Teams in transition clash on green top
ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL match between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Delhi
Match facts
Tuesday, April 26, DelhiStart time 2000 (1430 GMT)
Big picture
After lacklustre starts to the tournament, both Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore have taken bold steps to try to improve their fortunes; for each of them, the moves worked in their last games. The newly-prepared green top at the Feroz Shah Kotla allowed Virender Sehwag and David Warner to play their strokes, as the ball came on to the bat, and the Delhi fast bowlers enjoyed the bounce they got from the track.Form guide (most recent first)
Delhi: WLWLL (ninth in points table)Bangalore: WLLLW (seventh in points table)
Team talk
Bangalore's batting has a settled look, but the problems in the bowling department are perhaps illustrated by the fact that Virat Kohli, who has an IPL bowling average of 93.00, has been one of their more economical options this season. They might want to include an extra seamer to make use of the Kotla pitch, but with Dirk Nannes injured there aren't too many options; both S Aravind and Abhimanyu Mithun have gone for more than 10 an over so far, while Johan van der Wath has gone at 9.87. So they may give left-arm spinner J Syed Mohammad, who impressed in the last game, another go.In the spotlight
Aaron Finch entered the tournament with a big reputation, after his match-winning innings in a Twenty20 international against England, and his impressive performance for Victoria in the 2011 Big Bash. However, he has struggled on the slow Indian wickets, only managing 47 runs from five innings. The grass cover at the Kotla makes it a more familiar habitat and Tuesday is a chance for Finch to justify his billing.Prime numbers
- Out of all the bowlers who have bowled more than five overs in IPL 2011, Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori has the best economy rate. He has gone at 5.75 in 20 overs so far.
- David Warner has got the joint-highest number of half-centuries in this IPL, with three in five innings. He is fourth in the list of leading run-getters.
The chatter
"I prefer it when there is some bounce and carry on the pitch … and I'm definitely in favour of this wicket."Morne Morkel is excited about the change in the Kotla pitch
Greg Shipperd, Delhi's coach, recognises the familiar names in the opposition camp
Dustin Silgardo is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo