IPL Betting: Deccan Chargers v Kolkata Knight Riders

Indian Premier League - IPL / Andrew Hughes / 10 March 2010 / 2 Comments

A butterfly on stilts: it's what the IPL is all about

"The shorter the format, the more volatile the outcome and in this particular tournament, with so much at stake, teams are constantly seeking improvement."

The IPL gets underway on Friday and, once the interminable opening ceremony has been dispensed with, we can get down to the serious business. First up, its Deccan Chargers against last year's flops Kolkata Knight Riders. Andrew Hughes preview the opening fixture of IPL 2010.

Venue and conditions

The Dr DY Patil Sports Academy ground is one of the newest in India, completed in time to host four games of the inaugural IPL, including the final. The highest team score achieved in those games was 164, not all that high by Indian standards and there were two cases of teams bowled out inside the twenty overs. However, the slightly two-paced nature of the pitch was typical of a new pitch and this time around we can expect a pretty good batting surface, with perhaps just a hint of assistance for the quicker bowlers.

Team News

With several of the overseas players sabsent on international duty, team selection is relatively straightforward for both of these sides. Deccan are missing Ryan Harris, Dwayne Smith and new signing Kemar Roach. Chaminda Vaas is likely to get a game and lead the attack with R P Singh and the only other dilemma for the Chargers is whether to bring in rookie Mitchell Marsh to open alongside Adam Gilchrist in place of Herschelle Gibbs.

Kolkata will be without Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum so Sourav Ganguly and Brad Hodge are likely to open, with Owais Shah coming in to bolster the middle order. The Knight Riders may play both spinners, Murali Karthik and Ajantha Mendis, in which case two of their battery of seam bowlers will miss out. The all round ability of Angelo Mathews is likely to be preferred to the seam bowling of Charl Langeveldt.

Match Odds

Reigning champions against wooden spoon holders does not suggest that this will be much of a contest and Deccan are the clear favourites. They are the more settled side of the two and though they have some important players missing, Kolkata's absentees are the more significant. Additionally, the Knight Riders are going through a rebuilding phase and so, though they will be keen to put 2009's tournament behind them, they are something of an unknown quantity at the moment.

That said, there is always a health warning when betting on Twenty20 games and particularly in the IPL. The shorter the format, the more volatile the outcome and in this particular tournament, with so much at stake, teams are constantly seeking improvement. Anyone is capable of beating anyone else and punters should instinctively be wary of taking odds of [1.62] about Deccan, particularly when we don't know how the new-look Kolkata will shape up. Bearing all this in mind, at this stage, the [2.58] for the Knight Riders looks more tempting.

Top runscorer

Dabbling in the top runscorer market can be a little tricky as not all of the players on the lists are guaranteed to play. VVS Laxman, for example, only started five games for the Chargers in IPL 2009 and Herschelle Gibbs is not a certain starter either. Adam Gilchrist is an obvious selection, but a reliable one. He scored a breathtaking century on this ground during the first IPL and warmed up a few days ago with a brisk 47 from 24 balls. He is worth backing at [4.0] or better.

For Kolkata, there may be some English supporters having a few pennies on Owais Shah, but I'm not entirely convinced that this intense cricketer will respond well to the pressure of his first IPL game and with the make up of the Kolkata middle order uncertain and Wriddhiman Saha and Angelo Mathews likely to be batting too far down, it is best to plump for Dada himself, Sourav Ganguly, at [4.5] or better.

Featured market

Herschelle Gibbs is on a long run of poor form that he seems unable to break. Even when he looks good, he usually finds a silly way to get out. In the 'Gibbs v Gilchrist' market, you can feel confident in backing the reliable captain over the wayward South African at [1.8] or better.

Trivia

In an attempt to produce a surface with more pace than the typical Indian pitch, 200 tonnes of South African soil was flown in when this pitch was laid.

Best Bet

Andrew Hughes says: Back Kolkata Knight Riders to beat Deccan Chargers at [2.58]

Comments (2)

1. BHARAT | 12 March 2010

   KOLKATA KNIGHT WILL WIN THE MATCH

2. DIlip | 12 March 2010

   Hello,
   Wow,
   is betting is possible ON IPL 2010 matches.If yes how

   Please reply

   thanks
   Dilip