IPL Tips Matches 61 and 62: Crucial Super Sunday for play-off race

Click here for Punjab Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore odds
Sunday 17 May, 11.00
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Punjab Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL Tips

Punjab Kings are suffering a spectacular fall from grace. They have lost five in a row to put qualification in serious jeopardy and defeat to Bangalore here could see them out of the top four with one to play.

Those with long memories will recall that Punjab are a franchise with form for a collapse. In 2018 they had won five of their first six to lead the way. But they managed to win only one of their final eight. This campaign is eerily similar.

The issue is with the ball. They couldn't defend Fort Knox and for all the credit they deserve for building a batting unit which can be aggressive and destructive, consistently busting 200, it's not much use when in the field they struggle. They are now bottom of bowling economy. They are the ultimate one-dimensional team topping the strike rate rankings.

Panic does appear to have set in. Players have been chopped and changed. This can impact confidence. Batters, understandably, are now more way of failing leading to the axe while there is the added complication of extra pressure knowing that 200-210 is likely to be below what is required for the bowling group.

Another issue is their second home, Dharamsala. The smaller outfield is being blamed as they are used to the larger one at New Chandigarh. It is true that there can be more seam and swing in Dharamsala but both venues have been good for batting so the excuse appears to be pretty thin. Besides they have far more experience than other IPL teams there.

Perhaps the most telling of all the factors is assistant coach Brad Hadding admitting that his players just haven't coped with the pressure. It's not going to start diminishing now.

They couldn't have picked a worse opponent to try to reverse the slide. Bangalore, the champions, are the best-balanced and most efficient unit in the competition. And they are likely to get better once they make the decision to return Phil Salt to the opening berth alongside Virat Kohli.

The debate over whether Jacob Bethell should be in IPL or England preparing for the Test series against New Zealand has surely been settled by consistent failure.

Last time out against Kolkata, Bangalore added Jacob Duffy to the XI to work alongside Josh Hazlewood. It's a mean and magnificent pace attack which will fancy their chances of keeping quiet Punjab's top order.

If Punjab are smart they will hope to rectify their slump by batting second and taking the focus off their bowlers. Bangalore were brilliantly  controlled in their chase against KKR, with Virat Kohli manipulating the field expertly. They barely got out of first gear and didn't even need to hit that many sixes. 

The upshot, unsurprisingly, is to expect a Bangalore win. Sportsbook agree making RCB 4/61.67 favourites. But thy best play could be for the visitors to win the match and both teams to score 170 at 10/111.91 on what is a good surface. The 13/82.63 for the RCB and most sixes also has appeal.

Click here for Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Capitals odds
Sunday 17 May, 15.00
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Capitals IPL Tips

Rajasthan Royals could be the main beneficiary of Punjab's demise. A win for them and RCB on Sunday will return the Royals to the top four.

It is true, of course, that Royals have suffered a similar decline to Punjab, although not as dramatic. The early skirmishes suggested they were going to be a crack unit.

But middle- to lower-order batting frailties, which have been a consistent problem over the last few seasons, have returned to haunt them. They are too reliable on Yas Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blitzing teams up front.

Delhi Capitals may be good opponents for them. Capitals need mathematical complexities and results elsewhere to go their way if they are to have any chance of making the top four. They also need to win their last two. They're not at full pelt.

These two sides met on May Day with Delhi chasing 225 with five balls remaining. It  might not be as batter dominated, however, this time at the Arun Jaitley. The last three matches have seen first-innings scores of 142, 155 and 75. Total runs in the first dig is available at 194.5 to short. That might be the pick of the plays.

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