Delhi Daredevils play their last game of the season at Ferozeshah Kotla on Friday. It’s their home ground but it rarely feels like home as they have a terrible record here. In the last 11 matches, Daredevils have enjoyed success in only one. It’s that bad.
However, Daredevils have a real good chance to get one more win under their belt before beginning their away journey when they face Kings XI Punjab on Friday. Yes, KXIP were the table-toppers last season and played the final and they are using the same set of players this season too. But, nothing seems to be clicking for them as, half-way down the tournament, they are lying at the bottom of the table after losing five out of seven games.
Injury concern
As if the poor form of their big stars – Glenn Maxwell and Virender Sehwag, who were subsequently dropped from the first eleven – wasn’t enough, KXIP are now facing injury scare to skipper George Bailey and Shaun Marsh. While Marsh was hit on his toe, Bailey took a blow on his shoulder during the team’s training session on Friday.
“We have some injury issues, so team combination can be decided only tomorrow (Friday),” KXIP coach Sanjay Bangar told mediapersons.
If the duo fails to recover in time, Maxwell and Sehwag are likely to return to the side.
Blessing in disguiseIJ
Return of Sehwag could prove to be a blessing in disguise for KXIP. Sehwag is someone who grew up playing the Ferozeshah Kotla and knows the nature of the pitch like the back of his hand. His knowledge and experience of playing at the Kotla can help KXIP like the other two home boys Gautam Gambhir (for KKR) and Virat Kohli (for RCB) helped their respective teams.
If Sehwag plays a good hand in helping KXIP win on Friday, it will only strengthen the belief of those who whisper about the Kotla curse on Daredevils.
Daredevils, on the other hand, are recovering from a devastating loss against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the previous match where they were shot out for a paltry 95 – joint lowest of the season so far. It was a confidence breaking loss, especially after they broke the Kotla jinx by beating Mumbai Indians.
It was another example of how badly their batting depends on the success of skipper JP Duminy, who has got good support only from the rookie Shreyas Iyer. Daredevils’ bowlers led by leg-spinner Imran Tahir have fared better in comparison keeping most of the oppositions under control.
Both the teams desperately need to win this game to stay in hunt for the knockout phase.