The Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to lock second spot in IPL 2015 when they host the Delhi Daredevils in their final league game of the season.
RCB have peaked at just the right time, with their superstar trio of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers coming to the fore. With Mitchell Starc also firing in those yorkers with unerring regularity, RCB are definitely one of the favourites for the title, and that feeling will only increase with a win over DD, which will ensure two bites at reaching the IPL 2015 final.
"We are looking to win our final game at home and play good cricket again and get across the line and make it to the top two," Virat Kohli told IPL's official website. "It is a great opportunity for us. We are glad to be in this position right now but complacency is not the word for RCB this season."
It was Kohli and Gayle who won RCB the game last time out, with the two openers playing a couple of outstanding knocks to as good as seal their spot in the playoffs. Chasing a big score of 81 in six overs, Gayle made full use of the two Powerplay overs, before Kohli, after the West Indian and AB De Villiers fell in successive deliveries, saw the team home with a ball to spare in thrilling style.
That win took RCB past KKR on net run rate with both teams on 15 points, and a win against DD, or even a point – since Royal Challengers Bangalore's net run rate is so good – should take them to a match against CSK in Qualifier 1.
The only way RCB can find themselves out of the playoffs reckoning is if they lose to DD by a massive margin, which, let's be honest, is unlikely to happen.
For the Daredevils, this game is about that pride word again, and some salvation that comes with it. They did it pretty well in their last game – against CSK – bowling superbly to restrict the powerful batting lineup to a low score, before easily chasing down the runs.
Bowling will be crucial against for DD against RCB, with Zaheer Khan again expected to lead from the front. Zaheer was outstanding against CSK, finishing with figures of 4-1-9-2, and the India veteran will want more of the same against his former team, even if he will know, as good as anyone, that bowling at the M Chinnaswamy is a completely different prospect to Raipur.
"I am just happy to be back on the field," Zaheer said after that brilliant performance against Chennai Super Kings. "Obviously there were a lot of doubts earlier when I was away from the game for so long, but I am glad the way I have responded.
"I am glad that I am back on the field and things will get better and better."
Where to Watch Live
RCB vs DD IPL 2015 Match 55 is scheduled for a 4 pm IST (11.30 am BST, 6.30 am ET) start with live TV coverage in India on Sony Six, Sony Max, Sony Kix and Sony Aath. India viewers can also watch the match via live streaming online on Hotstar and Starsports.com.
Audience in the US can watch Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Daredevils on ESPN or ESPN Cricket, while UK viewers can catch all the match action live on Sky Sports, Sky Go and Watch Sky Sports. Viewers from the rest of the world can go to Cricketgateway.com to watch live the IPL 2015 game.
