Sunday, April 4, 2010

DD vs RCB Live Streaming, Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers match in IPL 2010 today. Delhi have pulled up their socks after a short sag and their bowling is back on track too, despite the continued absence of Ashish Nehra. They have three home games remaining and should look to use that advantage, and the buoyant Kotla crowd, to add to their five wins. They are a safe bet for the semi-finals, especially now that Daniel Vettori has arrived. AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan are still warming the bench but these are two players who will prove very valuable when the action heats up in the latter stages.

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Bangalore, who also have three home games to go, are also certain for the semis. Their batting is solid, they have one of the better bowling attacks, and they have all their bases covered in 2010. With Ross Taylor also available, Bangalore just got stronger.

Make-up wise, both sides are similar. They both have a strong opening combination and middle order, legspinners in form, and potent new-ball pairs. Where Delhi hold the advantage is that both their openers are capable of winning matches on their own and that they now have the option to include international Twenty20s best slow bowler, Vettori. Sehwag hasn't fired for a while now and he's openly set his sights on regaining his form with the bat. Potentially bad news for Bangalore.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Kings XI Punjab are having an appalling IPL, and their run of defeats probably reached its lowest ebb during the loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore where a spate of dropped catches and some poor death bowling cost them the game.

KKR vs KXIP

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Kolkata, on the other hand, are very much in contention and shutting out Punjab from this IPL on Sunday will propel them into the top four with five league games to play. They are bolstered by the return of Brendon McCullum, who joined the squad on Thursday and is likely to feature in the XI. Kolkata's captain Sourav Ganguly inspired them to a vital victory against Deccan Chargers, which snapped their losing streak, and was backed up by an excellent bowling performance which succeeded in reining in Andrew Symonds during the chase.

If McCullum is included, one of David Hussey, Chris Gayle or Angelo Mathews would have to make way. Mathews was miserly against Deccan, and Gayle as well as Hussey could make up the overs on what has been a slowish track. Kolkata have a tough decision to make, for all three have delivered at various times.

Another possible change for Kolkata could be offspinner Monish Parmar being replaced by either Iqbal Adbulla or Rohan Gavaskar, who also boosts them as a batsman. It was reported that Murali Kartik may have a back niggle, and in the event of his absence, Abdulla or Gavaskar, again, are suitable fill-ins.

Source:Cricinfo.com