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Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab are a wonderful study of similarities and contrasts. Both are being led by one of the finest players of their generation and seemed to have been carrying dead weight on their shoulders in form of lacklustre and unbalanced squads.
But, if Adam Gilchrist’s Kings XI Punjab have found the rhythm at right time, Virender Sehwag-led Delhi Daredevils are yet to send any warning signals to opponents.
Gilchrist would be happy to see the rising of the likes of Paul Valthaty and Shaun Marsh as new match-winners for the side, with Praveen Kumar wonderfully leading the bowling attack, Sehwag is yet to experience that luxury. Except David Warner, there is no one in the side, who appears to be keen on sharing the burden of batting with him.
So, when the two lead their sides against each at Ferozshah Kotla here on Saturday, the ambitions would be same, still different. Punjab would look to win to re-enforce their status among the toppers, Delhi would aim to end up on happier side to save their morale from crushing.
Languishing at the bottom of the table with just one win in the tournament so far, Delhi have looked completely listless in almost every department. If an early dismissal of Sehwag or Warner means the batting line-up falling like nine pins, the bowling attack has also been clueless in absence of a lead bowler, a role that Irfan Pathan was expected to fill naturally. And due to Irfan's inability to do so the pressure has inadvertently shifted to Morne Morkel, who alone looks to be in form in an otherwise out-of-sorts Delhi squad.
Having lost three out of their four matches so far, Delhi are facing an uphill task of winning at least seven out of the next 10 matches to keep their hopes of next stage alive.
Though, the chances for that look bleak on their current form, Delhi coach Greg Shipperd would still tread the optimistic path. “The focus will be on winning as many games as possible. We are training hard and trying to stick together as a unit. Hopefully, we will come good,” he said, adding that Irfan's return to good form might just help turn the side's fortune. “Irfan may not have got a 70 or 80 but he is slowly improving and we expect him to do a good finishing job. We would like him to score 20 off 20 or take a crucial wicket.”
Punjab also looked to have been sailing in a similar boat, heavily dependent on Gilchrist to perform and lead like Sehwag, but they were just luckier to have hit the form at the right time. And, when Valthaty became the first centurion of the tournament, it was quite evident that the side's sun was on rising. After losing the first match to debutants Pune Warriors, the former Australian wicketkeeper and batsman's bunch has taken each side by its horns and emerged victorious from the encounters, recording three wins in four matches so far.
With Punjab riding high on their winning streak, Delhi will have their task cut out to stop their charge, and they would need more than just a couple of their players to perform.
But, if Adam Gilchrist’s Kings XI Punjab have found the rhythm at right time, Virender Sehwag-led Delhi Daredevils are yet to send any warning signals to opponents.
Gilchrist would be happy to see the rising of the likes of Paul Valthaty and Shaun Marsh as new match-winners for the side, with Praveen Kumar wonderfully leading the bowling attack, Sehwag is yet to experience that luxury. Except David Warner, there is no one in the side, who appears to be keen on sharing the burden of batting with him.
So, when the two lead their sides against each at Ferozshah Kotla here on Saturday, the ambitions would be same, still different. Punjab would look to win to re-enforce their status among the toppers, Delhi would aim to end up on happier side to save their morale from crushing.
Languishing at the bottom of the table with just one win in the tournament so far, Delhi have looked completely listless in almost every department. If an early dismissal of Sehwag or Warner means the batting line-up falling like nine pins, the bowling attack has also been clueless in absence of a lead bowler, a role that Irfan Pathan was expected to fill naturally. And due to Irfan's inability to do so the pressure has inadvertently shifted to Morne Morkel, who alone looks to be in form in an otherwise out-of-sorts Delhi squad.
Having lost three out of their four matches so far, Delhi are facing an uphill task of winning at least seven out of the next 10 matches to keep their hopes of next stage alive.
Though, the chances for that look bleak on their current form, Delhi coach Greg Shipperd would still tread the optimistic path. “The focus will be on winning as many games as possible. We are training hard and trying to stick together as a unit. Hopefully, we will come good,” he said, adding that Irfan's return to good form might just help turn the side's fortune. “Irfan may not have got a 70 or 80 but he is slowly improving and we expect him to do a good finishing job. We would like him to score 20 off 20 or take a crucial wicket.”
Punjab also looked to have been sailing in a similar boat, heavily dependent on Gilchrist to perform and lead like Sehwag, but they were just luckier to have hit the form at the right time. And, when Valthaty became the first centurion of the tournament, it was quite evident that the side's sun was on rising. After losing the first match to debutants Pune Warriors, the former Australian wicketkeeper and batsman's bunch has taken each side by its horns and emerged victorious from the encounters, recording three wins in four matches so far.
With Punjab riding high on their winning streak, Delhi will have their task cut out to stop their charge, and they would need more than just a couple of their players to perform.
