 The 29th game of the IPL this year will see the Rajasthan Royals take on the Delhi daredevils on Wednesday. Both the sides have won four games each in the tournament,
and lost three, making it an even battle. And based on which side between Mumbai
and Punjab wins the game today, it is going to be an interesting battle to get
to the top between the two teams.
The Rajasthan Royals have been on a roll all of a sudden. They lost
their first three games, but then, won four matches in a row to get to eight
points. Much of the turnaround can be attributed to the manner in which they
performed as a team after Adam Voges has come into the side.
Click for Live Score Card of Delhi Daredevils Vs Rajasthan RoyalsVoges' lower order batting has taken the pressure off Yusuf Pathan,
and the broad-shouldered Pathan has been able to hit the ball more freely without
having to consider the consequences, given that he understands that there exists
a batsman below him who can get going with some really matured batting.
However, it is not only Voges, but also the return of form of Michael Lumb.
Lumb adds what was missing ever since Graeme Smith left with that finger
injury. This means that the starts are much more explosive, and the Rajasthan
side is a team totally transformed.
As compared to that, the Daredevils too have had a start-stop tournament. They
won their first couple of games, and then lost three in a row to only return
back and win another two. Fortunately for them, Gautam Gambhir is fit
and raring to go, but it remains to be seen whether his batting is back to where
it was an year back.
Apart from Gambhir, there was one other fitness concern, and Ashish Nehra may
continue to remain out of the side. However, the problems have been compounded
with the injury to Dirk Nannes, who seems to have split his finger while taking
a return catch. This means that the side may need to look around and get another
fast bowler in, and with Wayne Parnell back in South Africa with his own injury,
it does seem like the Royals will relish playing the bowling.
The batting, however, has looked good so far, as the side has seen Dave Warner do his bit for the team. With Sehwag yet to blast off so far, it is only a matter of time before Delhi gets back into the reckoning for the same.
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