IPL 2021, RCB vs DC Predicted Playing XI Today Match: Both teams to stick with winning combinations?

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) may be assured of a place in the play-offs but a win against Delhi Capitals (DC) and a favorable result in the other match on Friday could help them finish in the top two of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The A defeat to SunRisers Hyderabad dented third-placed RCB’s chances of finishing in the top-2 but the Virat Kohli-led side will be looking to put that behind them.

With 16 points and an inferior net run-rate to second-placed Chennai Super Kings, RCB’s hopes of a top-two finish has reduced after losing to SRH. Skipper Virat Kohli, however, will keep an eye on the result of the CSK-Punjab Kings match on Thursday to get a clear idea about how to go about in their final match to snatch the second spot, which appears a tough task to say the least.Despite possessing a formidable batting line-up that includes AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell and Devdutt Padikkal apart from Kohli, RCB couldn’t chase down a below-par 141-7 against SRH and they would need to sort out their batting before entering the knockout stage. Maxwell has been in scintillating form for RCB after a moderate run in 2020 and can turn things around single-handedly as can de Villiers.The Australian power-hitter has 447 runs with five half centuries and will want to continue the good run, while de Villiers hasn’t quite had the impact he would have liked to. If Kohli can get off to a strong start at the top alongside the impressive Padikkal, the powerful middle-order can do a lot of damage.RCB’s bowling unit too have done well with the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel and George Garton doing the job in the pace department. In spin department, Yuzvendra Chahal has overcome his past struggles with some very impressive spells this season, while Shahbaz Ahmed too has kept things in check for his team.The Rishabh Pant-led Delhi team, on the other hand, has been in formidable form, winning four of the last five matches and will look to end things on a high in the league phase before going into the qualifier. Skipper Pant has come in for criticism for being over-aggressive and it has to be seen if he shows a sense of restraint and makes bigger contributions. DC has a strong batting line-up despite the inconsistency of Prithvi Shaw, who most often seems to blow hot and cold while Shikhar Dhawan (501 runs from 13 innings) has shown his value at the top. Shreyas Iyer and Pant too have rescued the team few times but they will seek more consistency.Delhi have a potent bowling attack. While South African pacer Anrich Nortje has breathed fire and is a constant threat, his compatriot Kagiso Rabada and Avesh Khan (second in the wicket-takers list with 22 scalps) have been at the batsmen all the time. The spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel (14 wickets) also have not been easy to get away but the former has often leaked runs. It wouldn’t be a surprise if DC decide to rest Ashwin, considering the amount he has played in the last two months and how much he needs to play, and give veteran Amit Mishra a run.RCB predicted XI: Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Washington Sundar, Dan Christian, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad SirajDC predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Steve Smith, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan