Delhi Capitals, the last year's runners-up have had a fantastic start to their campaign in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with four wins in the first five games. Apart from a last over loss against the Rajasthan Royals, the Capitals have looked like the team to beat. Similarly, the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore have won four games out of the first five they have played. RCB won their firsts four games and lost their final game of the first leg against Ravindra Jadeja, no not Chennai Super Kings, it was Jadeja who stood tall against the men in red.
Delhi Capitals, who have changed their fortunes since their rebranding and the change in name in 2019 have had an advantage over the Bangalore side winning four out of the last five encounters. With dew playing a major part in the first game in Ahmedabad of the season, the teams would be hoping to win the toss first up.
Head-to-head: 26 games; RCB - 15, DC - 10, NR - 1
The Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Delhi Capitals have faced each other 26 times in the 13 seasons since the inception of the IPL in 2008 and the men in red have won 15 games, while the Delhi Capitals have won 10 of the 25 encounters between the two sides, with one being abandoned due to rain.
The last time these two sides met RCB won a close encounter in Ahmedabad by just one run as they prevailed in the end overcoming a Shimron Hetmyer special. AB de Villiers stood up for the Bangalore side playing an unbeaten knock of 75 runs off just 42 balls. Chasing 172 runs, Delhi Capitals had a poor start but Rishabh Pant and Hetmyer ensured that they were in the game till the end but fell short marginally of the target.
Virat Kohli leads the most runs list
Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli is the leading run-scorer in the RCB vs DC clashes over the years, amassing 933 runs, since 2008, being the only player to play for just franchise in all of the 14 editions of the league. Kohli is followed by his RCB teammate AB de Villiers, who played for the then Delhi Daredevils in the first three editions and has been part of the Bangalore side since, with 664 runs. While DC skipper Rishabh Pant is third on the list with 337 runs.
Yuzvendra Chahal is the leading wicket-taker
Royal Challengers Bangalore leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is the leading wicket-taker in RCB vs DC clashes with 14 scalps. Chahal is followed by the Capitals pacer Kagiso Rabada with 13 wickets, who joined the Delhi side in 2017. Former fast bowler, Zaheer Khan, who has played for both Delhi and RCB is in third place with 11 wickets.
