This weekend’s IPL action is stacked with mouthwatering matches, with 40 more games left this season. Teams will be looking to keep their playoff aspiration alive, while others will be trying to avoid the wooden spoon. Have a look at our best bets for this IPL 2024 weekend.
Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Saturday, 20 April at 16:00
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium
Halfway through the season, Delhi Capitals finally play at Arun Jaitley Stadium after starting their “home” games in Visakhapatnam. Despite the excitement, Delhi’s home record last year (2-5) might dampen expectations, especially remembering a nine-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
David Warner, absent in Delhi’s last win due to a minor injury, might return, supplementing the efforts of Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has impressively topped the team’s scoring in his first IPL outings. Although Delhi has been averaging with the bat and ball, they’ve excelled in powerplay bowling, particularly through Khaleel Ahmed’s effective pace.
Sunrisers Hyderabad enters with a strong 4/2 record, aiming for their fifth win to move up the leaderboard. With a significant 64% win rate at Arun Jaitley Stadium, including a 5/1 record against Delhi, they’re poised for another victory. Hyderabad’s strategy remains clear: outscore opponents, evidenced by their high-scoring, albeit costly, bowling performances, with only Pat Cummins and T Natarajan maintaining reasonable economy rates.
The form and destructiveness of SRH’s batting order will prove to be too strong for Delhi, so back the Sunrisers to win this one.
Prediction: Sunrisers Hyderabad to win at 1.66.
Best Bet: Sunrisers Hyderabad to score the most runs in the 1st 6 overs at 1.74.
Value Bet: Travis Head to score 50+ runs at 3.35.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Sunday, 21 April at 12:00
Venue: Eden Gardens
In the previous encounter between these two sides this season, KKR won by 7 wickets, with 19 balls remaining. These teams have had contrasting campaigns. KKR are sitting pretty in second place on the table while RCB are at the bottom and have yet to win a game this season.
KKR’s standout performer this season has been Sunil Narine, who’s been fantastic with both bat and ball, including a sensational century in the previous game against Rajasthan Royals. On the other hand, RCB have been too reliant on Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis with the bat, with no other batter picking their hand up.
KKR will prove to be too strong for RCB once again so back them to win this game.
Prediction: Royal Challengers Bangalore to win at 1.64.
Best Bet: Individual score to be over 74.5 at 1.86.
Alternative Bet: Virat Kohli to 50+ runs at 3.00.
Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans
Sunday, 21 April at 16:00
Venue: Singh International Cricket Stadium
The last match of the weekend will see 8th take on 9th as Gujarat Titans travel to Mohali to square off against Punjab Kings. The hosts will be desperate for a win after a run of poor results and will hope to have captain, Shikhar Dhawan back back for this game. Gujarat Titans have been inconsistent this season after winning two of their last five games. In their previous game, they lost by 6 wickets to a struggling Delhi Capitals side.
This should be an intriguing contest between two struggling teams on a ground that has aided the quicker bowlers. Punjab have a strong bowling attack and will fancy themselves against an undercooked Titans batting lineup. Back Punjab Kings to win this game.
Prediction: Punjab Kings to win at 2.05.
Best Bet: Fall of 1st wicket to be under 21.5 at 1.83.
Alternative Bet: Shubman Gill to score over 26.5 runs at 1.86.