FANTASY
Follow UsTwo of the most dominant sides in this edition of the Indian Premier League, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Delhi Capitals, will lock horns in the final league match of the tournament at the Dubai International Stadium. With both sides guaranteed a spot in the playoffs of the tournament, the game will be an ideal opportunity for them to fine-tune their combinations before the final stages of the competition.
In the Head of Head comparison, RCB have a slightly better record by winning 15 of the 26 matches played thus far. However, in the last five encounters, the Capitals have dominated the proceedings by winning four games.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall: Matches – 26| RCB – 15 wins | DC – 10 wins
Last five matches: RCB – 1 win | DC – 4 wins
SUGGESTED TEAM
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
GROUND DETAILS
The average first innings score at the Dubai International Stadium is around the 150-run mark. Earlier in the season, Punjab Kings scored 168 runs in the second innings against the Kolkata Knight Riders, the highest total at the venue in this edition. In the IPL 2021, the pace bowlers have picked 74 wickets in 18 innings at an average of 24.2 compared to 31 wickets at an average of 27.2 by spinners.
SUGGESTED CAPTAIN
Glenn Maxwell
With 447 runs in 12 innings at an average of 40.63 and a strike rate of 146.55, Glenn Maxwell has been one of the standout performers for the Bangalore outfit in this edition of the IPL. Coming in at number four, the right-handed batter has been a vital cog in the batting unit of RCB, especially in the second leg of the tournament as he smashed three consecutive half-centuries and shouldered the bulk of the responsibility of the side. The 32-year old has been handy with the off-spin in the middle overs as he picked up three wickets in his ten overs.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Maxwell could pick 0-1 wicket and score 17-25 runs in this match.
X-FACTORS
Shreyas Iyer
After making a comeback into Capitals' side in the second phase of the competition, Shreyas Iyer has been crucial to the fortunes of the side. With 126 runs in five innings, the right-handed batter has anchored the innings at the top of the order and will be the key player heading into the final league match of the tournament.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Iyer could score 14-20 runs in this match.
Harshal Patel
The leading wicket-taker of the tournament, Harshal Patel, will be one of the players to watch out for in this high-voltage clash. The right-handed pacer has scalped 29 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 14 in this edition of the competition. The 30-year old has made optimum use of the variations in the middle overs and wreaked havoc by scalping crucial wickers to dent the opposition batting unit. His experience with the ball will be the critical factor for RCB heading into the business end of the tournament
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Patel could pick 2-3 wicket in this match.
Virat Kohli
One of the finest batters in the modern generation, Virat Kohli, will be the crucial player for RCB heading into this much-awaited match. With 362 runs in 13 innings, the skipper of the Bangalore side will open the batting along with Devdutt Padikkal and will look to lay a solid foundation at the top of the order. The batting unit has will be reliant on Kohli, Maxwell and AB de Villiers to guide the team over the line in their crunch games.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Kohli could score 16-24 runs in this match.