The Cricketer takes a look at the next fixture in the 2022 Indian Premier League season
Delhi Capitals take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
The game will begin on Saturday, April 16, 2022. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30pm local time (3pm GMT).
It will be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Delhi Capitals have had a mixed start to this year’s IPL, winning two of their opening four games. They were impressive in their last outing against Kolkata Knight Riders, following two low-scores in losses with a huge 215 for 5 in a 44-run-win.
It has been a team effort with the bat, with five players averaging over 30.
Royal Challengers Bangalore have won three of their five games so far but lost their most recent clash against Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs. Chennai posted a huge 216 for 4, which will be a worry for a Bangalore side that relied on a tight bowling attack until then.
Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant [screengrab/BCCI]
Kuldeep Yadav has been excellent for Delhi so far. The left-arm wrist-spinner has taken 10 wickets at 12 so far and kept his economy below eight. A spinner who can attack and defend goes along way in T20 cricket, and Yadav has the ability beat Bangalore on his own.
Up against him is Dinesh Karthik, a man continuing to prove he can thrive both in the commentary box and on the pitch. Karthik has incredible numbers so far this year, with an average of 131 and a strike rate of 218. If he keeps his current form going it could put RCB well out of reach.
Matches played: 27
Delhi Capitals wins: 10
Royal Challengers Bangalore wins: 17
Mumbai will be a sunny 30 degrees Celsius in the afternoon but should drop to 27 for the start of play.
Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje, David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Shardul Thakur, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Ashwin Hebbar, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, KS Bharat, Sarfaraz Khan, Mandeep Singh, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Yash Dhull, Rovman Powell, Pravin Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Tim Seifert, Vicky Ostwal
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Faf du Plessis, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Anuj Rawat, Shahbaz Ahamad, Akash Deep, Josh Hazlewood, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudessai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma, Siddharth Kaul, Luvnith Sisodia (injury replacement: Rajat Patidar), David Willey
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Risabh Pant, Lalit Yadav, Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav, Shardul Thakar, Mustafizur Rahman, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf Du Plessis, Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Sherfane Rutherford, David Willey, Wanindu Harasanga, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
Royal Challengers Bangalore go in search of another win [screengrab/BCCI]
Bet365 have Royal Challengers Bangalore as 4/5 favourites with 1/1 odds on a Delhi Capitals win.
Bangalore have the batting to see them past both teams, and look set to edge past Delhi in a close match.
In the UK, Sky Sports have exclusive rights to this year's tournament, with matches available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.
Fans in India can watch all of the action on Star Sports.
Elsewhere in the world, viewers in Australia can watch the IPL on Fox Sports while in New Zealand, Sky Sport will provide coverage.
Willow TV and Flow Sports will broadcast the tournament in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively.
Fans in MENA can catch the action on beIN Sports while in South Africa, SuperSport have the rights.
The IPL can also be streamed on Disney+ and Hotstar in certain areas.
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