THE EDGE: The Edge previews the IPL clash between RRoyal Challengers Bengaluru v Rajasthan Royals with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Rajasthan Royals
MATCH OVERVIEW:
The IPL continues on BETDAQ Betting Exchange with a cracker on Thursday! We’re back at the Chinnaswamy as Royal Challengers Bengaluru host the Rajasthan Royals. Both sides are having very different tournaments as we go into the second half of the IPL now. RCB are going to be challenging for a playoff spot; it feels like there is a top five this season, but RCB are reasonably well positioned with five wins from their eight games. We’ve said this before; but maybe it finally is their time – that being said they’ve been waiting an age.
Rajasthan Royals are having a poor season; only two wins from their eight games leaves them trying to avoid the wooden spoon this season rather than push for the playoffs. Morale must be pretty low in the camp – they’ve had four straight losses coming into this game. They were hammered by Gujarat Titans and RCB, then lost two exceptionally close finishes against Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants – the Delhi game went to the Super Over! The bowling has been a weak point for Rajasthan this season; they posted 173/4 against RCB and they chased it down with 15 balls to spare, only one wicket down.
Rajasthan will be hoping that the poor RCB form at home continues, because they need something to help them! RCB have looked very solid this season though, their bowling is much improved – but they have lost their three home games this season! Their woeful run at home continues. The question is are Rajasthan good enough to take advantage?
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
The Chinnaswamy has been the highest scoring IPL venue for years, but it feels like times are changing. The first inning scores this season have been 169/8, 163/7 and 95/9 – all three have been chased down easily. You’d have to bowl first if you won the toss here – even when we had exceptionally high scoring games here, we always had a heavy dew and bowling was very tough in the second innings. Obviously a lot of work has been done to the drainage system here and perhaps we don’t have a very flat wicket like the past – I’d keep an open mind on scoring.
RECOMMENDED BET:
This is definitely a game for small stakes. RCB have been woeful at home this season losing all three games, and then of course they have a historically poor record at home in the IPL too. They come into the game as the odds on favourites, but you’d hardly want to take them on with how Rajasthan have been playing this season. Their bowling has been very poor at times, and it’s hard to support them. I do feel the way things have gone here this season, bowling first is going to be an edge, and I’m happy to back the side who bowls first.
The Edge Says:
One point win The Team Who Bowls First (Royal Challengers Bengaluru 1.77, Rajasthan Royals 2.24) with BETDAQ Betting Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/RoyRaj
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
This venue in the past was always a ground where you wanted to back the batting team. That has cost you in the opening three games – backing the chasing side has paid off, and I feel the same will apply here. I feel bowling first and chasing will make the difference here, and I’m happy to focus around that strategy coming into this game. As I said above, it’s easy to pick holes in both sides here but I do feel bowling first will offer an edge.
