The Hindu : Sport : Can the Daredevils upset the Kings?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport

Can the Daredevils upset the Kings?

S. Dinakar

Defending a target can be affected by dew factor

— Photo: K. Pichumani

KEY FIGURE: Chennai Super Kings will be banking on Makhaya Ntini, who is effective against southpaws, to rein in Daredevils’ Gautam Gambhir, who has had a great tournament so far.

Chennai: Tactically, the face-off between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils should be stimulating.

Both sides are conscious of the Glenn McGrath factor in Friday’s DLF-IPL duel at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. For the Delhi side, he is a match-winner. For the host, he poses the biggest threat.

Super Kings coach Kepler Wessels spoke about the cleverness with which McGrath alters his length. McGrath’s machine-like precision often masks his subtle changes.

Said Wessels, “We know he can be dangerous and we have our plans for him.”

Disrupting McGrath

Would the Super Kings attempt to disrupt McGrath’s rhythm by attacking the Aussie legend or would the home team, more predictably, play him through safer methods and target the rest.

The rest includes Mohammed Asif, who with his swing, cut and control can strike and contain in any form of the game.

The Super Kings has an all-win record in four matches but the side, without Matthew Hayden, would be making a fresh start.

Super Kings would, however, be looking for chinks in Daredevils’ bowling armour. The side will be without key spinner, left-armer Daniel Vettori, who bowled so beautifully at the death in Wednesday’s match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Shoaib Malik’s off-spin would be eyed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni & Co. Would the Delhi side field leg-spinner Amit Mishra?

Lively spells

Yomahesh has sent down a few lively spells in the competition but he could be up against an explosive bunch of middle-order batsmen in Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Albie Morkel. Rajat Bhatia can be accurate but his lack of pace presents an opportunity to batsmen who are willing to use their feet and the width of the crease.

Ferveez Maharoof, with his change of speed and fuller length, could fill the breach for the Daredevils.

Already, psychological games are being played. T.A. Sekhar, Head, Cricketing Activities, Delhi Daredevils said, “We have lost Vettori. But they have lost three players. We are better off.”

Stephen Fleming will seek to prove that he is a gain for the Super Kings. The left-hander, as Wessels revealed, will open the innings. Parthiv Patel should be his partner. Though useful at the top, Parthiv has not gone on after providing a start so far.

Will the Super Kings reveal out-of-the-box thinking and send someone like Morkel up the order? Or will someone like S. Vidyut be given a fling?

In-form openers

Daredevils has destructive in-form openers in skipper Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, in particular, has been stroking the ball with flair and timing.

Super Kings would plot to dismiss Gambhir early. Makhaya Ntini, particularly effective against the southpaws, will be a key figure in the hosts’ plans with the new ball.

If Gambhir survives the early phase he could be hugely influential since the left-hander plays Muttiah Muralitharan better than most batsmen. He reads the off-spinning wizard well and uses his feet and wrists to create scoring opportunities.

Gambhir versus Muralitharan will be a key duel within the contest. Murali will relish the challenge.

Fitness concern

The Super Kings has a fitness concern with paceman Manpreet Goni recovering from a bout of fever. Morkel may have a crucial role to play with the ball.

Friday’s game will be a big one for local boys Dinesh Karthik and Yomahesh, who will be turning for the Delhi side on their home ground.

The pitch should once again favour the batsmen. The 8 p.m. starts suggests that the team defending a target could be affected by the dew factor.

Super Kings has the wind and the momentum. Can the Daredevils beard the lion in its den?

The teams (from): Chennai Super Kings: M.S. Dhoni (captain), S. Fleming, P. Patel, S. Raina, S. Badrinath, A. Morkel, S. Vidyut, J. Sharma, M. Muralitharan, M. Ntini, P. Amarnath, M. Goni, R. Ashwin, S. Anirudha, K.B. Arun Karthik and S. Jakati.

Delhi Daredevils: V. Sehwag (captain), G. Gambhir, S. Malik, S. Dhawan, M. Tiwary, D. Karthik, F. Maharoof, Yomahesh, M. Asif, G. McGrath, A. Mishra, A.B. de Villiers, R. Bhatia, T. Dilshan, P. Sangwan, M. Manhas, B. Geeves.

Match starts at 8 p.m.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport