The Chennai Super Kings will face the Delhi DareDevils in the 26th match of the second season of the DLF IPL.

Chennai has had a rather slow start to their campaign, having won only two of their matches, but will be looking good after their convincing win over the Rajasthan Royals. On the other hand, the DareDevils are at the top of table with eight points from five matches, including a win over the top-placed Deccan Chargers.

It is rather difficult to pick a favourite from these two teams; led by the captain and the vice-captain of the Indian national team respectively. Despite the fact that Delhi has been touted as favourites to win the match – 8/11 at Sky Bet as compared to Chennai at 11/10 at Sky Bet – I will still be inclined towards the Super Kings. Super Kings had looked slightly weary earlier, but seemed to have turned the corner with yesterday’s win against Royals. Delhi, on the other hand, will be a difficult opponent to beat, but complacency could play a part here.

The Delhi fans would have been expecting the Virender Sehwag-Gautam Gambhir show through the IPL, but it has been the likes of Tillakaratne Dilshan (4/1 at Sky Bet to be top Delhi batsman) and A.B. de Villiers (4/1 at Sky Bet to be top Delhi batsman) who have taken the opposition by storm. My sense is that the top order needs a shake-up, and hence there could be some changes to the playing eleven, that could include the inclusion of Dave Warner (9/2 at Sky Bet to be top Delhi batsman) in the side. My gut feel though says that it could be Sehwag (3/1 at Sky Bet) who could end up being the top Delhi batsman.

Chennai, on the other hand have been well served by Matthew Hayden (2/1 at Sky bet to be top Chennai batsman) and despite his duck against the Royals, he will be the favourite to be the best batsman from Chennai. Suresh Raina’s near 100 in the previous game ensures that he is at 7/2 at Sky Bet to repeat the dose, while M.S. Dhoni (5/1 at Sky Bet to be top Chennai batsman) is thought to be batting too low down the order to be a real favourite to top score.

My sense is that Dhoni may promote himself or Albie Morkel (9/1 at Sky Bet to be top Chennai batsman) in the top four and try and get some quick runs if the ball is not swinging too much.

Between the two teams, Chennai has a better chance of having a higher first wicket partnership (5/6 at Sky Bet), given that both Hayden and Parthiv Patel have been batting well, and have had their share of failure too; than an airy-fairy duo of Sehwag-Gambhir in this kind of form.

Again, between the two teams, there is a higher chance of Chennai batsmen (11/10 at Sky Bet to hit more sixes) hitting sixes; with the likes of Hayden, Morkel, Raina and Dhoni, all huge hitters of the ball. In contrast, the DareDevils – like Sehwag and Gambhir – have a penchant for scoring more boundaries than lofting it all the way to the fence

Tip:
Favourites: Chennai (11/10 at Sky Bet)
Top Chennai batsman: Matthew Hayden (2/1 at Sky Bet)
Top Delhi batsman: Virender Sehwag (3/1 at Sky Bet)