Down to the Wire

By Gulu Ezekiel

It is down to the wire in the IPL with three of the four final league games over the next two days shaping up as do-or-die encounters.
Delhi Daredevils, despite their loss on Tuesday to Royal Challengers Bangalore, are the only side assured of a place in the semi-finals and their match against Mumbai Indians on Thursday will be a formality for both sides.
Mumbai and Kolkata Knight Riders are both out of it. The other five sides will be fighting it out for the last three semis slots.
KKR though played the spoiler role to a nicety when they stunned Chennai Super Kings on Monday. It was KKR’s only authentic victory of the tournament since their previous one had come via Duckworth/Lewis method against Kings XI Punjab in a rain shortened match.
Chennai looked to be on a roll and winning on Monday would have ensured they joined Delhi in the semis as had occurred last year. Now the pressure is on both sides when they take on Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday. It will be a fascinating match-up between the leadership skills of India captain MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh who has suddenly discovered his skills as a bowler.
It will be the Rajasthan Royals camp however that will be suffering the most jitters over the next 48 hours. The reigning champions have been having a pretty topsy-turvy time of it this time around and it is their negative Net Run-Rate which is their biggest worry. But they face KKR on Wednesday and on current form should easily win.
Deccan Chargers, who finished last in 2008 have been this year’s surprise package. Bangalore had last year ended up second last and now the two sides will also be fighting it out for that precious last four berth on Thursday. It should make for two days of fascinating cricket.

www.sportshero.com (20/5/09)