The IPL round-robin phase has moved past the halfway mark, but just six log points separate the top of the table from the bottom.
Friday 5 May
Rajasthan Royals 10/11 | Gujarat Titans 87/100
These sides enter this contest in the top four, but both will be desperate to get back to winning ways.
The Royals have split their home games between Jaipur and Guwahati and have built little rhythm.
Gujarat Titans have travelled very well this season and currently top the log off the back of that form.
The Titans could use more runs from their top order, especially in a shootout with the potent Royals.
Verdict: Gujarat Titans
Saturday 6 May
Chennai Super Kings 9/10 | Mumbai Indians 9/10
The great rivalry of the IPL is resumed as the Mumbai Indians visit Chennai to face the Super Kings.
CSK have been full of runs this term but MI can leapfrog them and jump into the playoff spots if they can engineer a raid on the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Devon Conway has been the big signing for CSK and his runs have kept them up near the top of the table.
MI on the other hand do not have a batter who has crossed the 300 run threshold yet this season with Ishan Kishan’s 286 their best effort.
Verdict: Chennai Super Kings
Delhi Capitals 1/1 | Royal Challengers 77/100
The Capitals and Challengers are the form teams of the IPL right having both won three of their last four.
Central to those efforts have been their star overseas batters.
Faf Du Plessis of RCB currently holds the IPL Orange Cap and he was the first player to cross 400 runs for the term.
David Warner’s return to form has coincided with the Capitals finding a way to win.
Verdict: Delhi Capitals
Sunday 7 May
Gujarat Titans v Lucknow Super Giants
Odds TBA*
Gujarat Titans are back in action in Sunday’s early game and will be hoping to turn around poor home form.
They face playoff rivals LSG but both sides head into the weekend with mixed recent form.
Kyle Mayers form has tapered and LSG have been reluctant to make use of Quinton de Kock.
K L Rahul’s leadership has been a big plus for LSG and he comes head to head with a national skipper rival Hardik Pandya.
Verdict: Gujarat Titans
Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Odds TBA*
The Royals will be out to defend their place near the top of the table against a team that have found a way top punch above their weight.
Rajasthan won the reverse fixture by a massive margin but the Sunrisers have since improved.
The Sunrisers have played better but only won one of their last five matches in the IPL.
This could be a big swing match for the Sunrisers but the Royals will be tough to beat in Jaipur.
Verdict: Rajasthan Royals
