The race for the play-offs in the Indian Premier League could become a little clearer on Friday when the Rising Pune Supergiant head to Delhi to take on the Delhi Daredevils in the penultimate match in the league phase for both sides.
Delhi know whatever they do in their final two matches they won’t be going beyond the regular season but Pune head into this game certain that a win will guarantee them a play-off spot.
Delhi Daredevils
With nothing to play for the younger players for the Delhi Daredevils have the ideal opportunity to showcase their talents in an appealing way and they did just that in their last match against the Gujarat Lions. They batted with carefree abandon and Shreyas Iyer in particular looked so much better for it.
If they bat well Delhi they are a match for anyone as we’ve seen in the tournament all season but they do have absolute shockers in their locker. Resources are starting to become slightly more stretched in the bowling department with international players heading off on national duty and that is a concern.
Rising Pune Supergiant
After a really tough start to the tournament the Rising Pune Supergiant have finally started to live up to their name. In the beginning of this season they couldn’t get anything going with the bat or the ball but the credit must go to them for turning it around and now they are looking very dangerous in both departments.
I’ve been particularly impressed with the Supergiant with the ball in recent matches and even though they are losing some players to international duty the ones who have been impressing have been the Indian players and they are staying. The question will be whether they can put up the runs with the bat that they have been.
Team News
Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada had left prior to the last Delhi Daredevils match so assuming Rishabh Pant’s finger injury doesn’t keep him out of this one then the home side are expected to be unchanged.
Rising Pune Supergiant will be without Imran Tahir and Faf du Plessis for the rest of the competition after they have left for international duty. Du Plessis wasn’t playing anyway while Adam Zampa is a fair replacement for Tahir.
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Betting
I’m not always one to be backing a side who has to win just because they do have to win but I’m going to back the Rising Pune Supergiant in this match. I’m doing it because I think all around they are the better side.
Delhi Daredevils have some fearsome young batsmen but Steve Smith has rotated his bowlers nicely and it is hard to line this Pune attack up all of a sudden. The most Pune have conceded in their last four matches is 161 and you’ve got to think Delhi will need more than that to win here. Even if they get more than that there are plenty of runs in this Pune side so I’m with them.
Jaydev Unadkat has at least one wicket in every match he has played in this tournament but he has ten wickets in his last three and he heads to Delhi in very good form. Having played for the Daredevils in the past he will know this ground well and given that he bowls up front and at the death when cheap wickets come along he could be overpriced at 3/1 to be Pune’s leading bowler.
Tips
Back Rising Pune Supergiant to beat Delhi Daredevils for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with BetVictor
Back them here:
DEAD HEAT – Back J.Unadkat Top Rising Pune Supergiant Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 4.00 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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