The penultimate day of round robin action in the Indian Premier League is a double header and it all begins in Jaipur where the Rajasthan Royals and the Royal Challengers Bangalore play out their final match of the regular season.
Both sides go into the contest still in with a chance of progressing through to the knockout stages although they need to win by a decent margin and hope results go their way over the remainder of the weekend.
Rajasthan Royals
It looked as though the Rajasthan Royals were giving themselves a chance of keeping their destiny in their own hands but a defeat to the Kolkata Knight Riders last time out left them needing to win by a monster margin and then to get their prayer mats and hope that they have done enough. They have a good record at home so the win bit might be possible. The margin a different story.
Clearly if they are going to win big here then they are going to need their batting and their bowling to go together as one and I guess you never can tell. There is an outside chance they can win narrowly and still progress but that would leave them relying on the Delhi Daredevils which won’t be a comfortable position to be in.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The Royal Challengers Bangalore have finally got the hang of it and are on a bit of a roll. A win here will all but secure their place in the top four given that they have such a good run rate and it is ominous that they are beginning to get more batsmen in form and even more eye catching that they are starting to do things with the ball.
Getting more bowling options into their side has certainly helped and using them at different times each match is keeping sides guessing how they are going to do. If they don’t win here they will only have themselves to blame but if they do and they make it through they might just go into the postseason as the team to beat.
Team News
Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes have left the Rajasthan Royals camp now so you would think D’Arcy Short and Heinrich Klaasen will come in for those but both are going to be massive losses. It remains to be seen how they will order themselves as a result.
There is no need for Royal Challengers Bangalore to make any changes to their ranks especially as Moeen Ali can stay in India for the duration of the tournament having failed to be picked by England for Test duty.
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Betting
Bangalore are shortening all the time for this match and I guess with Buttler and Stokes away that is perfectly understandable but there is something about this Royal Challengers side that I don’t trust and I can’t possibly back them at odds on in what is still a must win game for them.
I think the better bet comes in the total runs where the line of 325.5 runs is very much on the high side it must be said. This isn’t one of the highest scoring grounds anyway but this Rajasthan batting line up looks flimsy without Buttler and Stokes but thankfully for the home side most of their bowling attack remains in place. There is still a skittles look about Bangalore if Kohli or de Villiers don’t fire so while taking them on is a risk I’m far from convinced we’ll see scores over 162 from each side here.
Tips
WON – Back Under 325.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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