General / Scott Ferguson / 03 May 2009 /

They were bottom of the pile last year but a new captain in the form of Adam Gilchrist, experienced heads such as Andrew Symonds and Herschelle Gibbs and plenty of young, energetic Indian talent could well be the surprise package of the tournament, says Scott Ferguson.

The secret of T20 betting is finding value in the outsiders. Last year's winners were the longshot of the tournament, and this year that mantle is taken by the Deccan Chargers!

Disappointing last season, winning just two of 14 matches after a lacklustre start only got worse, the Chargers are primed to sneak under the radar with their wealth of talent. To dispel the demons of 2008, team management have sacked the bland beige uniforms and brought in a striking new blue combination.

Adam Gilchrist takes over the reins as captain this time around and is far better suited to this game than the dour VVS Laxman, who is threatening not to play over petty politics. No great loss, there's no room for blockers in this comp. Darren Lehmann takes over as coach and he is one shrewd cookie. This should provide stronger, more decisive leadership with more creative field settings.

If there is one player that T20 cricket was created for, it's the big-hitting Gilchrist. Free from the strains of a demanding schedule, the well-rested Gilchrist enters the fray fresh in mind and thorough in preparation. Herschelle Gibbs did little in last year's IPL but on home soil, and on the back of some good form against Australia, he is the key man.

The wise heads of Gilchrist, Symonds, Gibbs, Vaas and Styris form a solid base for the Chargers but remember only four internationals can play at once. Australian all-rounder Ryan Harris sneaks in as uncapped player, exciting local talent Rohit Sharma was one of the finds of last year's tournament, and RP Singh continues to impress for India. Venugopal Rao and Pragyan Ojha provide good depth, and watch for the explosive batting of DR Teja at the top of the order.

Every IPL franchise will face disruption from international schedules, Deccan's travellers balance out with Andrew Symonds missing the early games to play for Australia against Pakistan in Dubai, then Fidel Edwards will join the West Indies squad on the tour of England about halfway through. Dwayne Smith has been overlooked in recent matches for the West Indies, so If Aussie Ryan Harris can squeeze into the team, watch out, he is a very handy, albeit relatively unknown all-rounder.

The all-rounder roles in T20 cricket are vital. Sharma, Smith and Styris have been in good touch in the lead-up matches, while Rao, Silva and Teja are others who are more than handy with both bat and ball. Depth of bowling options makes a big difference for Gilchrist - if he has several to choose from, one bowler having an off-day is not disastrous. Slow trundlers who land the ball on the spot play a key role in this form of the game.

South African conditions in April/May are much more suitable for the Deccan seamers. Vaas, Zoysa, RP Singh and Styris will have a mixture of sea breezes and humidity to work their magic in, while the express pace of Fidel Edwards can either be a game-breaker or very expensive. The Chargers don't have a great deal of depth with the ball, but if their front-line fires, they'll match it with any side. The problem will lie in getting the team balance right - Gilchrist and Gibbs will almost certainly play each game (at least while Symonds is away), Edwards is only in town for a few games so he's a lock for those, thus it's drawing straws for Vaas, Zoysa, Smith, Silva and Harris for that remaining bowling spot. Pragyan Ojha will be the leading spin option.

Some say the lack of domestic stars for Hyderabad is a weakness. Several of their local players coming through the ranks went to the rival ICL competition. But the Chargers have several players on the fringe of playing for India, at a time when the big names are in the twilight of their careers. It's an ideal time for the fringe players to strut their stuff on the big stage, just before the World Twenty20 tournament. With the import rules restricting selection to only four foreigners per match, it will be up to the local guys to thrust their name in front of the selectors with big performances.

Write off Deccan at your peril, they are the team I'll be cheering this year.

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