THE EDGE: The Edge previews Monday’s IPL clash between Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Capitals with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Capitals
MATCH OVERVIEW:
A new week begins at the IPL on Betdaq Betting Exchange with Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Delhi Capitals. So far this IPL has been insanely high scoring, and these two were involved in exceptionally high scoring games last time out! KKR scores 261/6 here but failed to defend it with Jonny Bairstow bouncing back to form after Punjab Kings brought him back. Then Delhi Capitals scored 257/4 against Mumbai Indians at the weekend and although they won, it was only be ten runs. Almost every game feels like 200+ is coming this IPL! I know the Indian fanbase love sixes and runs, but conditions have really favoured the batters.
Eden Gardens has been very high scoring this season, so we’re going to have another game with plenty of runs here! With KKR coming out on the wrong side of that 500+ run game, there’s now a six point gap to Rajasthan Royals at the top of the table. They look nailed on for top spot, and then we have KKR, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants all in the mix for a playoff spot along with Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings. Delhi have kind of came from nowhere after a bad start – they have now won four of their last five games and obviously bring a lot of momentum into this game.
Although Delhi have now joined the party on ten points – the same as KKR – they have played two more games the way the fixture list has worked out so perhaps they look a lot higher than they will end up. However, a win here would clearly give their chances of sneaking into the playoffs a massive boost.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
Eden Gardens has become a very high scoring venue in recent years – as I said last week, it’s a massive stadium that holds 100,000 but the playing area is actually small. Any 60 meter boundary these days is considered very small, and when you have a good wicket you’re going to see a lot of sixes. The first inning scores here this season have been 208/7 (won), 161/7 (chased in 15.4 overs), 223/6 (chased), 222/6 (won) and 261/6 (chased). Quite incredible scoring – the two scores that got defended ended up being by four and one run so the chasing side managed over 200 twice while losing. I’d probably chase here, but given conditions you’re going to be under immense net run rate pressure. However, if 261/6 was chased then anything is possible!
RECOMMENDED BET:
With batting conditions seemingly so easy for the batters, that definitely brings the sides closer together. I’ve spoken about this before regarding RCB games at Bengaluru – when any batter can score at a 200+ strike rate and change the game, it definitely brings sides closer together because you need less star quality. We have two sides in form here, and we’re probably heading for another crazy high scoring game. KKR are the clear favourites at 1.79 but I feel that’s far too short here. Delhi have their batting and bowling firing at the moment, and they look a nice value option at 2.2.
The Edge Says:
Two points win Delhi Capitals to beat Kolkata Knight Riders at 2.2 with Betdaq Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/KolDel
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
So far at Eden Gardens, it hasn’t paid to be on the bowling side! It feels like a 200+ score is nailed on here, and the market won’t over-react to that either given the high chases here. From a trading point of view, it’s a no brainer to support both batting sides and just pick your moments to enter the market. I wouldn’t look for any trades on either bowling side with the way conditions have been here to be honest.
