New Delhi, May 14: A rejuvenated Kings XI Punjab will be aiming to keep their play-off hopes alive when they take on table-toppers Delhi Daredevils in an Indian Premier League match here tomorrow.
While Delhi, with 18 points from 13 games, are favourites to make it to the play-offs, Kings XI, who have of late won a few close games, would like to win their remaining three games in order to stay in contention having logged 14 points so far.
The two teams have had contrasting results in their previous matches. While Delhi were completely outplayed by Chennai Super Kings after their top-order flopped miserably, KXIP eked out a victory off the last ball courtesy some lusty shots by stand-in-captain David Hussey and young Gurkeerat Singh Ahluwalia.
The Daredevils have been mostly dependent on their top-order batsmen to fire. Inevitably when skipper Virender Sehwag or David Warner have failed to provide momentum, the home team has looked pretty ordinary as the middle-order batsmen are yet to stand-up and be counted.
Yogesh Nagar and Y Venugopal Rao got the ideal platform to prove their detractors that they too have the firepower but what one saw was a meek effort.
While the Chepauk track played its part, but on the same pitch, the likes of Murali Vijay and Suresh Raina made batting look so easy. Which again brings raises the question, does Delhi middle-order lack quality?
However, the Feroz Shah Kotla track would be better for stroke-players who like the ball coming onto the bat.
As far as the bowling is concerned, it will again depend on how well Morne Morkel bowls his opening spell. But Daredevils might not go for a four-pronged pace-attack like they did in Chennai.
Having both Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron in the squad means that Delhi won't be short on pace but certainly the attack will be a bit one-dimensional.
