Indian Premier League - IPL / Andrew Hughes / 20 March 2010 / 1

Twice Delhi have failed in the knock-out stages but this time round, the wheels have started to come off much earlier. Without their captain and one of their main bowlers, the Daredevils face a stiff test in Cuttack against the reigning champions. Andrew Hughes previews the first of Sunday's IPL games.

Venue and Conditions

This is Deccan's second 'home' game in Cuttack. They overcame Kings XI Punjab there on Friday and the pitch, as expected, was pretty good to bat on, offering some assistance for the spinners, but little pace for the quicks.

Team News

Deccan may want to play Kemar Roach, but they'd have to drop one of their other overseas players, presumably Herschelle Gibbs and they may be unwilling to lose his batting experience, particularly if VVS Laxman is still struggling with his wrist injury.

Delhi are still without two key men in captain Gautam Gambhir and seamer Asish Nehra. They dropped Fervez Maharoof for Friday's game and on a pitch likely to suit the slower bowler better, may call up an extra spinner, possibly Sarandeep Singh.

Match Odds

The Daredevils have always lacked strength in depth and injuries to their captain and one of their main bowlers have exposed them. They look a team in disarray, having lost twice in front of their own fans and with key batsmen out of form and Dirk Nannes having little support with the ball, they look a team to swerve.

Deccan on the other hand are improving. They have their weaknesses; neither Herschelle Gibbs nor Rohit Sharma have hit form yet and their bowling is very dependant on Chaminda Vaas making early breakthroughs But they have enough to dispose of a Delhi team that look to be in freefall and can be backed with confidence at [1.8] or better.

Top Runscorer Market

With Gibbs and Sharma struggling, the pick for top Deccan batsman comes down to Adam Gilchrist or Andrew Symonds. Symonds batted solidly on Friday but his captain was even more impressive, blasting 33 from 12 balls and sooner or later is going to cash in big time. He is worth backing at [3.5] or higher.

So few Delhi batsmen are in form that you have little option but to fall back on Virender Sehwag. He won't be much higher than [3.0] but is pretty much the only batsman you can rely on at the moment.

Featured Market

This game is packed with quick scorers and 'Over 68.5 Runs' in the Highest Individual Score market looks a good option.

Trivia

Dinesh Karthik is currently the tournament's leading wicket keeper with 4 dismissals.

Andrew Hughes says back 'Over 68.5 Runs' in the Highest Individual Score market at [1.9] or better.

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1. bharat | 21 March 2010

   today delhi will win the match

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