Published: May 04, 2019, 12:41 PM (IST)
Edited: May 04, 2019, 12:41 PM (IST)
Both teams are playing for different reasons. For Delhi Capitals, a big win will ensure a top-two finish which will give them two shots (if they lost the first qualifier) at making the IPL 2019 playoffs. A defeat would mean they finish third unless Mumbai Indians lose their final match and that too by a massive margin.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals desperately need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Apart from winning, they will be praying for some favourable results – Sunrisers Hyderabad, a playoff contender, lose to Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders, another playoff contender, also lose to Mumbai Indians. So, it’s a complex scenario for the inaugural IPL champions.
TEAM NEWS:
DELHI CAPITALS
Back at the Kotla, DC may want to drop Chris Morris for Sandeep Lamichhane to add a spinning option.
Likely XI: 1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Shreyas Iyer (wk), 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5 Colin Ingram, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Sherfane Rutherford, 8 J Suchith, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Sandeep Lamichhane
RAJASTHAN ROYALS
With Steve Smith back in Australia, the captaincy will go back to Ajinkya Rahane. Smith’s place in the team looks set to go to fellow Australian Ashton Turner, unless Ish Sodhi gets the nod to bolster the spin attack.
Likely XI: 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 3 Liam Livingstone, 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Ashton Turner, 6 Mahipal Lomror, 7 Stuart Binny, 8 Shreyas Gopal, 9 Jaydev Unadkat, 10 Varun Aaron, 11 Oshane Thomas
Head to Head (IPL matches)
Matches played: 19
Won by DC: 8
Won by RR: 11
Form Guide (most recent first)
DC: L W W W L
RR: NR W W L L
DC vs RR PREDICTION: Given DC’s record at home this season, they wouldn’t be too confident of finishing the league stage with a win considering their opponent boast of legspinner Shreyas Gopal someone who can exploit the slow conditions to his advantage. But they lost their previous match, against Chennai Super Kings, and will be itching to return to winning ways. RR have won their previous two completed matches and were well on the way of winning a third one before rain poured cold water on their hopes against RCB. Despite the CSK setback, DC have been on the rise and start favourites to win.
