Match Preview – RCB vs Capitals, Indian Premier League 2023, 20th Match

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Big picture: Capitals look to snap losing streak

Two weeks into IPL 2023, Delhi Capitals are the only winless team in the tournament. Anrich Nortje threatened to put them on the board with his pinpoint yorkers in their last match against Mumbai Indians, but a wayward throw from David Warner in the outfield and Tim David’s big dive on the last ball consigned Capitals to their fourth successive defeat.

Royal Challengers Bangalore were also on the wrong side of a last-ball finish earlier this week, but they’re better placed than Capitals on the standings and will be bolstered further by the return of Wanindu Hasaranga, who is one of the top wristspinners in T20 cricket right now.

However, there are some concerns around RCB’s middle order and their batting approach in the middle overs, particularly against spin. Left-arm spinners Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav offer Capitals a favourable match-up against Royal Challengers’ right-hander heavy top five. Nortje and Mustafizur have been formidable at the death, but Warner’s go-slow at the top has left them playing catch-up. Mitchell Marsh’s return and an easy-paced hit-through-the-line Chinnaswamy track, though, could free him up.

Team news: Wanindu Hasaranga, Mitchell Marsh return

Hasaranga has linked up with Royal Challengers and is available for selection after having completed his national commitments in New Zealand. The Sri Lanka legspinner will slot into the XI in place of David Willey or Wayne Parnell. This will result in another swap: Akash Deep for Karn Sharma. Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is expected to arrive in India on Friday and will finish his rehab with Royal Challengers. It is understood that he’s unlikely to play against Capitals on Saturday.

Toss and Impact Player strategy

Anuj Rawat might be used as a floater in the middle order to counter Axar and Kuldeep if Royal Challengers bat first. Seamer Akash Deep is likely to come in as an Impact Player when they bowl.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Bat-first XI (possible): 1 Faf du Plessis (capt), 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Mahipal Lomror, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Anuj Rawat, 7 Shahbaz Ahmed, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 David Willey/Wayne Parnell, 11 Mohammed Siraj

Bowl-first XI (possible): 1 Faf du Plessis (capt), 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Mahipal Lomror, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Shahbaz Ahmed, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Harshal Patel, 9 David Willey/Wayne Parnell, 10 Akash Deep, 11 Mohammed Siraj

Delhi Capitals

Marsh, who had missed Capitals’ last two games for his wedding, has rejoined the squad and is likely to return to the starting XI in place of Rovman Powell.

Capitals are likely to bring in Mukesh Kumar or Chetan Sakariya as their Impact Player, when they bowl. Prithvu Shaw might make way for one of the two seamers.

Bat-first XI (possible): 1 David Warner (capt), 2 Prithvi Shaw, 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Yash Dhull/Aman Khan, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Lalit Yadav, 8 Abhishek Porel (wk), 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Bowl-first XI (possible): 1 David Warner (capt), 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Manish Pandey, 4 Yash Dhull/Aman Khan, 5 Axar Patel, 6 Lalit Yadav, 7 Abhishek Porel (wk), 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Anrich Nortje, 10 Mukesh Kumar/Chetan Sakariya, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

Another Chinnaswamy belter is on the cards. A total of 1161 sixes have been hit at this ground in the IPL which is the second most behind Wankhede (1349) in the competition. The weather is expected to be fine for the duration of the game.

Stats that matter

Glenn Maxwell vs Kuldeep promises to be an intriguing match-up. Maxwell has hit the wristpinner for 59 runs in 21 balls while being dismissed three times in the IPL.
Dinesh Karthik has a strong head-to-head record against Mustafizur in T20 cricket: 46 runs off 23 balls with just one dismissal.
Royal Challengers (9.51) and Capitals (9.18) have the worst economy rates in IPL 2023.

Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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