Delhi Daredevils IPL season 2, South Africa

Delhi Daredevils the team representing Delhi, the capital of India is led by Virender Sehwag and is owned by GMR group who acquired the rights for the Delhi franchise for $84 million. It has power hitters like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, and A B de Villars in their lineup with great support from bowlers like Glen McGrath, Yo Mahesh, Daniel Vettori and Farveez Mahroof. Delhi Daredevils was among the top four teams in the last Indian premier League.

Former India speedster, and manager of Delhi Daredevils, T A Sekar, feels his team is one of the most balanced ones in the IPL-2 having a mix of hard-hitting batsmen, good all-rounder’s and steady bowlers, so there is a lot of flexibility and options.

While in IPL-2008, Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar himself said Delhi Daredevils’ openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have been prolific scorers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and getting rid of the duo early would be crucial to win. Gambhir is the highest scorer of the tournament while Daredevils captain Sehwag is not was not far behind. Both were the most successful opening pair in the competition.

“Both Sehwag and Gambhir are dangerous players. They are the key batsmen who have made runs for Delhi Daredevils. They have given good start to the team and a lot of their batting has depended on how the openers have performed. So we need to take their wickets early,” Tendulkar said.

When Sehwag walks out with Gambhir, the audience, on television and at the venue, is assured of some creative batting as the openers invite each other to a pleasing competition; a competition that contributes towards making batting an interesting spectacle.

Sehwag and Gambhir should rank as the best opening pair in the world today, if not India’s greatest ever.

The team started the tournament well, winning 4 of their first 5 games. However, they were unable to sustain this and finished the round-robin portion of the tournament with a record of 7-6. Their performance was good enough to make the semi-finals, where they lost by 105 runs against the Rajasthan Royals. Royals, who had lost to the Daredevils in their first encounter, went on to win the title.

Changes in 2009:

One of their best players in 2008, Shikhar Dhawan has been transferred to Mumbai in place of Ashish Nehra. Mohammed Asif and Shoaib Malik being Pakistani players will not play in IPL 2. Collingwood, Owais Shah are the new faces in the team.

Strength – The top order has been firing. With Gambhir, Sehwag in great form they will look to post a big total if they bat first or chase any total with ease. Their bowling has been good. McGrath has been economical, Mahroof on target and Amit Mishra spot on. Other players have also shown sign of coming into form.

Weakness – The fielding has not been at its best in the last season of IPL. Sehwag took few gambles which have gone against them.

Opportunity – Sehwag needs to think well before executing his plans. Fielding should be improved before it actually hurts the team.

Threat – Failure of the top order with absences of Shekhar Dhawan Delhi Dare Devils major threat this season will be its middle order. Which rely heavily on fresh recruits of Paul Collingwood and Oasis Shah.

Owners - GMR group

Vice President - Amrit Mathur
Vice President - T. A. Sekhar
Selector - Adhishwar
Head Coach - Greg Shipperd
Assistant Head Coach - David Saker
Physiotherapist - Justin Steer
Brand Ambassador - Akshay Kumar

Players to watch: Sehwag, Vettori, Gambhir, Yo Mahesh and Mahroof, Paul Collingwood and Abraham de Villiers .

Royal Challenger "no more a test team"

Recently Vijay Mallya, the owner of the Royal Challenger franchisee said " one calls us a test team anymore". With likes of Kevin Pietersen, Robin Uthappa, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor in the squad now he believes that no one can call Royal challengers a test team anymore.

The composition of the Royal challenger squad is quite balance with a perfect combination of hitters like Kevin Pietersen, Robin Uthappa along with all-rounder like Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher with Rahul Dravid and company to follow.

In the last IPL what Bangalore Royal Challenger badly missed was the firepower in all their departments from batting, balling, field to leadership skills as Captain Rahul Dravid was not up to mark in leading the team with like of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jacques kallis and Mark Boucher not performing to their ability. The team failed miserably in the last IPL standing at 7^th position in the league with just four wins.

Was it due to the lack of power hitters or was it lack of leadership skills and team spirit or may be both that led to their failure in the last IPL?..

the cause still remains unknown. Whatever it may be Royal Challenger and Kevin Pietersen now has a bigger task ahead of them. To bring the team together and play as a unit just like what Shane Warne did for Rajasthan Royals?

Kevin Pietersen will have a huge responsibility on his shoulders in the upcoming season of IPL. He will have to lead from the front to revive the fortune his team in the current season of IPL to be held in South Africa. With the kind of talent he possesses and his attacking style of leadership may be proved to be quite handy in the situation. He may eventually turn out to be the right person for the job as trusted upon by Mr. Mallya and the entire city of Bangalore.

Whatever may be the outcome of the IPLT20’09. We hope to see an improved and more competitive Bangalore Royal Challengers in the upcoming IPLT20 in South Africa.