The first of the weekend’s doubleheaders over Easter on Friday sees the following two games. Prices are from Ladbrokes.
11.30am Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians
RCB have one win in their three games and at this early stage are 6th of 8 in the table. Their batting line up is high-powered but inconsistent, highlighted by the (what would have been unthinkable until recently) dropping of Chris Gayle for the last game. As it was De Villiers smashed 89 out of their total of 148 but the rest of side underperformed again and they lost inside 15 overs against KXIP.
For this game, it is likely that the peerless Virat Kohli is back from injury which will be a big boost to a mis-firing outfit.
Mumbai have also played 3 games of which they have won 2 to be 3rd in the early table. Most recently they beat Sunrisers and comfortably chased 158 to beat the side who were top of the table.
Not an easy game to predict this as RCB can fire at any time and are routinely heavily backed at home but Mumbai are the more consistent style and worth backing as 11/10 underdogs (RCB 4/5 favourites).
3.30pm Gujarat Lions v Rising Pune Supergiants
This season so far Gujarat Lions have conceded 324 runs and taken one wicket in 30.2 overs losing both their matches before the end of the 16th over. A top 4 in the batting line-up of McCullum, Roy, Finch and Raina is hugely powerful but has really needed to be exceptional to keep the side competitive with the bowling attack struggling so much and it hasn’t performed at all.
RPS have only won one of their three games and were thrashed by Delhi Daredevils last time.RPS conceded 205 with the ball and only made 108 in reply to fall to a heavy defeat.
Something has to give here as these are two expensively assembled big name sides that are underperforming. The bookmakers don’t know which to favour, the game is priced up as Evens each of two and I have some sympathy with that.
A tentative recommendation on RPS with their spin attack here.
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