Johan Botha pleased with his new role as an all-rounder for the Rajasthan Royals

Johan Botha is pleased to perform his role as an all-rounder for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.
He was initially signed up as a bowler but was offered to bat at No.3 by his skipper, Shane Warne and Coach Jeremy Snape.
“They both approached me at the same time and we had a general chat and they said 'are you keen to do it?’” revealed Botha.
Taking it as a challenge, Botha expressed his pleasure at the opportunity. He added that the T20 game has a lot of glamour in it but one has to adapt to the game, keeping in mind the limited time and the need for quick runs.
"You have a few balls to have a look, the field is up at the start too, so you can get off to a bit of a flier and have 10, 15, or 20 runs before the field is spread out, so that makes quite a difference. Normally, when you come in at the end, it is a few balls to go and one or two of the best bowlers on again, so that is not easy,” he explained.
 Rajasthan Royals appeared in their first match of this season against the Deccan Chargers on April 9, 2011. The Chargers scored 137 runs in the allotted overs.
Rajasthan Royals had lost their first wicket at 31 runs when Botha stepped up to his new role. He thrashed an unbeaten 67 off 47 balls aided with one six and eight fours, leading his side to victory by eight wickets.
Botha repeated the feat against Delhi Daredevils on April 12, 2011 by punching an unbeaten 39 off 32 with two fours. Rajasthan ended up winning the match by six wickets.
He has played six matches in this edition of the IPL and has secured a batting spot in his team by scoring 189 runs at an excellent average of 94.50.
Botha has not allowed his bowling to suffer either. He opened the bowling attack for his team with positive results. His bowling has been praised by his national side as well, he is capable of bringing the run-rate down while picking up some crucial wickets.
He has taken five wickets in this IPL season at an average of 25.60 runs per wicket with best figures of 3 for 6.
Botha was brought down by a finger injury which kept him out of a few games and his side lost a couple of those. He came back to the field as soon as he recovered and Rajasthan Royals have won three back to back games since then.

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Hurley’s love leads Warne’s side to win

Girl friend of the cricket legend, Shane Warne, and a renowned English model, Elizabeth Hurley, demonstrated heartfelt support for Rajasthan Royals during their game at Jaipur on 1 May, 2011.
The Warne-led side has stunned the world by winning all three games at Jaipur, cementing their place in the tournament and taking their winning streak to 15 wins out of 19 matches at home.
Weekend's game between Rajasthan Royals and Pune Warriors was a thrilling competition. It was evident through Hurley’s gestures and expressions that she was involved and stressed, wanting her boyfriend to triumph.
Hurley was shouting and raising slogans on every ball and every hit. She was a resplendent showpiece for the spectators and for the media cameras.
The game over with Royals standing as winners, Hurley revealed that she had not imagined that the game would be so stressful.
It was the most emotionally-charged game for Warne who was fighting for the top slot. Hurley was also present at the stadium during Rajasthan’s clash with Mumbai Indians on Friday.
After an easy and convincing victory, Warne exchanged a lovely kiss with Hurley, setting their fans to clap and smile.
After losing a couple of their games, Warne was confident of a startling comeback when the Royals returned to their home ground for three games. Under Warne’s meticulous leadership, they won all three games in Jaipur.
In yesterday’s game, Pune Warriors scored 143 after losing 7 wickets in the first innings. Rajasthan Royals had a dismal start but Ross Taylor’s unbeaten 47 steered them to the 11^th hour victory.
The Rajasthan Royals now hold the top slot in the ongoing tournament. The side claimed the IPL title in 2008.
After the game, Warne tweeted Hurley and thanked her for the support. Warne wrote, “you and D’s flag waving was superb today-all the boys appreciate your support very much.” In reply, Hurley added three kisses and exclaimed, “Yes! Love cricket now.”
The 45-year old Hurley and 41-year old Warne have been friends since last July. Both are divorced and their friendship is quite strong. Hurley tries to ensure her presence on every big occasion related to Warne.
A successful former Kangaroo skipper, Warne has been leading Rajasthan Royals since the very first edition of the IPL.

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SWOLLEN LEFT KNEE LEAVES SHANE WARNE DOUBTFUL FOR MATCH AGAINST PUNE WARRIORS

The Rajasthan Royals skipper, Shane Warne is a doubtful starter for his team’s crucial Indian Premier League game against Sahara Pune Warriors India, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday, as the legendary Australian spinner is struggling with a swollen knee.

The Rajasthan skipper was seen testing the fitness of his knees during a practice session on the eve of the match. When asked about the strength of his knees, the spin prodigy conceded that his left knee was inflamed and he would take the final decision in this regard on Sunday morning.

“Yes it is still swollen. Cartilage of my left knee is inflamed. There is swelling and I will have another look at it in the morning,” Warne told the reporters at the pre-match media conference.

Giving the details of his swollen knee, the 41-year-old Victoria bowler said that he had picked up the injury while fielding in their convincing seven-wicket win over table toppers, Mumbai Indians, on Friday. He however, was hopeful that he would be fit to play against Pune tomorrow.

“My knee got stuck when I dived for the ball while fielding yesterday,” said Warne. “I have had three operations on that knee. I have been icing it and I will use more ice packs. Hope I can be fit for the match against Pune.” 

Ashok Menaria, the Rajasthan Royals all-rounder, however, dismissed any fears about Warne's availability for Sunday's match.

“There is nothing wrong with Shane and he is out for the practice,”  said the 20-year-old left arm spinner when asked about the condition of his captain’s injured knee.

Sources inside the Rajasthan team have also claimed that even a less than hundred percent fit Shane Warne would be part of the playing eleven against Sahara Pune Warriors tomorrow.

With nine points from 8 games, the Rajasthan based franchise currently stands at number three. A victory against Pune would take them to the top of the table with 11 points, just ahead of current table toppers, Mumbai Indians, who have 10 points from seven games.

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CORPORATE BOXES, A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS FOR INDIAN STADIUMS AND INDUSTRIALISTS

The Corporate industry has always had a lot of say in every walk of life. Utilizing the power of money, the corporate owners extend their patronage and sponsorship to sports that are considered to be potential sources for through- the- line advertisement.

With India being a rapidly emerging world economy, the corporate culture in the country is gaining roots quickly. With over a billion people, India has great potential for business development. Some leading Industrial tycoons of the world hail from India as well.

Since half a decade, a new trend, ‘cricket under corporate’, has been on the rise in India. All the ace industrial groups have owned cricket, thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL).

At the start of every League season, different players and teams are auctioned and purchased often by wealthy industrialists.

The IPL has now given birth to a new trend that is ‘corporate boxes in cricket stadiums during matches’.

Some top Indian cricket stadiums like Eden Gardens and Wankhede Stadium have developed boxes comprising 10 to 12 seats. These boxes are erected at the forefront of stadiums.

Before the start of any game, some ace industrialists bid for boxes and purchase them. During the game, these boxes are used to entertain clients and business partners with wine and dine.

During the ongoing IPL season, the cost of a box is roughly estimated at $ 1.25 million.

The just concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 also witnessed many such activities especially in the Semi-Final and Final games.

Some Bollywood stars like Aamir Khan and some big industrialists like Mukesh Ambani were included among the top box buyers. Some banks and multi-national companies also invested in the luxury.

Eying more lucrative opportunities, the stadiums are redesigning and increasing the number of boxes to provide comfort and facilities to the buyers. Eden Gardens has increased the number of corporate boxes from 12 to 32 and Wankhede stadium contains 57 boxes currently.

The boxes are equipped with all modern facilities of dining, seating, entertainment, fun and much more. They are prepared with great care and furnished with great symmetry.

The stadiums sell their boxes for heavy amounts and for long periods of contract. Recently, the Mohali stadium has sold each of its boxes for seven million rupees for a period of 10 years. The Wankhede sold its 57 boxes for 55 million rupees on a 10-year contract.

The format of the IPL has been designed in a way to perk up the box business. Every league franchise is entitled to play most of its tournament games at its home ground. Thus the franchise owners purchase more and more boxes to attract support and display their power.

