Axar Patel and Rajat Patidar (BCCI/IPL Photo)
Delhi Capitals are still hurting after a shocking defeat in which they scored 264 runs but still lost. They now have very little time to recover as they face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday.Delhi are currently sixth on the points table and are in a tight race for the playoffs. Another defeat could seriously hurt their chances.So far this season, Delhi have batted very well but have struggled with the ball. Their top order, led by KL Rahul, has given strong starts. Players like Nitish Rana and David Miller have kept the runs flowing in the middle overs.However, their bowling has been a big concern. They have failed to defend even big totals.
The death bowling, in particular, has been weak and teams are taking advantage of it.Bowlers like Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav and captain Axar Patel need to perform better, especially in crucial moments.On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been more balanced this season. They are placed second on the table and have done well in both batting and bowling. Led by Virat Kohli, their batting has been strong, and Devdutt Padikkal’s return to form has added more depth.
RCB’s bowlers have also impressed, especially in the final overs. In their last match against Gujarat Titans, bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood controlled the game well at the death and stopped the opposition from scoring big.DC vs RCB: Head to headMatches: 34 RCB wins: 20: DC Wins: 13No Result: 1 RCB hold a clear edge over Delhi Capitals in their head-to-head record, winning 20 of the 34 matches, while Delhi have managed 13 victories, with one game ending in no result.
However, the contest has been evenly balanced in recent years, with both teams winning three matches each since 2023. At the Kotla, RCB have dominated with seven wins, compared to Delhi’s four, highlighting their strong record at the venue.DC vs RCB Today IPL match: Pitch reportThe Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is known as a batting-friendly venue in the IPL. The pitch offers true bounce, which helps batters play their shots freely. The last match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings turned into a run-fest, and a similar high-scoring game can be expected again.
The boundaries are short and the outfield is quick, making scoring easier. It will be hot in the evening, and dew is unlikely to play a big role.DC vs RCB IPL match: Weather updateWeather conditions in New Delhi are expected to stay clear, with no chances of rain interrupting the match. April usually brings peak summer in Delhi, and it will be very hot during the day, followed by a warm evening.Daytime temperatures could reach around 40–42°C. By match time, it is likely to drop to 30–32°C and may further cool down to around 28–29°C later in the night.
Humidity is expected to remain low, between 20–30 per cent.DC vs RCB: Predicted XIsRCB Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, Auqib NabiDC Probable XI: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash SharmaDC vs RCB: Live Streaming detailsThe DC vs RCB clash will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi with the match set to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
The game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.DC vs RCB: SquadsDelhi Capitals: Axar Patel (c), K.L. Rahul, Karun Nair, David Miller, Pathum Nissanka, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Dar, Nitish Rana, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungisani Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson, and Kuldeep Yadav.Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (captain), Virat Kohli, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jordan Cox, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Duffy, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Phil Salt, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, and Vihaan Malhotra.
