The second last day of the second period will see the Chennai Super Kings play the Delhi DareDevils and it could just be a match to watch out for. Delhi is currently at the top of the table with four wins from five games, while Chennai Super Kings have won a couple of matches only, but would be on a high after having beaten the Rajasthan Royals in their last encounter.
The Chennai Super Kings will look to continue with a similar batting line-up as before, although one cannot discount M.S. Dhoni from making changes to the batting order. Suresh Raina should remain at his number three spot after that match-winning 98, but one of the three, Dhoni, Albie Morkel or Jacob Oram needs to be pushed up the order. This would also mean that if I need to make changes to my Sports Pundit IPL Fantasy side, I shall consider getting in a wicket-keeper in Dhoni or an all-rounder in Oram or Morkel. >
My personal favourite is Morkel, because I get this sense about Oram that he is not in the best of fitness to be carrying the load of both bowling and batting.
Selecting players from Delhi will be a stiffer task than usual. Both Tillakaratne Dilshan and A.B. de Villiers seem to be in the form of their lives, where as it is never easy to discount a Virender Sehwag or a Gautam Gambhir from any selection. So the big question mark here is which of the four needs to be chosen by the SPIFfers?
According to me, it is high time that the opening partnership gets sorted out and at least one of the two go on to get a big score. Unfortunately, the pair thrives on each other’s success, and which is why one cricketer’s dismissal has led to the other’s as well. To sum it up, how about getting both the players in your team for tomorrow; could very well be a century stand coming your way!
Dirk Nannes is one bowler who can be looked at as well, but for now, Amit Mishra looks my favourite bowler. Mishra, it must be remembered, has a hat-trick to his name from the previous season and isn’t averse to giving the ball a decent flight – bringing him quite a few wickets in the process. A good chance that he repeats the same again tomorrow.