During the matches of Kolkata Knight Riders, Shah Rukh Khan’s team, the cost of a box raises up to 200, 000 rupees.

A spokesperson of the KKR, Joy Bhattacharya, says, “We are getting a great response for these corporate boxes.” An official of the Rajasthan Royals claims that the boxes are an important source of revenue and benefit their business as well.

The Delhi Daredevils’ marketing manager, P. Phaneendra, tells, “While there is no way to definitely know what is discussed inside the corporate boxes, we know people do talk beyond cricket, sometimes it is business.”

Thus the corporate boxes provide fruitful business opportunities to both the stadium owners and the box buying industrialists.

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WE GAVE 20 RUNS IN EXCESS AND COULD NOT SCORE RAPIDLY – YUVRAJ SINGH

The Pune Warriors captain Yuvraj Singh, rued that his bowlers conceded 20 odd extra runs during Royal Challenger Bangalore’s innings. Pune suffered a 26-run defeat against Daniel Vettori and his men at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore last night, 29 April, 2011.

The Pune skipper said that they leaked some extra runs to the opposition while fielding and then failed to score runs quickly while batting, leading to their fifth consecutive defeat in the tournament.

The struggling Warriors’ skipper reckoned that the 26-run defeat at the hands of Bangalore has made it quite tough for them to earn a berth in the IPL playoffs since a single defeat in the ensuing six games would mean an ouster from the lucrative league.

"It is really tough from now on,” said the beleaguered Yuvraj. “We have to win six out of six to have a chance. We will give our best,” he vowed.

When asked about the advantage of winning a toss, the stylish middle-order batsman said that it is quite difficult to comment as he has won five tosses so far and lost all those games. Yuvraj wished he had lost the toss against RCB.

The 29-year old all-rounder from Chadigarh also conceded that his side’s batting was not up to the mark against the Bangalore attack.

"It was a gettable target because it was a good batting wicket,” said the former Punjab batsman.

“In the first six overs, we didn''t lose many wickets but Manish and Jesse partnership didn''t yield many runs. If the runs had come at that time, me and Robin could have finished off things. We will look at ourselves on where to improve on," he added.

When asked did if he made a mistake by not batting up in the order, Yuvraj said that batting at number four or five is the core of the team. He however agreed that he should have come up the order at least in this game.

Jesse Ryder was the top scorer from Pune with 51 runs from 34 deliveries followed by skipper Yuvraj Singh who consumed 23 balls to score 41 including two boundaries and three lofty sixes.

With two wins from seven games, the Pune Warriors stand second last at the points table just above DelhiDaredevils and that too because of a better run rate.

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ROSS TAYLOR HOPES TO MAKE MOST OF BATTING OPPORTUNITIES AS RAJASTHAN BIDS FOR LAST FOUR

New Zealand’s most accomplished batsman in their present line-up, Ross Taylor, believes that he has it in him to make the most of his new found role of finisher in the batting department.

Taylor, who has captained the team in the absence of Daniel Vettori, in the One Day format, is currently representing the champions of the first edition of the Indian Premier League Rajasthan Royals at the fourth season of the cash rich league.  

The Royals registered an impressive win over one of the most fancied teams in the league Mumbai Indians. After restricting the Indians to 94, the Royals romped home with plenty to spare, which meant that Taylor only needed to score 13 runs at the end of the innings.

Taylor though stated later that he was enjoying his stint in the league and the new found role is a real challenge for him, as he bids to advance his game and become a world class talent, which he has threatened to in the last few years.

"It is probably something that has been put upon me over the last three or four years", Taylor said. "It is different. It is not a role I do for my team back home in New Zealand or for New Zealand at international level but it is something I do enjoy".

He added that it was a tough ask to hit the ball from the outset in any format of the game and at present there are very few players in any team at present, who can make that kind of an impact on a consistent basis.

He added that ideally a batsman must spend some time at the crease before going into top gear and he needs to make most of the starts, as that was the only way to blossom and make most of the situation even in the shortest format of the game.

"There are not many batsmen who can come out and smack the ball from ball one and do it consistently. So you still have to give yourself a chance. It depends on many runs you have to get and how many balls you have to go. Then you can decide how many balls you have to get in".

