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Can Indians stop Daredevils?

Nandakumar Marar

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

WILL HE, WON’T HE? The question mark over Sachin Tendulkar’s participation still remains. Here he has a hit in the nets.

MUMBAI: Delhi Daredevils is on top of the game in the Indian Premier League. Glenn McGrath’s ability to shackle batsmen in the T20 format is getting more pronounced with every outing. Gautam Gambhir’s forceful strokeplay elevates him to the match-winner category. The responsibility of captaincy has not hindered Virender Sehwag from enjoying his batting.

The Delhi captain is never short of options, defending totals or chasing them, so is able to take risks without spending too much time worrying about the consequences. Mumbai Indians will need more than daredevilry from top-order batsmen Sanath Jayasuriya, Robin Uthappa and Abhishek Nayar in Sunday’s home match to rattle Sehwag’s confident bunch at the D.Y. Patil stadium.

McGrath’s advice to Mohd. Asif, Yomahesh and Pradeep Sangwan about putting the ball in the right areas has brought out the best in the Delhi fast bowlers. The pace attack, supported by seam bowler Rajat Bhatia and Sehwag sending down off-cutters will put pressure on the Mumbai strokeplayers, among whom all-rounder Dwayne Bravo is the only player to cross the 50-mark (64 n.o. vs Kolkata) in the IPL so far.

Delhi’s batting is in capable hands. The captain’s ruthless hitting, complemented by Gambhir’s proven ability as a T20 batsman, reduces the load on others when chasing down targets. South African A.B. de Villiers can devastate any attack on his day and is in form after playing his domestic T20 competition. Bhatia is a useful bat in any situation and it is only a matter of time before Dinesh Karthik gets going.

Mumbai Indians’ progress pales in comparison, despite beating Kolkata Knight Riders for its first taste of victory. Shaun Pollock, in charge for the last two games, faces the challenge of making his team play to strengths.

Mumbai Indians bowling is restrictive at the most, so the match-winners have to come from among the batsmen. West Indian all-rounder Bravo showed the way in the run chase against Kolkata. Many more need to put their hands up and perform, in keeping with the high price tags against their name.

Sachin Tendulkar’s availability depends on the outcome of a fitness test on match day. The Mumbai Indians icon batted in a practice match on Friday and again at nets a day later, both preparatory sessions held at MCA’s Bandra-Kurla Complex. His recovery from groin injury is vital to the team’s plans, though his state of match fitness for T20 cricket is a question dogging team physio Nitin Patel.

The teams (from): Delhi Daredevils: Virender Sehwag (capt.), Rajat Bhatia, A.B. de Villiers, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Kartik, Glenn McGrath, Farveez Maharoof, Yomahesh, Mohd. Asif, Pradeep Sangwan, Shoaib Malik, Manoj Tiwary, Dilshan Tillekaratne, Amit Mishra, Mithun Manhas.

Mumbai Indians: Shaun Pollock (capt.), Sanath Jayasuriya, Ajinkya Rahane, Pinal Shah, Robin Uthappa, Abhishek Nayar, Dwayne Bravo, Dilhara Fernando, Mussavir Khote, Dhaval Kulkarni, Ashish Nehra, Saurabh Tiwary, Siddharth Chitnis, Loots Bosman, Ashwell Prince, Manish Pandey.

Match starts at 4 p.m.

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