It is a telling reversal of fortune that DLF IPL champs the Rajasthan Royals have managed just one win so far in the tournament. They have a total of three points; one point from the rain washed out match against the Mumbai Indians. Even that one win was when the scores were tied against the Kolkata Knight Riders and a super over came into play which decided the match.

While Delhi is at the top of the board last year’s defending champions are at an ignominious 7th position. Seeing the Jaipur team’s current form, it seems difficult for them to pull off a win against the redoubtable Delhi Daredevils who are in rocking good form. Not only does the Delhi team have some very solid looking batting, the team is well balanced by their bowlers as well.

Their batting is formidable in that there are international cricket’s best opening batsmen to open the innings in Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, and some very talented chaps in the middle order as well. If the openers finished off the run chase for the entire team in the first match, A B de Villiers scored a frenetic century in their second match and Tillekeratne Dilshan did the job in the third. Daniel Vettori, Dirk Nannes, Ashish Nehra and Amit Mishra are all performing when necessary. Point is, everyone is able to fire when required to do so.

By contrast the Rajasthan Royals have a batting line up that seems positively sedate by comparison. Yousuf Pathan has shown some spark and spirit now and then but even big gun Graeme Smith is a pale shadow of what he is really capable of. Last year’s wonder player Swapnil Asnodkar can’t seem to cope with the moving ball this year.

Shane Warne is aware that the top order is their main failing and they have to fire if they are to have a hope in today’s match. The top order is a major worry though the bowling seems to be in better shape and the fielding is also not as much of a problem for the Jaipur team.

Perhaps because the Rajasthan team made a losing start, and the Delhi team made a winning one, their respective momentums have carried them forward till now. It remains to be seen if today will turn the tide; which however does seem unlikely.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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