Meanwhile, the Royals have had an indifferent season thus far. They have recorded some one-sided wins yet have been on the receiving end of some heavy defeats also.

They are currently placed at the fifth position in the ten team league and have a total of seven points from seven games.

In the wake of the present situation, Taylor reckons that the point gained from the rained-out game against Royal Challengers Bangalore might be the crucial bid that helps them sneak ahead in the knock out stage.

Taylor added that the upcoming games are real tough ones for his team and they need to make the most of the matches against bigger teams such as, Chennai and Mumbai, who have shown glimpses of their potential.

"We have Mumbai and Chennai, home and away, over our next seven games and they are first and second in the table so it is going to be a tough road ... but we have four games at home and we know how to play at home so hopefully we can show that".

The IPL ends on 28^th May, and Taylor would be hoping that he has silverware in his hands at the final of the biggest cricket league in the world.

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Ross Taylor accepts challenging role in the face of expectations

Ross Taylor was picked up by Rajasthan Royals this season amidst great expectations. He was inducted as a 'finisher' who can lift any innings to a higher level or salvage one on the verge of collapse.

He came into the limelight during the match against a strong Pakistan side who had recently beaten the Kiwis at their home.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 game was staged at Kandy, Sri Lanka on 8 March, 2011. The Kiwis’ had lost two wickets at 55 runs when Taylor entered the arena. Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar had been utterly dominating the Black Caps.

Taylor was lucky to be dropped a couple of times early in his inning by the Pakistan wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

Pouncing on the opportunity, Taylor changed the complexion of the game by thrashing Pakistani bowlers to death. He remained unbeaten in the match with 131 runs off 124 balls aided with seven towering sixes and eight powerful fours.

New Zealand was able to post 302 runs in the 50 overs and bowled out Pakistan for 192 runs. Taylor had singlehandedly devastated the Green Caps, leading his side to victory.

After that stellar innings, Taylor has a lot to live up to, especially in the Twenty20 format prevailing in the Indian Premier League.

"It is probably something that has been put upon me over the last three or four years," Taylor told ESPNcricinfo.

"It is different. It is not a role I do for my team back home in New Zealand, or for New Zealand at international level but it is something I do enjoy,” he added.

Taylor takes the expectations as a challenge but the shorter version of the game requires a change of tactics.

"There are not many batsmen who can come out and smack the ball from ball one and do it consistently. So you still have to give yourself a chance. It depends on many runs you have to get and how many balls you have to go. Then you can decide how many balls you have to get in."

Rajasthan Royals have won four games so far in the ongoing Indian Premier league. Taylor has not yet had to prove himself or save a collapsing side.

However, the Rajasthan Royals are looking forward to book their place in the Semi-finals. They have been winning the home matches so far and will be looking to bag the rest as well. Taylor’s presence is a definite advantage for his side, it’s not just his batting talent that is of value, but his experience being the Vice Captain of his national side also comes in to play.

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Mumbai v Rajasthan - Mumbai Indians collapse at 94, Rajasthan Royals in command

The Mumbai Indians barely managed to score 94 runs against the Rajasthan Royals in the 34^th match of the Indian Premier League being played at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on 29 April, 2011.
Shane warne won the toss and invited Mumbai to bat first. The Mumbai Indians opened with their usual pair, Sachin Tendulkar and Davy Jacobs.
 Ashok Menaria and the seamer Amit Singh took charge of the Rajasthani bowling attack.
Mumbai’s opening pair only managed 11 runs in the first two overs. Jacobs was the first to go, bowled by Amit on the first ball of the fourth over with the Mumbai total at 22 runs.
Tendulkar was the next one to leave, adding only six runs to the total. Dishant Yagnik stumped Sachin out off the bowling of Ashok.
Ambati Rayudu and Rohit Sharma were to lead Mumbai next, the duo could only manage to add 18 runs in the total before Rayudu was caught and bowled by Menaria. The third wicket fell at the total of 46 runs in 8.4 overs and Andrew Symonds was next on the crease.
Sharma tried to accelerate the innings but was caught at long off by Johan Botha on the last ball of the 10^th over. Mumbai Indians lost their fourth wicket when their score reached the 50-run milestone.
Pollard was the next man in but he was dismissed early as well, contributing just 18 runs for the fifth wicket. The Rajasthan bowlers were pressing down hard on the struggling Mumbai batsmen.
Symonds was the sixth batsman to return to the pavilion after accumulating 17 runs off 26 balls.
Mumbai Indians could manage only 94 runs in the allocated 20 overs, losing eight wickets in the process.
Botha was the highest wicket taker for Rajasthan Royals with three wickets, Menaria and Amit took two wickets each while Warne scalped one.
Mumbai’s performance was dismal and unexpected, however, fortunately for Rajasthan, this may just be their day.

