Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 24th match of IPL 2025. The game will be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Both teams have six points, so this match is expected to be a tight contest.
DC Remain Unbeaten and Confident
So far, DC have won all three of their matches. They defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). As a result, they sit at the top of the points table with six points.
Unlike other teams, DC have had a relaxed schedule. They got at least four days off between matches. This helped their players recover and stay fresh. Therefore, the squad looks calm, focused, and ready.
Although no DC batter has hit a century yet, everyone has contributed. KL Rahul’s top score is 92. However, their bowlers have made the real difference. Mitchell Starc has led the attack well. Kuldeep Yadav has taken six wickets with an impressive economy rate of 6.00. In addition, Axar Patel and Vipraj Nigam have supported him well.
DC might get a boost if Faf du Plessis returns from a groin injury. Assistant coach Matthew Mott said, “he certainly looks like he's moving around a lot better from the naked eye without having to look at him.” If he plays, he will likely open with Jake Fraser-McGurk. That could push Sameer Rizvi out of the XI. Meanwhile, T Natarajan is close to full fitness and may replace Mohit Sharma if ready.
RCB Aim to Fix Home Record
On the other hand, RCB have also collected six points, but they have played one extra game. They beat KKR, CSK, and MI, while their only defeat came against Gujarat Titans (GT).
Looking back to 2022, RCB won nine of their 14 matches. But they missed out on a top-two finish due to net run rate. Back then, they didn’t play home games because of Covid restrictions.
Even though Chinnaswamy is their home, it hasn't always helped. The pitch is flat, the boundaries are short, and scoring is easy. This makes it hard for bowlers. In the past, RCB struggled to find the right bowling combination. However, this season feels different. Their bowling looks more balanced. Therefore, fans are hopeful.
Despite losing their first home match to GT, RCB will look to bounce back strongly against DC.
Middle-Order Comes to the Rescue
RCB’s middle-order has played a crucial role. For example, in their last game, they were 42 for 4. But the batters from positions 5 to 8 scored 120 runs in the last 12 overs. They helped the team reach 169 for 8. Notably, Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, and Tim David have impressed. All three average above 40 and strike at more than 150. They have been excellent against spin. However, DC’s spin attack could test them. Kuldeep, Axar, and Nigam have been in great form. This middle-over battle might decide the match.
RCB Face Impact Player Dilemma
RCB may also need to make a change in their Impact Player. Last time, they picked Rasikh Salam over Suyash Sharma. But Salam went wicketless and gave away 35 runs in just three overs. Therefore, RCB might bring Suyash back into the side.
Pitch and Weather Report
The pitch at Chinnaswamy favors batters. The ball comes on nicely, and the short boundaries make scoring easier. As a result, the team that wins the toss may choose to bowl first. Dew in the second innings often helps the chasing side. According to Weather.com, there is very little chance of rain. The temperature will be around 33°C, with humidity above 40%.
Squads
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam, Swapnil Singh, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Lungi Ngidi, Nuwan Thushara, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh
Delhi Capitals (DC): Jake Fraser-McGurk, KL Rahul (w), Abishek Porel, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Karun Nair, Darshan Nalkande, Donovan Ferreira, Faf du Plessis, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Dushmantha Chameera, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Manvanth Kumar L, Madhav Tiwari