IPL Schedule 2016: Upcoming Fixtures, Format, Odds, Live Stream Info and Picks

The 2016 Indian Premier League season has passed the halfway stage, and the competition is hotting up for the four knockout spots.

Delhi Daredevils will look to edge a step closer to securing a place in the finals when they meet Rising Pune Supergiants on Thursday, having well beaten pace-setters Gujarat Lions last time out.

Pune, meanwhile, are staring at early elimination from IPL 9, as they have picked up only four points from eight matches so far, but a win over Delhi could kick-start a run to the playoffs.

Read on for a closer examination of Thursday's match at Feroz Shah Kotla, as well as odds, live streaming information and picks for the upcoming fixtures.

Date	Time (BST/IST)	Match	Venue	Pick
May 5	3:30 p.m./8 p.m.	Delhi Daredevils vs. Rising Pune Supergiants	Delhi	DD
May 6	3:30 p.m./8 p.m.	Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Gujarat Lions	Hyderabad	GL
May 7	11:30 a.m./4 p.m.	Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Rising Pune Supergiants	Bengaluru	RCB
May 7	3:30 p.m./8 p.m.	Kings XI Punjab vs. Delhil Daredevils	Mohali	DD
May 8	11:30 a.m./4 p.m.	Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad	Visakhapatnam	MI
May 8	3:30 p.m./8 p.m.	Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Gujarat Lions	Kolkata	KKR

For the full schedule, visit the IPL’s official website. Watch all matches live on Sky Sports and live stream via Sky Go (UK only). 

The top four teams at the end of the league stage qualify for the finals, after which a Page play-off system is utilised to decide the finalists and eventual winner.

Delhi Daredevils (4-6) vs. Rising Pune Supergiants (6-5)

MS Dhoni's Pune side looked a force to be reckoned with at the start of this year's IPL 9, one of two new franchises who had taken their pick from suspended sides Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals and seemed destined to be fighting out at the top of the standings.

However, things have not quite panned out that way. Four of their overseas stars have withdrawn from the tournament through injury—Kevin Pietersen, Faf du Plessis, Mitchell Marsh and, most recently, Steve Smith—and their chances are now hanging by a thread, per Broken Cricket:

Former Kings XI Punjab skipper George Bailey and top-order batsman Usman Khawaja have been brought in as replacements, but the Australian pair have a difficult job on their hands.

As do all the remaining RPS players, and now they have to face one of the form teams in the tournament on their home turf.

Pune's last outing was an eight-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians. Delhi's was an eight-wicket drubbing of Gujarat, one of the best-looking teams in IPL 9 thus far.

Chasing a 150 target in Rajkot, Quinton de Kock shared a 115-run opening partnership with 18-year-old Rishabh Pant, whose 40-ball 69 was an innings to savour, per cricket writer Harsha Bhogle:

"

This youngster Rishabh Pant is showing glimpses of his talent. Great Hitter! Maiden IPL fifty for Pant. Well played! #DDvsGL #GLvDD

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogIeharsha) May 3, 2016"

Delhi have a pretty awful IPL history, having never won it and got past the league stage only three times in eight attempts, most recently in 2012.

However, in 2016 they have looked confident and are looking good to lock down a knockout place and perhaps even top the standings.

They have few standout superstars, but a number of very reliable performers. De Kock has been consistent at the top of the order with the bat, while skipper Zaheer Khan and spinner Amit Mishra have been very effective with the ball.

Delhi have, thus far, looked like arguably the most complete outfit in the competition, their reliance on the basics paying huge dividends.

Given the Daredevils' current form and Pune's struggles, it is difficult to predict anything but a home win on Thursday as Delhi march on toward the play-offs and Dhoni's injury-ravaged side prepare for damage limitation. 

Odds courtesy of Oddschecker.