RCB vs DC Preview – Struggling Bangalore take on winless Delhi
The matches in IPL 2023 are coming thick and fast as Royal Challengers Bangalore takes on bottom-placed Delhi Capitals in the 20th league meeting of this year’s competition. The Men in Gold and Red will be playing their second successive home game of the season at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after their heartbreaking loss against Lucknow Super Giants.
Faf du Plessis’ men were the favorites after posting a mammoth total of 212 runs on the board in their first innings. However, all the good work by their batters came unstuck in the second innings as KL Rahul’s side completed a sensational chase in a dramatic last-ball thriller. RCB’s much-maligned bowling attack received a big boost after the arrival of Sri Lankan mystery spinner Wanindu Hasaranga for IPL 2023.
Meanwhile, David Warner’s Delhi Capitals are looking well off the paces this season after losing all four of the matches so far. The team under the veteran Aussie looks quite unsettled, with the management still unsure about their best eleven. The lack of runs from the top-order batters has also compounded their misery in the 16th edition of the tournament.
Pitch and conditions
The surface at the Chinnaswamy is a batting paradise, and no score is safe at this venue, given the result of the last fixture on this ground. Bowlers will find it hard to escape punishment on the flat pitch, with the team winning the toss likely to bowl first at this venue.
Venue details: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Last T20 match at the venue: RCB- 212/2 (20 overs) LSG- 213/9 (20 overs)
Probable playing XI for Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals:
Royal Challengers Bangalore
RCB’s failure to defend a daunting total in their last outing will still haunt their bowlers, especially the pacers, who were taken for plenty by the pair of Marcus Stonis and Nicholas Pooran. But they will be buoyed by the performance of star Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj and will be looking to bounce back with a victory against Delhi Capitals. Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is also set to be available for this game.
Delhi Capitals
Barring skipper David Warner and Indian all-rounder Axar Patel, none of the Delhi Capitals batters managed to breach the 30-run mark in their last outing against Mumbai Indians. Despite a lacklustre showing by the batters, Anrich Nortje’s brilliant last over almost pulled off a miraculous victory for his side. Mitchell Marsh has returned from Australia and is likely to feature in the playing XI.
