We are into the last week of regular season play in the IPL. One team has clinched a playoff spot – the Gurjurat Titans – two teams have been eliminated from contention, and the other seven squads are vying for the three remaining playoff spots. This is exactly what the organizers would have wanted at this stage of the season, with eight of the ten fanbases still invested in regular-season play.
Here is a look at some of this week’s games with odds from BetXchange.
Punjab Kings VS Delhi Capitals – HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
When: Wednesday, May 17
This contest means nothing to the Delhi Capitals and maybe only slightly more to the Punjab Kings. The Capitals are bottom of the table, having won just four of their 12 matches, while the Kings are in eighth with 12 points (six wins and six defeats) and need to win both remaining matches while getting a little help from elsewhere.
Expect the toss-winning captain to elect to field first, using the moisture on the pitch to their advantage. This has been a quick wicket – it is aided by altitude – and the ball will travel if it is put in the air.
David Warner has been consistently the best on show with the bat for the Capitals, averaging 32 with plenty of 50+ innings thrown into the mix. At 5/2, he is the clear best bet as the top away batter. There is a clear best bowler favorite, too, with Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh (26/10) having 16 wickets in the comp to date. He will add more here as the Kings cruise to a win.
Sunrisers Hyderabad VS Royal Challengers Bangalore – Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
When: Thursday, May 18
Sunrusers Hyderabad is the other team that is already out of contention for a postseason berth. They also have eight points from four wins and eight defeats, and they are ahead of the Capitals only because of their superiors – though still terrible – Net Run Rate.
NNR is likely to be important to Royal Challengers Bangalore too. They have put in some work in recent weeks to increase their NNR, and as a result, they are atop the pack of four teams with 12 points and sit in fifth place. Winning both their remaining games could be enough to see them into the playoffs.
I wouldn’t touch the home team markets here as there is too much parity, and it is hard to tell how a team will play when eliminated from progression. Both Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis at 24/10 are worthy of a flutter as top away batsmen, while any of their bowlers could step up again after an impressive performance last time out.
Kolkata Knight Riders VS Lucknow Super Giants – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
When: Sunday, May 21
- Knight Riders 1/1
- Super Giants – 8/10
The Super Giants know a win locks them into a playoff sport, while a win and NNR boost could take them to second on the log, depending on how the Chennai Super Kings do in their last match.
The Knight Riders need a small miracle to progress and could be out of contention by this match’s time. Keep an eye on that before betting here, as it will make a huge difference to the attitude of the players. If they are eliminated – which I expect as there are so many games between now and Sunday – then lock in on the Super Giants in this one.
