IPL 2021, RCB vs DC Preview: Will Bangalore spoil Delhi's bid for a top-spot finish?
Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals have sealed their IPL 2021 playoffs berth. However, DC is bidding for the top spot, as RCB would look to play spoilsport to it.
FollowThe race for the top spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 is still on, as Royal Challengers Bangalore takes on Delhi Capitals in Match 56 at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday. On the same note, we present the match preview of this thrilling clash.
Current form
RCB is placed third in the table, with eight wins from 13 matches, having 16 points. As for DC, it is on the top, with ten wins from 13 and possesses 20 points. While RCB has to be contained with a third spot finish, it would look to spoil DC's bid for a top-spot finish.
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Team composition
Considering the sides, RCB has a genuinely authentic bowling attack with enough star powers. Contrastly, its batting has been somewhat shaky, as it lacks enough star power, besides being dependant on skipper Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.
On the other hand, DC has a balanced side in all departments, equally distributed star players in every department, making it one of the most stable sides of the tournament. Undoubtedly, it is the team to beat, with the possession of solid star powers.
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Injury concerns: None of the sides has any injury concerns.
Head-to-head
The two sides have clashed on 27 occasions, with RCB leading 16-10, while in 26 IPL clashes, RCB has a lead of 15-10. In the three United Arab Emirates (UAE) encounters, DC leads 2-1, while the only game in Dubai between the two saw DC triumph.
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Weather and pitch report
The Dubai weather would be sunny and hot, with a temperature of around 36 degrees and 58% humidity. Meanwhile, the track would be somewhat slow, while the side winning the toss should go ahead with the chase, citing some dew factors.
Probable XI
RCB: Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Daniel Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj and Yuzvendra Chahal.
DC: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ripal Patel, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan and Anrich Nortje.
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Fantasy XI
Batters: Kohli, Dhawan, Shaw, Padikkal- Kohli and Dhawan would give a strong start, along with Shaw and Padikkal at three and four.
Wicketkeeper: Pant- He is the only in-form man in this department.
All-rounders: Maxwell (vc), Lalit, Shahbaz- Maxwell has been in tremendous form across departments, making him the deputy captain, while Lalit and Shahbaz have been nailing it with the ball.
Bowlers: Harshal (c), Avesh, Garton- Harshal has rocked it this season with his pace balling, thus making him the skipper, while Avesh and Garton are sure to do the same with their pace.
Match details
Date and day: October 8, 2021 (Friday)
Venue: Dubai International Stadium
Time: 7.30 PM (IST)
Where to watch (TV): Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi (Also available in HD, along with regional languages)
Where to watch (Online): Hotstar
