Deccan Chargers will hope that the change in their jerseys will also change their IPL fortunes as they look to avoid a repeat of last year’s performance when they take on the Kolkata Knight Riders in the fourth match of the tournament.
According to the bookies though, it is the Knight Riders who go into the match as favourites (5/6 Sporting Bet); and this is not without a reason. Or two. For starters, the Kolkatan batting line-up seems far superior on paper, with the likes of Brendon McCullum (7/2 at Paddy Power for being top KKR batsman), Chris Gayle (3/1 Paddy Power for being top KKR batsman) and Sourav Ganguly (4/1 Paddy Power for being top KKR batsman) forming the top three in the line-up. The Chargers are obviously bolstered by captain Adam Gilchrist as an opener, but beyond him, the team lacks the spark that is needed to ignite the scoring charts. The Knight Riders may have been hit by Cheteshwar Pujara’s untimely injury and subsequent return to India, but they have enough firepower to replace him.
The second factor that could go against the Chargers is the bowling of the mystery bowler, Ajantha Mendis. Mendis will bowl only four overs – as the rules stipulate – but these twenty-four deliveries should be enough to cause havoc in the minds of batsmen who have probably not played him before. Stan James and Sky Bet offer 16/1 about Mendis being the highest wicket-taker in the tournament, and this will be a reasonable enough worry for the Hyderabadi team to prepare very carefully.
Bet 365 offers 6/5 for a Chargers-win in the match, and 12/1 for the tournament, and if they need to have their odds shortened, the likes of Rohit Sharma, Dwayne Smith and R.P. Singh will need to come to the party really fast. Out of the three, Sharma’s talent is well-raved about, but it is high time that he starts getting out the right side of the bed and attaining his primary objective as a batsman; scoring runs. He begins as one of the favourites to top the DC batting charts in the match (4/1 Paddy Power) and this speaks volumes about how highly he is rated in cricketing circles. Now, if only he justifies these odds!
The bowling will be led by R.P. Singh, but all eyes will be on the inconsistent, but highly effective-at-times, Fidel Edwards whose wicket-taking abilities can barely be questioned. Bet365 may offer 50/1 for Edwards being the top wicket-taker of the tournament, but that is more to do with him leaving the tournament mid-way for the series against England. Chargers will need him all charged up to harbour hopes of a win.
My personal take is the same as the bookies, KKR will be favourites going into this match.
Recommendation:
Team: Kolkata Knight Riders
Batsman: Brendon McCullum
