A steadily improving Delhi Daredevils look all set to challenge the might of title contenders Kolkata Knight Riders when the two teams clash for the second time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match, in New Delhi on Saturday.
The hosts will be keen to put up a good performance after suffering a humiliating nine-wicket defeat at the hands of KKR at the EdenGardens early in the tournament when they were bowled out for less than 100 runs.
Things have changed for the better as far as the Darede vils are concerned. They are much better side than in the previous seasons. Since that defeat against KKR in Kolkata, the Daredevils have found balance in the side and confidence to challenge the big teams.
The results against RCB and the Mumbai Indians are a testimony to that while Chris Morris's unbelievable hitting nearly won them their last game against Gujarat Lions, which they lost by a run in a nail-biting finish.
KKR have always been one of the most consistent sides and with an aggressive captain in Gautam Gambhir at the helm.
The two teams are coming into the contest after suffering defeats in previous games and will look to get back to winning ways and pocket crucial points.
Morris almost single-handedly pulled off a win for Daredevils but his efforts came to a naught against Gujarat Lions in a last-ball thriller.
Similarly, Knight Riders were done in by Kieron Pollard 17-ball-51 run blitz combined with Rohit Sharma's well-calculated knock, on Thursday.
For KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir, it is a sort of homecoming since he has spent a good number of years playing at the Feroz Shah Kotla, which is his home ground when he competes for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy.
KKR batsmen led by skipper Gambhir are in top form and they are yet to lose a match while chasing and it wont be surprise if KKR invites Delhi to bat first if they win the toss.
Gambhir himself is in top form, having hit three half-centuries and is third in top run getters list with 296 runs behind Rohit Sharma (298) and Virat Kohli (367 runs).
He has been aided well by Robin Uthappa, Suryakumar Yadav, Yusuf Pathan an Andre Russell.
Daredevils’ skipper Zaheer Khan needs to do better and give his side some early breakthroughs. He has been inconsistent having had two good matches against Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians and then leaking 50 and 48 runs in other two games.
Against Royal Challengers Bangalore he was taken for 50 runs in his four overs and against Lions too he had given away 18 runs in his very first over and ended up bleeding 48 in all.
Delhi’s high point is that their batsmen have done well to chip in when the demand arises -- Quinton de Kock at top or Sanju Samson, Karun Nair and JP Duminy in the middle order have all risen to the occassion.
Morris's big-hitting ability in the game against Lions has only added to their confidence. It will be interesting to see if Zaheer persists with a spin-loaded.
Amit Mishra is the only spinner who has played all the games so far Daredevils while others have been rotated according to conditions and opponents.
Given the slow nature of Kotla track, Mishra is set to feature again but what other combination Zaheer and coach Rahul Dravid opt for, remains to be seen.
Teams:
Delhi Daredevils: Zaheer Khan (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Khaleel Ahmed, Sam Billings, Carlos Brathwaite, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Akhil Herwadkar, Imran Tahir, Shreyas Iyer, Mahipal Lomror, Chama Milind, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Chris Morris, Shahbaz Nadeem, Karun Nair, Pawan Negi, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Pawan Suyal, Jayant Yadav, Pratyush Singh
Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (captain), Piyush Chawla, Brad Hogg, Jason Holder, Sheldon Jackson, Kuldeep Yadav, Chris Lynn, Manan Sharma,Morne Morkel, Colin Munro, Sunil Narine, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Ankit Rajpoot, Andre Russell, Rajagopal Sathish, Shakib Al Hasan, Jaydev Unadkat, Robin Uthappa, Suryakumar Yadav, Umesh Yadav.
