### Key match stats DC vs RCB
**Pitch Stats – Wankhede Stadium**

Average first innings score: 166
Average first innings winning score: 180
Average powerplay score: 46
All-time win % batting 1st vs batting 2nd: 46% / 52%

**Team form DC vs RCB**
DC – WLLW
RCB – LWWWL
Recent meetings: RCB won by 7 wickets, RCB won by 1 run

### DC vs RCB Preview


![Screen Shot 2022-04-16 at 08.01.26.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/talesfrmthecrypt/48Um3gFKqLauVtfRVUg7SXKbDwjjJ13dJvgPcAzUngusSoWREsPJV5rdBJEVB7n2Dq.png)


With a collective 9 IPL titles currently occupying the bottom 2 places in the IPL table both Delhi Capital and RCB fans must surely be thinking that this is one of the best chances they've ever had to finally win the IPL after years of underachieving. 

Of course as RCB found in their last game, even if these are weaker CSK and Mumbai teams than in previous years, they are still capable of impacting the outcome of IPL 2022. 

One piece of good news for Bangalore is the expected return of Harshal Patel who missed the defeat by CSK due to family reasons. What state of mind he will be in remains to be seen but his overs during the middle and death are so crucial to this RCB side that they'll be very keen to get him back in the starting XI. 


![Screen Shot 2022-04-16 at 07.31.28.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/talesfrmthecrypt/23vhnny75SmXqHiMHaCAEd9f8NY5HUyLGfzByMmgtLaZdqs6t6kBr1cDDv4MVfacrDtKN.png)

*Harshal Patel T20 stats at the Wankhede Stadium*

As for Delhi, they finally put in the sort of batting performance that you would expect from such a strong looking side when they hammered KKR in their last outing. The only downside for them is that they've had to wait a whole week to try and build on that momentum. 

However, that extended break has allowed Mitch Marsh to return to fitness and he is expected to come into the side and bat at number 3. How much bowling he can/will do remains to be seen but DC do appear to finally have their full squad of international stars available to them. 

### DC vs RCB head to head 

**RCB bowling vs DC batting **

I expect a really good battle today between the RCB opening bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mohammed Siraj against DC's opening pair of Prithvi Shaw and David Warner. 

|Batsman|Powerplay runs|Strike Rate|
|-|-|-|
|JC Buttler|150|141|
|PP Shaw|112|167|
|RV Uthappa|110|153|
|S Dhawan|98|129|
|RG Sharma|97|137|

*Most runs in the powerplay IPL 2022*

After a slow start, Prithvi has found form with back to back half-centuries and is once again proving to be one of the most impactful batsmen during the powerplay. 

Meanwhile, Hazlewood and Siraj had CSK 36 for 2 in 7th over before that brilliant partnership by Uthappa and Dube lead them to victory. While I've no doubt Prithvi will come out and play his shots, I'd imagine that Warner will be far more conservative in the knowledge that the Wankhede is a venue where sides can make up the scoring later in the innings. 

|Venue|All-time average score in death overs|IPL 2022 average score at the death|
|-|-|-|
|Wankhede|51|60|
|Maharashtra|53|59|
|Brabourne|54|53|
|DY Patil|48|52|

*death over averaging scoring by venue*

Wanindu Hasaranga is certainly amongst the wickets so far in IPL 2022, claiming 10 victims and striking less than every 2 overs. Equally, a couple of batsmen have been able to take him on as his current economy rate of 8.2 demonstrates. 


![Screen Shot 2022-04-16 at 07.29.19.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/talesfrmthecrypt/23tm76ztPv5W4yP7iyF7aLzrorXjVPCZHaBduwPq3ujMQ48EGUnySQnMg4KTaaAc5ZzGS.png)

*Hasaranga vs Warner T20 head to head*

David Warner has had success against the Sri Lankan in previous encounters and could be key to putting him under pressure again today. 

**DC bowling vs RCB batting**

It's fair to say that despite a good start to IPL 2022, RCB's top order hasn't really clicked yet. 

Both Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli have enjoyed previous visits to the Wankhede and so will no doubt see this as the perfect opportunity to kick start their campaigns. 


![Screen Shot 2022-04-16 at 07.36.48.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/talesfrmthecrypt/23uFK2QToCn8PcBxRSuQytWd4rW5DBTNzRum3xvdJWUCkR2CZZeBr3gp7jukYgtiTTZZL.png)

*Kohli and du Plessis T20 records at the Wankhede Stadium*

If DC can get Anrich Nortje fit and firing then their bowling attack looks to have great balance and options to it. Chief amongst those options so far has been Kuldeep Yadav who has been born again as a T20 cricketer this season. 

His battle against the likes of Kohli and Maxwell could go a long way to deciding the outcome of this game. We know that Maxwell's role in the side will be to put pressure on the slow bowlers during those middle overs and the head to head between him and Kuldeep is evenly matched at the moment. 


![Screen Shot 2022-04-16 at 07.51.31.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/talesfrmthecrypt/23tvW8b4SVtqUhpj5n8LdwZjT1ThpTzUYpmtbquVzfFTsirjThxywBLxdE92zHri1ieJE.png)

*Kuldeep vs Maxwell T20 head to head*

DC's bowling at the death has also been very good so far in IPL 2022 lead by Mustafizur and Shardul Thakar. In fact only Gujrat Titans (economy of 8.8) have been better than Delhi (economy 9.7) in limiting sides in the final 5 overs. 

As noted above, the Wankhede has a reputation for being a ground where set batsmen can do some damage later on so it will be a great contest between those 2 and the likes of Dinesh Kartik who is currently averaging 136 in IPL 2022!


![Screen Shot 2022-04-16 at 07.59.23.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/talesfrmthecrypt/23tvVmLi3idTfH3gFE41tb87U8pnRT2GpvUVtdHjfe6mQTTU8HezKZR8BnXm89AtsNJUp.png)

*Thakur and the Fizz combined death over bowling stats for IPL 2022*

*All stats used in this blog are from my own database. Images are my own with the exception of [player profiles](https://www.iplt20.com/) and [background images](https://pixabay.com/images/search/cricket%20stadium/) which are used under a [creative commons license](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en) or otherwise royalty free*