IPL: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Thursday’s IPL game between Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans with a recommended BETDAQ bet.

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans

MATCH OVERVIEW:

As the IPL group stage comes to its final games, the pressure is really on. It’s going to be an exciting few days on BETDAQ Betting Exchange, and we should see plenty of swings in-running as teams come under immense pressure. With Delhi Capitals winning their last two games and RCB losing to Punjab Kings, RCB have now fallen out of the Playoff places. They have the same number of points as Delhi, but a worse net run rate and I doubt the net run rate will turn in RCB’s favour either. That means RCB could even win this game and still miss out with Delhi due to play Mumbai Indians on Saturday.

All RCB can do is hope to win and then hope the Mumbai Indians can do them a favour on Saturday. The bad news for RCB fans is that Gujarat have been fantastic in this tournament – they sit top of the table having won ten of their thirteen games and their side looks extremely well balance. They really did get the auction right, and their first season in the IPL has been a major success regardless of what happens in the Playoffs. However, the good news for RCB fans is that Gujarat can’t be caught at the top of the table. They go into the final round of games four points ahead and certain of top spot meaning they can afford to make some changes here. This is essentially a meaningless game for them, and mentality it’s easy to switch off in those situations. I’m not saying it will happen, but we’ve seen it time and time again.

I would definitely keep an eye on the team news here to see if Gujarat do make any changes. Any little niggles will surely be rested before the Playoffs, and they might even decide to rest some of their bowlers. RCB will be at full strength of course, and the pressure is really on du Plessis, Kohli, Maxwell and Karthik to perform.

WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

We’re back at the Wankhede in Mumbai today, and this has been a busy ground this week to finish the group stages. Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 193/6 here on Tuesday and were able to defend it by three runs in a very close game. While last Sunday CSK could only manage 133/5 and that was chased down obviously. As I said in my preview on Tuesday, scoring is generally pretty consistent here. We have had two low scores recently, but apart from that a par score looks to fall around 180. We usually see a few 200+ scores here over the season and sometimes we can get a very difficult spinning pitch too – basically we’ve got what you would expect from the Wankhede when you look at the data. I would expect to see runs again today, with the side batting first having to aim for 185+.

RECOMMENDED BET:

A very interesting market here. Gujarat are the favourites as you would expect, but as I said above keep an eye on the team news here because we could easily see RCB trade favourites before the game if we see Gujarat rest some players. Although Gujarat have an excellent side, they have nothing to play for today and with conditions expected to be very good for batting that can be dangerous. The RCB bowling has gone around the park at times during this IPL – Josh Hazlewood has really improved it but it is still unreliable. I feel the Gujarat batters will attack here – they have nothing to lose – and with conditions to help I feel they will go very well. RCB under pressure are going to struggle in my opinion. Du Plessis and Kohli can hardly go for it from the first ball knowing how light the middle order is outside Maxwell, and then that leaves Karthik under pressure too. I’m keeping stakes small because of team news worries, but it’s Gujarat for me at 1.91.

The Edge Says:
One point win Gujarat Titans to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore at 1.91 with BETDAQ Exchange.

View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/RcbGuj

IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

Plenty to discuss here. Before the game starts, watch for any market moves on possible team news – as I said there is a chance that the market flips before play here. The best place to get the news first is Twitter of course. After that, I don’t see an obvious bias here to batting or bowling first given conditions so I wouldn’t get involved in that sense. I would be keen to take on Kohli again just because he has been out of form in this IPL and obviously he’s under huge pressure here. I know Hazlewood has bowled well for RCB, but I would be very happy to take on the RCB bowling here – perhaps given Gujarat a few overs to settle in, especially if Hazlewood opens the bowling, and then get involved. I think their batters will attack RCB here and go very well in conditions.