Mother of all clashes, this could well be the dress rehearsal for the finals of the inaugural Indian Premier League and both sides would be looking to score points over the other.
Men at the Helm
Yuvi and Warny both have been inspirational. Yuvi hasn’t performed as well himself but he has a great influence on the younger players. The way he has handled Sreesanth and Chawla and encouraged Marsh and VRV has been phenomenal. Warny has been Midas for the team. Both have handled pressure like only few can in the world.
We have the bat
On paper, Punjab may look a better batting side but apart from Marsh and Sangakkara, others havn’t had many big scores. On other hand for Rajasthan, Smith, Asnodkar, Watson and Pathan have consistently made good scores.
We have the ball
If Punjab have Sreesanth, Pathan and Chawla superb form, Rajasthan have the bowler of the tournament thus far, Sohail Tanveer and the spinner of the tournament, Shane Warne in their ranks. Munaf, Siddharth and Watson too have hit the right line and lengths more often than not. Yusuf Pathan has come in real handy as well.
Patrolling Party
Rajasthan have been very good in the field, while Punjab have had a few poor fielding games. Both will want to eliminate lapses in fielding to give their bowlers an edge over the opponents.
High on betting meter
Rajasthan are slightly high on certain betting meters owing to their better record, while the teams are at level on others.
Who gets the tick?
Rajasthan are on a roll and it will take either an outrageously superb spell of bowling from Sreesanth or Pathan or a lapse on the part of Rajasthan batsmen to make Punjab victorious.
Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals at Chennai
Chennai lost to Bangalore and made things difficult for themselves. But rain gods came to their rescue by washing out Delhi’s last match. Now they need to win atleast one of their two tough matches against Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers or hope that Mumbai beat Delhi. Rajasthan on the other hand are looking to give few of their stars some rest because if they reach the final to be played on 1st of June, they will be playing five matches within nine days.
Men at the Helm
Tired of listening and saying again and again but both of these, Warny and MSD have been the best captains in this league. Warne didn’t have the star power in the team and Dhoni’s team started as a weak bowling side and after the departure of Hayden and Hussey, batting has become very lean and still both these leaders have blossomed.
We have the bat
Rajasthan have looked a very strong batting side but they will miss Smith and Watson who are likely to be rested. Still, Pathan, Younis Khan, Kaif and Asnoskar will be holding fort. Chennai dearly need their batsmen to fire. They depend heavily on Dhoni and Morkel to score fast. If both of them fail, it would be pretty difficult to score big for Chennai.
We have the ball
Rajasthan have been the best team bowling wise in the league. The bowlers have followed Warne’s instructions and bowled some immaculate line and length. For Chennai Gony has been very good, Murali has been consistently econo0mical but needs to get amongst wickets and Ntini seems to be coming into rhythm but there is always soem chance that he will go for big runs.
Patrolling Party
Both the teams have been fielding pretty well throughout the league. They haven’t been out of the world but have shown consistency and commitment levels have been pretty high.
High on betting meter
Rajasthan are slightly higher on the betting meter with gains around 90 percent while Chennai give around 110 percent.
Who gets the tick?
Rajasthan start as strong favorites and a win for them would keep the league round alive and interesting till the last day.
Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals at Kolkata
Rajasthan would like to win this match to statistically confirm a place in the semi finals while for Kolkata, it is a do or die match.
Men at the Helm
Both Warne and Ganguly have been inspirational for their sides but Ganguly is still to fully come to terms with the nuances of the youngest baby of the sport. The last match between these two left a sour after taste. It would be interesting to see what they come up with, this time.
We have the bat
Apart from Smith and Ganguly there are no huge stars in any of the teams but certainly there are a few in line to become stars. Watch out for Asnodkar, Watson and Pathan from Royals and Hussey, Butt and Debabrata Das from Knight Riders.
We have the ball
These two sides have bowled the best in the tournament. Kolkata are a much starry bowling line up with Ishant and Shoaib in the ranks. But Rajasthan pacers have bowled with immaculate line and length while Shane Warne has added the flair. Shoaib sustained an injury in the last match and Kolkata would dearly like him to be fit in time for this one.
Patrolling Party
Rajasthan have fielded very well in the tournament. Kolkata on the other hand have been patchy, being brilliant at times and sloppy at others.
High on betting meter
Rajasthan are high on betting meter with returns around 70 percent while Kolkata give returns of over 100 percent.
Who gets the tick?
Knight Riders have been riding on some individual performances. They don’t look a solid unit. Royals are on a roll at the moment andKolkata will have to dish out something spectacular to pull off this one.
Rajasthan Royals v Royal Challengers Bangalore at Jaipur
It might look as if its going to be a one sided affair with the team at the top taking on the lowest placed team but this has just the potential to turn on its head.
Men at the Helm
Shane Warne has been by far the best captain on show in the IPL but he has been hugely aided by some superb bowling from his bowlers. Rahul looks out of sorts which has a lot to do with the continual failure of the batsmen.
We have the bat
Rajasthan look a stronger T20 batting line up with hitters like Watson, Pathan, Smith and Jadeja in the team. Bangalore although have pretty renowned batsmen in their ranks but they have failed to fire. A greenish pitch at Chogan stadium could favour the visitors. Its high time that White and Misbah fire for Bangalore.
We have the ball
Both teams have had very good tournament bowling wise. Rajasthan bowlers aided by some very good fielding have had a bit more success. Bangalore bowling with Zaheer, Steyn and Kumble looks like and all terrain attack and has a slight edge over Rajasthan.
Patrolling Party
If Royals have Kaif, Yusuf and Watson, Royal Challengers have Kohli, White and Steyn. But Royals look marginally higher because of their all round fielding abilities.
High on betting meter
Rajasthan has are far, up and high on the betting meter with returns slightly higher than 50 percent while Bangalore give a little more than 125 percent.
Who gets the tick?
Bangalore have had to face a lot of flack and must be raring to go while Rajasthan would like to seal a semi final berth here itself. It just has the potential to go other way too..
Andrew Symonds feels Test and one-day cricket will reap the benefits of the Indian Premier League.
The Indian Premier League gets underway on Friday and anticipation is growing for a tournament which has attracted a raft of world stars to play in the Twenty20 spectacular.
The non-stop action of Twenty20 cricket has raised cricket’s profile and Symonds, who is keen to lead Deccan Chargers to glory, feels the effects will filter down to the benefit of all forms of the game.
“I don’t think Test cricket or the one-day version will take a back-seat because of this,” Symonds said in the Hindu Times. “It will only see a change in the pace of the game in all forms of cricket.”
Symonds will be joined in India by a number of his Australia team-mates and he feels it will be a culture shock to face his trusted colleagues in the heat of battle.
“The most difficult aspect of the IPL will be when you play against your own team-mates — particularly those whom you have played with for perhaps a decade or more,” he added. “When you know them so well, it will be a huge task to face them on the field as rivals.”
Setting out his goals, he added: “I have never chased records in any form of game. But, I must admit that it would be a special feeling to win the first edition of any championship.”
A lot has been said about the impact the IPL will have on the cricket schedule and Symonds feels the ICC must strike a balance.
He added: “This is something that should never happen. I think the cricket boards and the ICC should see to it that there is a window for IPL.”
Symonds will be joined in India by a number of his Australia team-mates and he feels it will be a culture shock to face his trusted colleagues in the heat of battle.