The Delhi franchise registered six wins from eight matches in the first half of the tournament. They are currently sitting second on the points table, though they have the same number of points — 12 — as the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings.
Before Covid-19 in the IPL teams’ camps hampered the season in early May, postponing the remaining matches, DC had won six out of eight matches and had 12 points.
Notably, both sides will be led by wicketkeeper-captains. KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings whereas on the other hand, Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals. Both sides will be hoping for a comeback win and make their chances clear for the playoff leg.
At the end of the India leg of IPL 2021, Rajasthan Royals found themselves at fifth position on the points table with 3 wins in 7 matches. They are yet to win two games in a row this season.
Chakravarthy — an architect-turned-mystery spinner — did the star turn with three wickets in an excellent four-over spell. He helped his side restrict batting heavy RCB to a total of 92 runs in the first innings.
For the record, KL Rahul’s Punjab are placed sixth in the IPL 2021 points tally right now, whereas Sanju Samson’s Royals are sitting in fifth position below Mumbai Indians.
Steyn also hinted that Kohli could have taken the decision on captaincy to pre-empt criticism if he doesn’t perform in the IPL.
The 32-year-old Kohli has been captaining RCB since 2013, and has been associated with the team since the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2008.
The second leg of the lucrative league 2021 season will resume on Sunday evening with CSK and Mumbai Indians locking horns.
Before the IPL 2021 season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RCB had reached the third position on the points table with 10 points from seven matches.
Despite the availability of regular skipper Shreyas Iyer, under whom Delhi reached the final in 2020, the franchise has decided against making a captaincy change.
The edition, which was suspended in May earlier this year due to Covid-19 cases inside the franchises’ camps, will resume on September 19. RCB are currently third in the IPL table with five wins in seven matches.
The intra-squad practice match turned into an edge-of-the-seat thriller with fantastic performances from both teams, RCB-A and RCB-B, led by Harshal Patel and Devdutt Padikkal respectively.
The players coming from the Caribbean Premier League and the South Africa-Sri Lanka series will undergo two-day isolation before they join their respective team bubbles.
The match against KKR is their first outing in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 and RCB have decided to use it to honour the Covid warriors.
”The Board is planning to have the bidding on 17th October and it will be an e-bidding,” sources in the know of things told PTI on Tuesday.
Mumbai Indians, who are the defending champions, will play Chennai Super Kings in Dubai on September 19 in a match that will resume IPL 2021.
While some players went from uncapped to international caps in the break between the first and second half, many youngsters will be using the platform provided by IPL to showcase their potential.
With Adam Zampa, Daniel Sams, Finn Allen, Kane Richardson and Washington Sundar unavailable for the second leg of IPL 2021 in UAE due to various reasons, RCB have roped in Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Tim David, George Garton and Akash Deep as their replacements.
The team management is confident that they will be kept in the best frame of mind as they ply their trade in the second half of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League
Delhi Capitals confirmed that English all-rounder Woakes has pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons.
The 2021 IPL, which was suspended in May owing to a COVID-19 outbreak in its bubble, will resume in the UAE from September 19.
He also said that one gets a lot of attention outside the sport, so focusing on the game becomes very important.
The England and India players were supposed to fly into UAE from Manchester together in a bubble to bubble transfer but COVID-19 cases in the visitors’ camp forced IPL teams to make their own arrangements.
The duo will reach Dubai on Sunday morning on a flight arranged by their franchise.