IPL 2021, Match 04, April 12th RR vs PBKS, betting tips and prediction for match winner, top batsman, top bowler, most fours, most sixes, highest runs in the powerplay. Analysis of pre-match and live in-play betting markets for the IPL fixture between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings.
The below analysis looks to establish value in the odds on offer for the match between RR vs PBKS in IPL 2021. In order to be successful at betting on cricket games proper bank roll management is essential and an understanding of the various betting markets a must. You can track the success of T20 head to head betting tips and predictions here
Any pre-match bets that I have already made are listed in green otherwise I’m waiting for further information before betting or I don’t see value in that market.
Winner RR vs PBKS betting tips and predictions
Two sides that have struggled in recent years to make an impact on the tournament’s later stages meet in their opening game of IPL 2021. Relatively speaking both franchises were fairly busy in the auction and particularly in the fast bowler market. With the game taking place on the quicker surface of the Wankhede Stadium this will give a chance for a few of those overseas quicks to show what they’re made of.
This is also likely to be a match between two sides whose stronger suit is their batting. It’ll be fascinating to see how Rajasthan’s top 4 shapes up and where they opt to bat the likes of Stokes and Buttler. While we have a pretty good idea as to who will open for Punjab Kings the bigger question remains who will bat number 3 with Chris Gayle and Dawid Malan fighting for that spot.
In terms of initial line-ups, it’s also going to interesting to see how both sides balance their starting XIs. RR could well come into this match with 6 or 7 genuine bowling options such is the depth of their all-rounder pool while for PBKS the one thing missing from their squad is that gun all-rounder who is worth their place in the team with either bat or ball.
The odds being offered here tell you how close this match-up is on paper with The Royals available at evens to win and Punjab Kings slight favourites at a best price of 1.94. That is probably a fair reflection of things particularly considering the disruption to Rajasthan’s plans with the injury to last season’s IPL MVP Jofra Archer.
Top batsman betting tips and predictions RR vs PBKS
Buttler, Stokes and Samson all have the shortest odds for RR in the top batsmen market for the home team and you’d imagine that this will be the pattern of things throughout IPL 2021. If predicting which one will be top scorer is too much of a risk then you can dutch all 3 at cumulative odds of 1.32 and given that 1 of these 3 has been RR’s top batsman in 6 out of their last 7 matches then that might not be such a bad bet.
bet placed RR top batsman (Buttler, Stokes or Samson) cumulative odds 1.3194
There is no major surprise that KL Rahul is the favourite to be highest scorer for PBKS in this match. The current orange cap holder top scored in 5 out of his sides 14 matches in last year’s IPL and he comes into this game off the back of good form against England in the ODI series. His record at the Wankhede is also excellent and he’ll be looking to get his side off to a strong start leading from the front. The fact that Rajasthan are without their primary strike bowler in the powerplay makes odds of Rahul being top run scorer for PBKS look even more attractive
bet placed PBKS top batsman KL Rahul odds of 3.0
Top bowler betting tips and predictions RR vs PBKS
With Archer out the wicket taking responsibility is likely to fall on the broad shoulders of record signing Chris Morris. The South African is not only one of the best death bowlers in the history of the IPL but he is also one of the most effective bowlers vs left-handed batsmen that the IPL has ever seen as his previous head to head record vs Chris Gayle suggests.
Had Rajasthan have had the wickets of Archer up front and the impact of Morris at the back end of an innings then they would have been a very dangerous looking side. As things stand it’s difficult to see who will provide those initial break throughs for RR in this match and throughout the season.
PBKS can certainly sympathise with RR’s problem in regards penetration in the powerplay as it was a major weak point for them last season. The recruitment of Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith is designed to rectify that problem but it will be a steep learning curve for the pair as they look to adapt to conditions with less pace and bounce. I’d imagine that Richardson will get the nod ahead of Meredith and partner Mohammed Shami who himself is coming off a period of 4 months without any cricket following a broken arm while touring Australia.
Most runs in the powerplay betting tips and predictions
You can back RR to score the most runs in the first 6 overs vs PBKS at odds of 2.1
You can back PBKS to score the most runs in first 6 overs vs RR at odds of 2.0
I’ve done both so baring a tie then I will be taking home some profit on this prediction by splitting my stake (51.22% to RR and 48.78% to PBKS)
Live in play betting tips and predictions RR vs PBKS
We begin by looking at the overall stats and records for the Wankhede Stadium to allow you to make predictions in play against the historical average
Average powerplay score at the Wankhede: 45.69
Average last 5 overs score at the Wankhede: 60.91
As an average powerplay the Wankhede offers the lowest scoring first 6 overs of all the venues being used during IPL 2021. That is probably in part a result of the pitch doing a little bit up front and also because Mumbai Indians have favoured solid starts with the ability to explode at the back of an innings.
Average score batting first at the Wankhede: 166
Average winning score batting first at the Wankhede: 177
All in all then it’d be fair to say that the side batting first will want to score a minimum 180 on this pitch especially as we’ve noted that both sides strength is in their batting line-ups.
In regards head to head match-ups to take note of throughout the game
As noted above, Chris Morris is one of the few bowlers who can say that he’s had the wood over Chris Gayle during his IPL career.
If Rajasthan opt to use spin in the powerplay then we can be safe in our prediction that Mayank Agarwal will attack it as his head to head vs Shreyas Gopal shows
Equally, Nicolas Pooran has an excellent record against wrist spinners and with Rajasthan likely to play 2 of them then he too will look to be positive in the middle overs.