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HARBHAJAN SINGH HAPPY WITH WINNING STREAK OF MUMBAI INDIANS

The Indian off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh, who is representing Mumbai Indians in the latest edition of the Indian Premier League, on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the way things have gone for the franchise so far.

When asked about the winning streak of the Mumbai Indians, the 30-year-old off-spinner said he was happy with team’s performance in the tournament so far and hoped they would continue the form in the remainder of the league.

He also singled out Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds for their match winning performances in the previous games.

"I am happy with the way things have gone till now,” said Singh. “We have been through rough patches but one or the other has been able to pull us through. Like in the last match Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds batted well to help us to reasonable score which could be defended," he added.

The Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians side is leading the points table with five wins from six games. Their only defeat in the ongoing edition was against Kochi Tuskers Kerala on April 15.

Talking about the good form of Rajasthan’s skipper Shane Warne, Harbhajan said, "He is great cricketer and greatest spinner. I myself would be talking to him and get tips so that I can prolong my international career."

The 30-year-old Punjab spinner also hailed Ambati Rayudu of Mumbai Indians and termed the youngster as a special talent. He said that facing legendary Australia spinner would be a challenge for the youngster.

When asked about his role in the side, the right-arm spinner said that it had not changed as such.

"I and seniors like Sachin try and build the team like a unit and instill confidence in the youngsters by telling them to be part of think tank," Harbhajan said.

The Mumbai Indians have been remarkable in all the three departments of the game, including batting, bowling and fielding in the tournament so far. Harbhajan gave credit of the sharp fielding of his side to the amazing fielding coach Jonty Rhodes.

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So far so good for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League

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The ICC World Cup 2011 may be over, but it seems that cricket has just started in India. The fourth edition of the cash-rich Indian Premier League kicked off soon after the Men in Blue were crowned the world champions and since then, the fans have witnessed some entertaining T20 cricket. The shortest version of the game is always fun to watch and it has been a treat for the Indian fans until now.

One of the better performing teams in this year’s IPL has been the Kings XI Punjab. The team didn’t get off to an ideal start to the season, losing the first match against the Pune Warriors (PWI). However, they bounced back strongly in their next couple of matches, winning against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Deccan Chargers (DC). They will next face the Rajasthan Royals (RR), at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali on Thursday 21 April.

The best result for KXIP in IPL has been a semi-final finish in the inaugural season of the cash-rich tournament. However, the team was unable to live up to the expectations of their fans in the next two editions.

The leadership of the team has been handed over to former Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist this time around. The veteran cricketer was the skipper of DC in the previous editions of the tournament and led his team to a title victory in the second season of IPL.

Gilchrist was expected to repeat the same performance, but this time for a different outfit. His team was defeated in the first match, as the batting failed miserably. The South African all-rounder, Ryan McLaren, was the only player to make an impression in the match, scoring an unbeaten 51 off 43 balls. His effort went in vain though, as the team was unable to defend 112 against the Yuvraj Singh led squad.

KXIP was under immense pressure, as their next match was against the defending champions CSK. The MS Dhoni led side scored a massive total of 188 runs after they were put into bat by Gilchrist.

Things looked grim for Punjab, but a special effort from opening batsman Paul Valthaty guided the team to an easy victory in the end. The flamboyant batsman scored an unbeaten 120 runs off just 63 balls with the help of 19 fours and two sixes. His effort stunned the strong opposition, as the target was chased with five more balls to spare.

