still on, as Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Delhi Capitals in Match 56 at the Dubai International Stadium this afternoon. This will be the first time in the history of the competition that the last two league matches are being played simultaneously. While that may not alter the top-four standings, these two teams may end up playing three times in seven days.

RCB wouldn’t mind such a prospect, especially since a four-run loss to the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their previous match halted a three-match winning run ahead of the business end of the tournament. Top of the agenda would be a return to form for AB de Villiers with Mr 360 failing to score more than 23 in his last seven IPL matches. That hasn’t hampered Bangalore’s chances, though, all thanks to Glenn Maxwell who has scored 40+ in each of his last four games for the Royal Challengers.

The Australian has been at his destructive best against spin this season. Part of his success is down to his form. His template has been to give himself a few balls at the start but after he gets accustomed to the pace or lack of, he has been using reverse or switch shots to force spinners off their lines. He has scored 237 runs at an average of 59.3 against spin and a strike rate of 163 with a boundary every 4.8 balls this season. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Capitals held back the raw pace of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje for Maxwell.

Ominously for the Capitals, the last time de Villers scored something substantial was against Delhi – a match-winning 75* off 42 balls in a one-run win in the reverse fixture. So much water has flowed under the bridge since then, as the Capitals went on to win six of their seven matches post that loss. Shikhar Dhawan’s form helped the Capitals bounce back with the opener scoring at least 39 in four of his last seven innings and being one of the only three batsmen to score 500+ in this edition after 52 matches.

Credit must be also given to the uncapped Indian youngster Avesh Khan, who has been Delhi’s top bowler in seven of their 13 matches this season. With only Harshal Patel (29) taking more wickets than Avesh (22) this season, we may end up seeing a ‘Purple Cap’ battle between these two over the next week. Harshal has been a rare shining light in a lacklustre RCB attack that has taken just two wickets across their last seven powerplays with the ball, conceding at least 49 runs on each occasion.

These two sides are well-matched in terms of personnel, but the better consistency of Delhi sees them in a better position on the table. However, should the Capitals rest any of their key stars, it could well open the door here for RCB.

Stat Attack

RCB have hit the most sixes of the match in three of their last four matches.

Harshal Patel ended up with RCB’s best bowling figures in six of their last nine matches.

The last five matches at this venue have been won by the chasing side.

Six of Delhi Capitals’ last seven matches have been won by the chasing side.

Delhi have hit the most powerplay runs of the match in seven of their last eight matches including the reverse H2H fixture.

Against R Ashwin, de Villiers has been dismissed five times while Maxwell averages 57.5 with a strike rate of over 200.

Players To Watch

Virat Kohli, who already has the most runs by any player vs Delhi, needs 91 more to reach 1,000 runs against the Capitals. The RCB captain has scored at least 41 in six of his last ten innings against Delhi but could be tested by Axar Patel who became the first spinner to get consecutive ‘Player of the Match’ awards in the IPL since 2011 and has taken 2+ wickets in five of his last nine matches.

Best Bets

Suggested Bet: DC to score the most runs in the first 6 overs 1.90

Suggested Bet: Highest individual score to be over 65.5 (1.74)

Suggested Bet: RCB to hit the most sixes 1.90