RR vs DC IPL 2019: Can a fresh Rajasthan muscle Delhi?

With a change in captaincy came a change in result for Rajasthan. With the road to the play-offs becoming daunting, RR made a desperate call to change their skipper and for now it seems a good decision as Steve Smith led them to a win against Mumbai. But can he continue his magic and muscle Delhi Capitals too?

After a tottering start, Delhi Capitals have found a way to balance things and are looking strong despite a few chinks in their armor.

Venue:

The Kotla wicket still looks to be on the slower side, something which Ricky Ponting has already complained about. And given Rajasthan’s bowling attack it would mean advantage visitors.  Hence, Delhi team management might push the groundsman to change the wicket a bit.

Win ✅
Unwind ✅
Prepare for next game ✅

Here are the team room scenes as the lads take a break ahead of another home game tomorrow! ? #HallaBol pic.twitter.com/hMOyV1szoY

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 21, 2019

Form guide:

The opening combination is still a worry for Rajasthan as they haven’t found the ideal partner for Buttler yet. The form of Stokes is a big headache but Ryan Paras’ innings the other night was a big morale booster for the team.

Gopal continues to shine and so does Archer but there is very little to look forward to beyond them in the bowling attack.

Key Numbers: 

• Rajasthan have an advantage over Delhi in head to head battles. RR have won 11 while Delhi have won just seven matches. In fact in the last eight matches, Delhi has won only once.

• Between the two sides, Ajinkya Rahane is the leading run-scorer with 494 runs in 10 innings at a stunning average of 70.57.

Players in focus:

With three fifties in 10 innings, Shikhar Dhawan has done justice to his reputation in Indian Premier League 2019 so far. He is the leading run-scorer for Delhi with 347 runs and has six 30+ scores, the most in this season of IPL. And he is coming fresh from a fifty in his last game.

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A strike rate of just 110.85 has kept Steve Smith out of the limelight but has quietly emerged as RR’s second highest run scorer with 245 runs at an impressive average of 49.00.

With the added responsibility of captaincy expect Smith to score more crucial runs for RR.