Valthaty’s innings gave a lot of confidence to the team and they carried that into the next game against DC. Gilchrist and his men were yet again given a big target of 166 to chase, but the team reached it with effortless ease.

The opening partnership between KXIP’s captain and Valthaty was worth 136 runs in just 14 overs, which took the game away from Kumar Sangakkara and his men. The pair scored 61 and 75 runs in the innings, making things easier for their middle-order batsmen.

Although things have looked quite good for the Punjab's team, they need to sort out a few things before their next game. The middle-order of the team has appeared to be vulnerable and if a couple of early wickets fall in the innings, there will be immense pressure on the team.

Apart from the batting, the team will need to emphasis on their bowling department as well. KXIP has allowed their oppositions in all three matches to score runs quickly and if the trend continues, things will become difficult for them.

However, the winning momentum would have brought a lot of confidence in the team, which will make things easier for them in the upcoming matches.

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Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab

The batting gurus of Rajasthan Royals include Rahul Dravid, Ross Taylor, Shane Watson and Johan Botha.

Rahul Dravid

Dravid, who has ruled the world of cricket for so many years, has a rock-solid defence with an extremely strong technique. With a combination of outstanding cricketing strokes all around the wicket, Dravid has the quality to rotate the strike well in the limited-over cricket. The Batsman has scored tons of runs in international cricket and his experience allows him to play well in every format of the game.

Dravid is considered to be one of the classiest batsman India has ever produced. Although, the veteran campaigner has a strike rate of under-43 in Test cricket, Dravid has the quality to convert his game according to the situation. With a strike rate of almost 120 in Twenty20 games, Dravid has scored 1288 runs in his 57 game.

Ross Taylor

The Kiwi is one of the most brutal batsmen in modern-day cricket. With an ability to destroy any bowling attack on his day, Taylor has emerged as a dangerous limited-over player. An aggressive middle-order batsman, Taylor is fully capable to take up the challenge against top-class bowlers. Taylor’s strongest scoring area is the leg-side where he hits mighty sixes. With his powerful hitting, the Kiwi can change the course of the game within few moments. However, he hasn't shown much of his class so far in the ongoing tournament.

One can remember his marvellous knock of 131 from just 124 balls in the ICC World Cup 2011 group match against Pakistan, where he single-handedly snatched the game away from the opposition. Having played 106 Twenty20 matches, the Kiwi batsman has scored 2687 runs at an awesome strike rate of almost 150.

Shane Watson

Watson is an experienced and talented Aussie all-rounder, who is known as the most devastating cricketer in the today’s cricket. His recent innings of 185 not out against Bangladesh is regarded as one of best innings of one-day history. With an outstanding command on multiple strokes, Watson does not allow bowlers to settle down and loves to take the charge from the very first ball of the innings.

After missing opening IPL matches due to the Australia-Bangladesh one-day series, Watson reached India with huge expectations. However, the batsman has not yet capitalized the situation, failing to make big scores in the previous two matches. A player of his calibre can turn the game anytime with his destructive batting. He has played 57 Twenty20 matches, scoring 1418 runs at a fabulous strike rate of almost 150.

Johan Botha

Although the Proteas all-rounder is known for his controlled spin bowling, he has improved his batting a great deal over the last few years. Botha’s cricketing career is an interesting case; he started playing cricket as a medium-pacer but then turned himself into an off-break bowler.

Botha showed a little glimpse of his batting talent by scoring a fantastic half-century in his first season IV game. In his 71 Twenty20 matches, Botha holds a strike rate of over 115. With his hard hitting low down the order, Botha will surely be one of Rajasthan’s players to watch out for.

Comparing the two batting line-ups, it is evident that both teams have experienced and skilled batsmen in their set-up.

The venue, Mohali Stadium, has a marvellous batting track. Thus, a high scoring match can be anticipated. With some quality batsmen in both teams, the show will definitely be entertaining. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see that how these batting masters use their expertise to take their side to the glory.

