Still recovering from a 69-run rout at the hands of Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore faces another big test in the form of a strong Delhi Capitals at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
While RCB suffered a first loss in five outings on Sunday, DC edged out Sunrisers Hyderabad in a Super Over thriller on the same day.
Level on points
RCB and DC are level on eight points, with the latter boasting of a better net run rate.
The DC top order — consisting of Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant and Steve Smith — did well to find runs on a slow Chennai pitch, and will relish the chance to go all out in more batting-friendly conditions at Ahmedabad.
In the absence of R. Ashwin, who has withdrawn from the tournament to be with his family in the fight against COVID-19, the spin bowling duties rest on Axar Patel and Amit Mishra.
Underwhelming
The pace attack is led by Avesh Khan — the team’s highest wicket-taker (11 wickets). South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has not been as impressive, with four wickets in as many outings.
RCB will be keen to forget the horrors of the previous match.
Seamer Harshal Patel, normally a safe bet at the death, was blasted for 37 runs by Ravindra Jadeja in the final over.
Faced with a stiff target of 192, the RCB batsmen folded. The likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell — all of whom are in good touch overall — will hope that the CSK fixture was but a minor blip.
