Delhi Daredevils host Rajasthan Royals in today's IPL game that will be played at the Feroz Shah Kotla.
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Delhi are favourites to win this year’s IPL and a glance at their record suggests why.
Virender Sehwag’s men are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table and in excellent shape to reach the semi-finals of the sub-continental extravaganza.
And it is the skipper who is leading from the front, with Sehwag smashing 73 in the victory over Mumbai last time out and 87 as they downed Pune Warriors in their previous fixture.
Add to that the fact that Kevin Pietersen is averaging 88 and Mahele Jayawardene is also in decent nick and there is every reason to suggest that they will be too good for Rajasthan (6/4 at
Totesport) this weekend.
Morne Morkel leads the way with the ball with 17 scalps at just seven runs per over, while left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem has been even more miserly, claiming eight wickets at 6.34 per over. This makes Delhi favourites, who are at 8/15 (
Totesport) to beat Rajasthan and consolidate their lead at the top of the points table.
The one crumb of comfort for the Royals is the fact that their opponents’ lower order has hardly been tested in recent matches due to the strength of the top four and early wickets will be key to their chances.
Rajasthan have won four and lost four games to date but have been beaten in their last two outings and face a tough task to put that right this time around.
They do not possess the stars of Sunday’s opponents but can boast an in-form batsman in Ajinkya Rahane.
He has already notched one century in the competition and has 332 runs at an average of 47.242, while Owais Shah is averaging more than 46.
Rahul Dravid has shown glimpses of his talent but the skipper needs to up his level if they are to make the play-offs.
The Royals’ attack looks to be their weak link and, if Delhi bat first, there could be carnage.
