History
2 of the only 3 sides to have never won the IPL title, the North Indian franchises have a lot to prove this season. In their head to head record, these teams have faced each other 27 times, with Kings XI Punjab winning 16 times while Delhi have won 11 matches. However, earlier this season DC managed to beat Kings XI in heart-breaking fashion after they could not hit 1 run in the last 3 balls of the match, and then proceeded to lose the resultant super-over.
Team News
KXIP looked to be in incredible batting form initially. Both their openers, Rahul and Mayank have played two big innings each, including a century each as well. They have scored 200+ runs twice already, although their bowling has repeatedly failed them as RR managed to chase down the highest score in IPL history against them.
This disbalance has caused them to lost 4 matches in a row, and they are currently bottom of the table with just 1 win in 6 matches. They lost to SRH by a huge margin of 69 runs, but the performance of Pooran will be encouraging, as the over reliance on the openers has cost them so far. They suffered another heartbreak vs KKR as they lost by just 2 runs, after Glenn Maxwell came within inches of the boundary rope when they needed a 6 to tie the match. Finally, their patience paid off as they managed to beat RCB to end a streak of 4 straight defeats. The resurgence continued with a dramatic win over Mumbai Indians in their previous match, which ended in 2 separate super-overs !
The Delhi Capitals won their opening two matches to get off to the perfect start, and were top of the table before they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, they regained momentum and went on to win a hattrick of games. Their batting top order looks fairly consistent, with notable contributions from at least two of the top order batsmen in every game so far, followed by some big hitting by the likes of Stoinis and Hetmyer after them.
The bowling looks very good, however, with very economical spells by the spinners and a brilliant pace partnership between Rabada and Nortje. DC lost to MI by a narrow margin, before coming back to win brilliantly against RR. A couple of key injuries to Amit Mishra and Rishabh Pant is a very worrying sign, however, with their replacements not performing so well. DC have won 4 of their last 5 matches, and defeated CSK brilliantly in their last match, scoring 25 runs off the last over for a memorable victory.
Betting Preview, Picks And Prediction
To Win The Match
DC are the favourites to win the match with odds of 1.75 as per LeoVegas, which is not surprising considering they are in brilliant form of late, with 5 wins in their last 6 matches. KXIP have been on a comeback trail however, with back-to-back victories, including a stunning one over one of the strongest sides in the tournament, Mumbai Indians. They are 2.05 to win this match, which is definitely not an impossible outcome with their form.
Top Team Batsman
After his consistent form all season, KL Rahul is the favourite to be Punjab’s top batsman, with odds of 3.00. He is followed by his opening partner Mayank Agarwal at 3.75, which is tempting as he has been in equally brilliant form. However, both of them have failed in recent matches, with only Nicholas Pooran (4.50) performing brilliantly. Chris Gayle’s return has changed things, with the big West Indian now second-favourite to be the top scorer at 3.50.
Shikhar Dhawan is, as usual, the favourite to be Delhi’s top batsman in this match with odds of 3.20. He has been the top scorer for DC in the last 3 matches, with a stunning unbeaten century in the previous game. His opening partner Prithvi Shaw has odds of 4.00 after his impressive innings in the second match, while captain Shreyas Iyer has odds of 3.75, after his blistering knock against KKR propelled them to 227.
Highest Opening Partnership
Both these teams are equally poised at 1.90 to have the highest opening partnership. This is primarily because though Shaw and Dhawan are an experienced pair who posted a big partnership in a few matches. KXIP now have Gayle back, and he along with Rahul can be explosive up top.
Top Team Bowler
Mohammed Shami is the favourite to be the top bowler for Punjab at 3.50, with Cottrel at 4.00 another attractive option.
South African pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada is in brilliant form of late, and is DC’s favourite to be the top bowler, at 3.00. He is also the current purple cap holder. He is followed by compatriot Nortje at 3.75, who was the man of the match in the previous match.
Total Runs In The Match
Odds of there being more than 336.5 runs in this match are 1.76, as per LeoVegas. This seems highly achievable as both these teams have some brilliant batsmen and have scored plenty of runs this season.
Individual Player Betting
- Shikhar Dhawan to score more than 29.5 runs has odds of 1.87,which is a tempting bet as he has scored back to back half centuries followed by a century in the previous match. Watson to score more than 24.5 runs also has odds of 1.87, which is also a tempting bet as he would like to continue his current form.
- DC to hit the most sixes has odds of 2.15, which is understandable as they have Stoinis and Dhawan, who prefer the aerial route more often than not. KXIP to hit the most sixes has odds of 1.96, which can be tempting with Gayle back, and also Rahul, Pooran and Maxwell, all can hit sixes.
- Rabada to take 2 or more wickets has odds of 1.96 which is a given with his form, while Shami to take 2 or more wickets has odds of 2.40, which is attractive as he can snap up death-over wickets.
Our Top Betting Picks
- KXIP to win the match @2.05
- KXIP to hit the most sixes @1.96
- DC to have the Highest Opening Partnership @1.90
- Rabada to take 2 or more wickets @1.96
