A resurgent Delhi Daredevils, who have risen up the league table after an inconsistent show in the early phase, will look to build a winning momentum when they take on Rajasthan Royals at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday. Daredevils drubbed Kings XI Punjab by nine wickets by riding on a splendid bowling display by comeback pacer Zaheer Khan and Nathan Coulter-Nile on Friday. Rajasthan, on the other hand, slumped to their third loss in their last five games (including two rain wash out matches) with a eight-run defeat against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium last night.
Fortunes seemed to have shifted on the positive side for Delhi, who are now at fourth position with their fourth win from eight games, after arresting their nine-match losing streak in the tournament history at the Ferozeshah Kotla against Mumbai on April 23. Mumbai-born Shreyas Iyer (281 runs) and Karnataka cricketer Mayank Agarwal (202 runs) showed good nick with individual half centuries while opening the innings against KXIP. Fast bowlers Nathan Coulter-Nile (4 wickets) and Zaheer (2 wickets) had laid the platform for the convincing win.
Daredevils, thus, appear to hold some aces up their sleeves to avenge their defeat against Rajasthan who had won the first leg match in Delhi by three wickets. Rajasthan, on the other hand, have had a dismal run after the Super-Over loss to KXIP in Ahmedabad which ended their brilliant five-match initial winning phase. Two subsequent away games — against Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore — were rain-hit that forced them to share points as well as upset their rhythm. They would hope that a change of home venue from Ahmedabad, where they had lost back-to-back games against KXIP and RCB before the wash-outs, will turn the tide in their favour.