IPL 6: Match 44 – DD vs KKR – Match Preview

The two teams that featured in the opening game of IPL this season – Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils – are up against each other in the reverse fixture. We are half-way through the season with all teams having played at least nine matches each. The strategy of the teams has been to win at least half the matches they have played so far. By that logic, nine wins seems to be the magic number all captains are after. Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils have already played nine games each, and are six and seven wins away from that magic number respectively. This shows the enormity of task they are facing ahead of the start of second half of the season.

The other phrase that Gambhir likes to quote most is about doing things right and results taking care of themselves. However, KKR haven’t walked their captain’s talk on that account so far. They have been banking on spin, gambling heavily on the likes of Narine, Senanayake and Abdulla, but the biggest disappointment has been their local batsmen. On the other hand, Daredevils have big names in both the batting and bowling department, but they have simply under-performed.

Skipper Gautam Gambhir, who started this IPL season in blistering form, smashing three half-centuries in the first five innings this season, struggled to emulate his early season form but still continues to be the main linchpin in his team’s batting line-up. Manvinder Bisla has found some form at the opportune time as he scored fifties in his last two matches since returning to the team. KKR will be hoping that he and Eoin Morgan can continue to score more consistently.

With the ball, the sole consistent performer has been the wily Trinidadian Sunil Narine; not only has he picked up wickets, but has also tied the batsmen down as 15 wickets at economy rate of 6.00 would testify.

For Delhi Daredevils, the three foreign slots are usually taken up by Mahela Jayawardene, David Warner and Morne Morkel, but they struggled with their fourth foreign player slot. They have tried the likes of Andre Russell, Johan Botha, Jeevan Mendis, Ben Rohrer and Roelof van der Merwe with very little to no success.

Both the teams don’t have much time left, and need to start winning to keep the league interesting. The halfway stage is way too early to write off defending champions, and the team which possess the fire power in the form of to Warner and Sehwag.

Conditions:

The Feroz Shah Kotla wicket has traditionally favoured the batsmen, and this time too it has been no different; but if the bowlers bend their backs, they are bound to get response from the pitch and it will suit Delhi more as they have a formidable pace attack. The captain winning the toss will want to bat first and hope that the chasing team crumbles under the score board pressure.

Head to Head:

In the previous 10 meetings between the two franchises, Kolkata Knight Riders leads Delhi Daredevils 6-4. KKR has won their last three matches against the Delhi Daredevils and go into this one as clear favourites.

Key Players

Delhi Daredevils

Virender Sehwag: The most explosive batsmen on his day, he will want to prove his doubters wrong. His innings of 95* against MI a few days ago was a reminder to his critics who said that he is past his prime.

Umesh Yadav: With injury concerns behind him, he will look to come out all guns blazing. Clearly India’s fastest bowler by a mile, he would like to send out positive signals to selectors for his probable recall to the Champions Trophy squad by picking up wickets regularly; and he won’t find a better tactical captain than Mahela to help him achieve his goals.

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Gautam Gambhir: After setting IPL on fire with his batting in the initial stages, he has gone off the boil a bit, but still remains the mainstay of KKR’s batting line-up. If he gets going, KKR would be well on their way to register their fourth victory in the tournament.

Sunil Narine: KKR will hope the wily West Indian, who has bamboozled batsmen across the IPL, continues to do so in today’s match as well. He already has a hat-trick to his name, and if he is at his best again, Delhi Daredevils may just have to face another defeat.

Probable XI:

DD: Mahela Jayawardene, Virender Sehwag, Unmukt Chand, David Warner, Ben Rohrer, Irfan Pathan, Shahbaz Nadeem, Morne Morkel, Ashish Nehra, Umesh Yadav.

KKR: Manvinder Bisla, Gautam Gambhir, Brendon McCullum, Jacques Kallis, Eoin Morgan, Yusuf Pathan, Debabrata Das, Rajat Bhatia, Sunil Narine, Shami Ahmed, L Balaji.