Royal Challengers Bangalore moved from the bottom into the top half of the table with Friday's win over Pune and that showed just how tight the opening group games have been. From here, every victory becomes vital and whoever takes the points in Rajkot will go a long way towards booking a slot in the play offs.

You'd expect this one to be tight and in fact, the bookies just can't split them. RCB are on offer at a best price of 2.00 with bet365 and Paddy Power for the win while the Lions can also be picked up at 2.00 with Stan James.

The key I think is with RCB's batters and in a line up where so much has depended on Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers, they need better support as this tournament wears on. There are mixed reports as to whether Chris Gayle is ready to return but whatever happens on Sunday, Kohli's men will need big runs from the West Indian if they are to take their first title.

Gayle is widely available in Bangalore's top batsman market and you can back him at best odds of 4.50 with bet365 and 888Sport. Kohli shortens as favourite here at a best price of 3.25 with bet365 and Stan James while De Villiers also slips under the 4.0 mark - the South African is now available at a best of 3.50 with bet365 and Skybet.

I backed both Kohli and De Villiers against RSP as I felt they had little competition without Gayle. You could almost do so again but I think it's the skipper's turn to convert a profit.

Moving over to Gujarat and Aaron Finch keeps hold of the favourites' slot in this market at a top price of 3.50 with Paddy Power and Stan James. We're still waiting for a big effort from Brendon McCullum meanwhile and you can back the former New Zealand skipper here at best odds of 4.50 with Paddy Power.

That's a figure that looks too good to turn down but you can find some extra value in Suresh Raina at that same best price of 4.50 with Skybet or Dwayne Bravo at excellent best odds of 10.00 with Boylesports.

If Gujarat are to win this, they need to select their bowlers carefully. Sunrisers had the luxury of chasing down a low total but everyone went around the park with Praveen Kumar's  poor display and a dreadful delivery that conceded five leg side wides just about summing things up.

It does, however, leave some good value in a top bowler market that has a lot of interesting options. Dwayne Bravo is the favourite to return best figures for his side at best odds of 4.00 with Boylesports while Ravi Jadeja will attract some interest at a top price of 4.50 with Paddy Power and Stan James.

The selection for me would be Amit Mishra - if he is included in the final XI. The leggie is more likely than the veteran Tambe to take wickets and at best odds of 6.00 with Boylesports he is excellent value. That would have been my final pick had it not been for that great price of 4.50 on McCullum in the Lions top batsman betting.

For me, this is all about Kohli, De Villiers - and possibly Gayle - against the Lions bowlers. It's tough and I would be inclined to wait until we know that the West Indian is back and in the line up but overall there is a lot to like about this RCB side and I think they will have enough to take the points.

My Picks:
  • Back Royal Challengers Bangalore to win at 2.00 with bet365.
  • Back Virat Kohli to top score for Royal Challengers Bangalore at 3.25 with bet365.
  • Back Brendon McCullum to top score for Gujarat Lions at 4.50 with Paddy Power.

0 Comments