Delhi Daredevils play the Rajasthan Royals in the 29th game of the IPL this year at Feroz Shah Kotla. Both sides have played each other before in this edition and the Daredevils had trumped the Royals in a rather one-sided game.

However, despite that result, one gets the sense that the match will be a lot closer than 13/10 that Boylesports offers for a Rajasthan win as compared to the 8/11 (Ladbrokes) if Delhi win again. This is due to change in the top-order bringing about four successive wins for Rajasthan and the injury to Delhi’s strike bowler, Dirk Nannes.

With Nannes ruled out for the next ten days, the side will now need their batsmen to provide that extra cushion for their relatively inexperienced bowling. While David Warner (3/1 at Boylesports to top-score for Delhi again) smacked a scintillating century in the previous game, one expects one of the two others, Virender Sehwag (11/4 at Coral) or Gautam Gambhir (7/2 at Blue Square, both to be the best batsmen for their side) to come good in the game. Sehwag hasn’t had the best of the matches after the first match half century, while Gambhir has been out of the side due to his troublesome hamstring. With T Dilshan (9/2 at Paddy Power to be the best batsman if he plays!) expected to remain out of the playing eleven, it could very well depend on the top-order to do the business for the Delhi side. Farveez Maharoof (33/1 at Ladbrokes to top-score for his side) could be expected to come into the side.

Rajasthan’s resurrection has had a lot to do with the manner in which Michael Lumb (7/2 at Blue Square) and Naman Ojha (4/1 at Sky Bet, both to top-score for the Rajasthan side) have batted at the top of the order. Not only have the wickets not fallen in a heap, but also the starts have been aggressive. However, how they adjust to the slightly slowish surface at the Kotla remains to be seen. This could also mean that captain Warne could send Yusuf Pathan (4/1 at Bet Fred to be the best batsman for the Rajasthan side) up the order to exploit the conditions till the ball remains hard enough. With Adam Voges (6/1 at Ladbrokes to be the best Royals batsman) batting rather convincingly down the order, the captain will not hesitate too much before taking that kind of a decision.

To me, Delhi look like a more fancied side at this stage at home, but the Gambhir-Sehwag duo hold the key.

Tips:
Favourites: Delhi Daredevils (8/11 at Ladbrokes)
Top Delhi batsman: Virender Sehwag (11/4 at Coral)
Top Rajasthan batsman: Yusuf Pathan (4/1 at Bet Fred)