Delhi need to win this match to keep their semifinal chances alive. Kolkata would like to knock Delhi out of contention as Rajasthan did to them.
Men at the Helm
Ganguly has been a good leader but doesn’t seem to have come to terms with the nuances of this short format. Sehwag on the other has been instinctive, innovative and fairly impressive.
We have the bat
Delhi look a better batting side than Kolkata but a few quick wickets could expose the out of form middle order. Kolkata need one of Ganguly and Hussey to fire if they are to get to a respectable score. They need to make Hafeez sit out and play both Pakistani bowlers if fitness allows. Then they can open with Salman Butt and Debabrata Das or Saurav Ganguly.
We have the ball
Both are extremely efficient bowling units. McGrath has been impeccable through out. Maharoof and Yo Mahesh have been amongst wickets. Delhi need to play atleast one front line spinner in Amit Mishra whatever the conditions are and drop Rajat Bhatia who doesn’t seem to be coming any good with the bat. Kolkata must look at playing both Shoaib and Gul in the team.
Patrolling Party
Delhi are the best fielding unit in the competition. Everybody’s is almost tired now, saying that again again. They seem to stop everything, hold all catches and take all half chances. Kolkata are not that great a fielding site but they will look to give an inspired effort like they did in a couple of matches. Just watch Taibu field, admire his dedication and adore his commitment. Cricketers from smaller countries don’t hog the limelight, as was the case with Andy Flower. Watch closely, Taibu seems to be the best fielder in the world at the moment.
High on betting meter
Delhi are high on betting meter with returns of around 50 percent while a bet on Kolkata gives 125 percent additional to the bet.
Who gets the tick?
Rain Gods have been having a say at Delhi so this match could well be decided by the toss of the coin. Team winning the toss will like to bowl first. Should it be a full match, Delhi must cruise through.
PTI Reports from Chennai that M S Dhoni, who is nursing a finger injury, has been cleared to play but Parthiv Patel would do the keeping against Bangalore Royal Challengers on Wednesday.
Kepler Wessels coach of Chennai Super Kings said “Dhoni will play against the Bangalore team. He has been ruled fit but he will not keep the wickets.”
“Dhoni will definitely play but he may not keep. We are keeping options open and will assess his condition on Wednesday,” Wessels said.
Dhoni injured his finger during the last match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Though the Royal Challengers are considered a weaker team, Wessels said, “They are still a dangerous side and we will not take them lightly. They have nothing to lose, so that will make them more determined. Hence, we are not under-estimating them. We will assess the situation and announce the playing eleven.” Wessels also added that winning the remaining three games were important for them.
“We have three games left and they are all significant for us. We cannot be complacent,” he said.
Wessels does not believe that 20Twenty tournament is only for youngsters, he said - “It is all about fitness and agility and as long as you can perform, age does not come into the picture. Besides, the Challengers have some very good players,”
The Australian Cricket Board is in the process of formulating its own IPL-style Twenty20 league the summer after next, however on a less extravagant scale than the current Indian version - reports the Sydney Morning Herald
Since last moth Cricket Australia was considering a franchised league to attract new fans and cash in on the Twenty20 revolution, and chief executive James Sutherland yesterday confirmed the existing domestic Big Bash would be revamped for the 2009-10 season.
For the past year, CA has envisaged a football-like system with Australia as one of several international club leagues, with one or two provincial sides from New Zealand likely to make it an Australasian competition.
Sutherland said a review would address the structure of the tournament, a salary cap and whether teams could import stars, but he also acknowledged Australia, with its relatively small population, could not expect to generate the sums seen in India.
“There’s lots of challenges but we’re absolutely committed to revamping our Twenty20 competition in a positive fashion,” he said - added SMH.
Despite a slight decline in viewership for IPL, Setmax - the Sony Channel broadcasting IPL believes that the viewership for the two semi-finals and finals will cross all expectations.
As such, Setmax have hiked the advertising rate to Rupees 10 Lakh for a 10 second spot which is the highest rate on record so far. The India Pakistan 20Twenty Final commanded an effective rate of 7-8 lakhs as sold by ESPN earlier. KBC which is a clone of Who wants to be a Millioniare commanded a maximum rate of approx 3.2 lakhs for a 10 second slot.
Setmax however feels that their will be buyers even at this rate and most agencies agree given the hype and popularity of IPl among all groups and genders.
As of now IPL has turned out to be a money spinner for the broadcaster and has also spelt a doom for most of the stale family sops and serials dished out in India during prime time to keep advertisers happy. This is mostly because of the realty show format of the IPL and the regional rivalry and spirit with the teams and their names.
It’s just an interesting observation. There is fair chance that four teams behind Rajasthan Royals might all be stuck on 16 points after the end of the league round of the Indian premier league.
There is a pretty decent possibility of this happening. Just have a look at how the things could roll and lead to such a situation.
Delhi Daredevils have 12 points with 2 matches remaining. One is against Mumbai and the other against Kolkata. They have a pretty good chance of winning against Kolkata and if one of Sehwag and Gambhir plays a big innings and the bowlers bowl according to reputation they can beat Mumbai too. This will get them on 16 points at the end of the league.
Chennai have 14 points with 3 of their matches remaining against Bangalore, Rajasthan and Deccan. Rajasthan are a strong side and Deccan beat Chennai pretty convincingly in the last match between these two. If Chennai wins 1 of their remaining matches they would be on 16 points as well.
Mumbai are on 12 points with 4 matches remaining against Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and Bangalore. As we said earlier, Delhi must defeat Mumbai and Rajasthan are well capable of doing that as well. Mumbai are too good a team to loose too many matches and thus they could win against Punjab and Bangalore, giving them 16 points too.
Now this is the toughest part. Punjab have 14 points with 4 games to play. They will play against Mumbai, Deccan, Kolkata and Rajasthan. As we said, Mumbai have to defeat them and Rajasthan can beat them too. Deccan is a very good team. Although too late, but they seem to be coming into rhythm and would definitely like to prove a point. So if Punjab manage to beat only one of the four teams they are to play they are to going to finish on 16 points.
Now it is very difficult to predict which teams will get through on the basis of net run rate. But taking into account the results of the matches that these teams played with those who they are to play, a prediction can be made.
Unless there is a huge victory for any of the teams Chennai are the most likely to go out because they have very poor net run rate and loosing 2 of their remaining 3 matches wouldn’t help either.
Still, the margins of victories will have a huge bearing on the outcome and Bangalore and Deccan could turn out King makers and dream breakers in the scenario.