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Gautam Gambhir expects Yusuf Pathan to shine against Rajasthan

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir has said that he expects hard-hitting batsman Yusuf Pathan to shine against Rajasthan Royals in their third Indian Premier League fixture on Friday.
Pathan, the former Rajasthan Royals player, was part of India’s ICC World Cup 2011 winning squad. Kolkata Knight Riders signed the swashbuckling player for $2.1 million for the 2011 season of IPL.
“We would be benefited as Yusuf Pathan has played few matches and also against the Rajasthan Royals team earlier. Our team would be benefited if Yusuf plays well tomorrow,” said Gambhir.
In the opening season of IPL in 2008, Pathan came into the limelight when he scored 435 runs including 4 fifties and had an unbelievable strike rate of 179. In addition, he took 8 wickets with his off spinners. In the 2010 season of IPL, Pathan hit a 37-ball century against Mumbai Indians that included 8 sixes and 9 fours.
Pathan has played 43 IPL matches so far, scoring 1,011 runs at an average of 26.61 including 6 fifties and 1 century. While bowling, he has taken 20 wickets with best bowling figures of 3/22. He made his Twenty20 international debut against Pakistan in the final of the 2007 ICC Twenty20 World Cup.
In the ongoing season of the IPL, KKR lost their first match to the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings, while they beat Deccan Chargers in their second match.
Besides Pathan, KKR also have many other useful players in their team including Jacques Kallis, Eoin Morgan and Ryan Ten Doeschate.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals are led by former Australian spinner Shane Warne. Under his captaincy, the team has won both of its first two matches against Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils. The team has also drafted useful players from all over the world including Ross Taylor, Shaun Tait, Rahul Dravid and Johan Botha.
Let’s see whether Yusuf Pathan lives up to his captain’s expectations in their clash against the Royals or not.

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DELHI DAREDEVILS SKIPPER SEHWAG CONCERNED ABOUT BATTING

Delhi Daredevils’ skipper Virender Sehwag is extremely disappointed by the performance of his batsmen in their second Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Rajasthan Royals.

The aggressive Indian opening batsman has voiced severe concerns over his team’s batting, which eventually resulted in Delhi’s second consecutive defeat in the competition.

Delhi’s team was thrashed by Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals, and the Daredevils could only produce a couple of individual batting performances.

David Warner scored a fine half-century at the top-order, and Venugopal Rao chipped in with an excellent 60 runs.

However, none of the other batsmen could show their magic in the game. The captain, who claimed to keep a lot of experience of facing international bowlers, also lost his wicket to Australian pacer Shaun Tait after adding just four runs in the total.

With only three batsmen crossing double figures, the whole team managed to pile up a total of 151, which eventually proved to be a small score on a pure batting track and the Rajasthani batsmen overwhelmed the target with 9 balls remaining.

It must be noted that Delhi’s side got all out on a total of 95 in their previous game against Mumbai Indians. The stunning Sri Lankan pacer, Lasith Malinga, picked up five wickets and eight Delhi batsmen failed to reach double figures.

Two consecutive batting collapses have troubled Sehwag a great deal, and the skipper could not hide his disappointment.

"To win matches, we need to bat well and put up a challenging score. I am really concerned about our team`s batting. Although Venugopal Rao and David Warner played well and Irfan hit a couple of boundaries in the end, we should have scored around 165-170 in order to win the match", Sehwag said.

With an inexperienced batting line-up, Sehwag knows that his own form is crucial for Delhi Daredevils if the team is to have any chance of stepping up in the league rankings.

"I have to score runs in the coming games. May be, if I start scoring runs, we can reach 160-170 consistently", the Nawab of Najafgarh added.

Meanwhile, the captain praised South African seamer, Morne Morkel, who returned with outstanding figures, conceding only 11 runs in his four overs.

The Delhi side is scheduled to face Yuvraj’s Pune Warriors in their next IPL 4 game at Patil Sports Academy ground, Mumbai.

The two successive defeats has put Delhi’s outfit into a ‘do or die’ situation, as they have to win their upcoming game, otherwise their chances in the Twenty20 league will begin to fade.

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