This isn’t quite as simple as saying it’s winner takes all, but it’s not a million miles off that equation.
Chennai are sat on 14 points in third place (they could be fourth by Saturday afternoon), two points clear of RCB, who are just outside the top four.
But they are flying. Having only won one of their first eight matches, they have since won five on the bounce to put themselves within touching distance.
Not quite to the same extent, but it’s a reverse pattern for Chennai, who started well before stumbling. They won four of their first six before winning three of the last seven.
RCB have to work on the basis that they need to win this one by 18 runs or in 18 overs if they are chasing in order to overhaul Chennai’s superior net run-rate - the deciding factor should teams finish level on points.
And I am backing them to do it, at 9/10 with betfair. I thought they would qualify for knockouts before a ball was bowled, so I won’t be changing my mind at this stage.
Kiwi duo will need to stand up for CSK as King Kohli shines for RCB
Both sides will miss an England player apiece; Will Jacks for RCB and Moeen Ali for Chennai. Both have turned their attentions to preparations for next month’s T20 World Cup.
If Chennai are going to stop the RCB charge, they could do with New Zealanders Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell having a good day.
Ravindra has struggled for form at the top of the order in this competition, with a top score of only 46 in nine innings. He is clearly due runs, and I think he’s too good to keep failing. I’m therefore going to suggest taking on bet365′s 11/10 on him to score 30 runs or more in this match.
After a slow start to the campaign, RCB seamer Mohammad Siraj has found form lately. Of his 12 tournament wickets, seven have come in the last four games.
With that in mind, Ladbrokes’ 2/1 on him to take over 1.5 wickets in the match offers good value.
bet365 have a boosted bet builder on offer which has appeal. That’s 7/2 on Bangalore to win and in-form Virat Kohli to score a fifty - something he’s done on six occasions in 13 innings. He’s the leading run-scorer in this season’s IPL with 661.
I realise Chennai captain and opener Ruturaj Gaikwad is having an excellent campaign (583 runs), but it surprises me that you can get a 4/1 price on Kiwi Mitchell to be his side’s top batter.
That’s available with PaddyPower on a fine player who will bat at three and has been in decent form of late; scores of 52, 30, 63 and 22 in four of his last five innings.
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