Rajasthan loves spices. On Saturday, there’ll be an addition to the flavour as a battle that puts the unstoppable force against the immovable object would be fought.
Rajasthan Royals Shane Watson will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Dale Steyn in the 36th match of sixth edition of the IPl. Apart from the Watson-Steyn show, two equally matched sides make it an expected livewire of a contest here at the Sawai Man Singh stadium in the Pink City.
Both teams come into the game after having toured Chennai and lost to the Super Kings in the final over of their respective games. While Rajasthan made 185 against but couldn’t defend it, Hyderabad made 160 and almost defended it. It could prove that hosts Royals’ strength is their batting, Sunrisers bowlers are their.
Hyderabad have given away 160 or more runs in just three out of their eight matches played so far. And, that has a lot to do with the fiery Steyn at the top who has been lethal with nine wickets at just over six runs an over. But it’s his pressure at a menacing 150 kmph which has put batsmen in catch-22 situation most of the times. That has also helped Amit Mishra’s leg-spins who is joint highest-wicket-taker with 14 scalps also an economy rate of just over six. Then, there is Ishant Sharma who has also reaped the benefits of partnering Steyn. He has 10 wickets at over seven.
And, the trio makes Hyderabad the only team in IPl to have three bowlers in the top-thirteen wicket takers list. But, they face a team that is undefeated at home this year in the three matches played, a team that made 179 against the mighty Mumbai Indians in their last match in Jaipur - MI had the bowling strength of lasith Malinga, Mitchell Johnson and Harbjhajan Singh — and then won the match by 97 runs. Rajasthan’s other victims in Jaipur have been defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab.
Right at top of their order is Watson, who scored 101 off 57 deliveries in RR’s last game, joined by Ajinkya Rahane, who is their highest runs-scorer. His strike-rate over Royals’ seven matches is 108.13 meaning he is the support player. Captain Rahul Dravid is slated for the number three spot but the Rajasthan think-tank has a floating order. looking at the ground situation, Dishant Yagnik or Stuart Binny, with strike-rates of 134.54 and 150.58 respectively, come to bat and try and hit the ball to all corners.
And, if plan doesn’t work, the experienced head in Bradley Hodge in the middle-order can guide the ship.
What the Royals lack is a power-hitter in the end but they would not want the Saturday game to reach that level.
The return of Shikhar Dhawan for the Sunrisers with 63 during Thursday’s game versus CSK, has given them balance and if Kumar Sangakkara comes back into the side, he and Thisara Perera missed the side’s last game as Sri lankan players are forbidden from playing in Chennai, their batting is strengthened as Cameron White gives them that power-hitting option.
His mere 123 runs this season may not give a lot of confidence though.
Royals would be happy with James Faulkner’s performance of 3 for 20 in four overs in their last game against CSK because he was bought in the IPl option as a bowler in the death overs, he took two wickets in his final over and almost won Royals the game. Rajasthan also have varied options to choose from and depending on the Jaipur pitch, which has been pacey this season. They have S Sreesanth, Shaun Tait, Siddharth Trivedi and Rahul Shukla as options but opening with Ajit Chandila has been successful and they would like to stick to that.
Watson returning as a bowler gives them more options just as the all-rounder Kevon Cooper does.
They might be tempted to play an extra batsman because of this problem of plenty and the fact that they are facing an in-form bowling unit.
An expected full-house can have all the makings of Jaipur being the watershed for both teams as a win would give a good push for that top-four spot. Presently, Rajasthan are fourth while Hyderabad third on the points table.
Something’s got to give.