Indian Premier League Tips Matches 26 and 27: Bowler injuries point to Hyderabad run glut

Click here for Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Capitals odds
Saturday 18 April, 11.00
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Capitals IPL Tips

Royal Challengers Bangalore are part of a three-strong mini league of crack units. Delhi Capitals are not involved. One would expect RCB to continue to showcase why they are champions and why they should go extremely close to a top-two finish.

Virat Kohli and co have won back-to-back since they were on the wrong end of a Rajasthan Royals blitzkrieg. Royals are in the select group as well with Punjab Kings leading the way and unbeaten.

The depth of RCB looks strong as they are able to afford resting Josh Hazlewood it seems. Hazlewood made his first appearance of the season against Royals and then sat out the next one before returning. It could be he makes way for Jacob Duffy again here. They are extremely well-stocked with pacers with Rasikh Salam catching the eye. 

Delhi are still waiting on the arrival of Mitchell Starc, but whether he gets into this XI is anyone's guess. He would probably have to replace Lungi Ngidi, who is having a terrific season particularly at the death.

As often will be the case this season, RCB are likely to be too smart for Delhi. Delhi, of course, had a major brain fade in defeat by Gujarat when David Miller decided to play fast and loose with basic mathematics, somehow reckoning it would be easier to score two runs off one ball instead of one off one. Many punters are unlikely to forgive.

The 1.664/6 is what we would expect for a crack team at home. Even batting second on a flat track and chasing more than 200 we don't expect Bangalore to go odds-against. The easiest way to get with RCB to win is to add in both teams scoring 170 or more on a reliable Chinaswammy surface. That is available at 10/111.91 with Sportsbook. If we consider for a moment what RCB might be chasing, say, 175, then the value is clear. 

Click here for Sunrisers Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings
Saturday 18 April, 15.00
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings IPL Tips

This is an intriguing contest between two teams who have settled after difficult starts. Sunrisers sit fourth at the time of writing with Chennai in eighth but level on the same number of points.

At the start of the tournament, both looked as though they were in for difficult campaigns. Sunrisers, however, overcame a six-wicket shellacking to RCB to beat Kolkata and then produce arguably the best peformance of the season by outclassing Rajasthan.

Chennai didn't get too down in the dumps following three straight defeats to Royals, Punjab and RCB, the trio which are likely to be in a battle all on their own for the top two slots. A win over Delhi and then a comfortable evening against kolkata has them away from the danger of a wooden spoon.

Both have suffered grim injury news this week. Sunrisers have lost David Payne and Brydon Carse for the tournament. Already stretched with the ball, Sunrisers can ill-afford such withdrawls. They have moved quickly to bring in Sri Lanka pacer Dilshan Madushanka. He goes straight into contention to start with Pat Cummins not expected to be involved until the end of the month.

Chennai have lost Khaleel Ahmed, their death expert. It is an injury which probably restricts CSK to a mid-table finish. He is that important. Mukesh Choudhary probably takes his place. Chennai could react with a total overhaul in balance but that seems unlikely. They have just settled on their make-up after Dewald Brevis came into the team 

With both teams depleted with the ball, it would not be a surprise if the batters dominated. The Hyderabad track can be reliable for runs, so long as the strip used is not the one outlier. The square is fast and true apart from one pitch. That has already been used this season for the contest against Lucknow, who squeezed home in a chase of 156. We await confirmation of the strip to be used but anticpate that 7/52.40 for both teams to bust 200 could be a play. 

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