The Deccan Chargers face the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the eighth match of the Indian Premier League on Wednesday at Cape Town in an encounter that will begin at 4.30 p.m. local time.
The Deccan Chargers have won the only match they have played against the Kolkata Knight Riders, while the Challengers have won one and lost the next one to Chennai Super Kings.
Deccan Chargers, who are marginally favourites to win this encounter (10/11 888 Sport) will go into the match as my favourites as well; however that will be only just. Despite their abysmal performance against the Super Kings, it must be said that the Royal Challengers (1/1 at Stan James to win the match) are a balanced unit of players and should be able to trouble many an opponents.
The Bangalore Royal Challengers have a batting line-up now – with the inclusion of Jacques Kallis in the previous match – to savour and that is one reason it is rather difficult to choose their best batsman. I shall play it safe and recommend Kallis (5/1 Sky Bet) and Rahul Dravid (5/1 888 Sport), but with Kevin Pietersen having yet to get going, may not be too much away from the batting action. Pietersen looks strongest to top the Royal Challengers ’batting charts (4/1 at 888 Sport)
Adam Gilchrist (4/1 Boyle Sports as Deccan Chargers’ top batsman) failed as an opener, but he is one batsman who cannot be kept out. Gibbs’ good form in both the ODIs against Australia and the previous match means that Bet365 offers 3/1 for him being the top scorer in the Chargers’ inning.
Spinners are certainly ruling the roost in this tournament, but the venue of Cape Town has already shown to be prone to the odd shower. This may make gripping the ball a trifle more difficult and hence, a quick bowler may end up being the most economic as well. This list includes the three, Dale Steyn, Praveen Kumar and Fidel Edwards (all 9/2 Stan James for most being economic bowler of match), yet given the way Edwards bowled in the first match, my feel is that he could end up winning the honours.
Given the way, the Challengers’ top order has folded up in both their opening matches, it will be rather difficult to expect that the highest opening partnership will not belong to the Chargers (5/6 Paddy Power). Add that to the fact that Gilchrist should have got his eye in now that he has been in South Africa for a substantial length of time; thus ensuring that the Chargers’ first wicket stand could be much more than Challengers’.