RR needs to be on its toes

Daredevils’ remaining matches are against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday, followed by one against the rampaging Kings XI Punjab and then Mumbai Indians.

Delhi Daredevils’ fate has been sealed in the Pepsi-IPL-7. Overwhelmed by opponents in eight of 10 matches it has played,

Daredevils are placed at the base of the eight-team table. Even a debacle of sorts by all other teams and four straight wins for it will not take them into the play-off.

Daredevils’ remaining matches are against Rajasthan Royals here on Thursday, followed by one against the rampaging Kings XI Punjab and then Mumbai Indians.

Clearly, it has turned out to be an unremarkable season for Daredevils, who dropped a few local heroes at the auction and changed the composition of the team.

Daredevils have so far fielded 20 players, tried every possible combination in trying to change its fortunes. But except for the notable exception of South African Jean-Paul Duminy, Dinesh Karthik and to an extent Murali Vijay, none in the batting department has really made the kind of impact the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Shane Watson, Karun Nair, Sanju Vishwanadh and, more recently, Steve Smith and James Faulkner have made for Royals.

Even Kevin Pietersen with 130 runs from seven matches has not been up to the mark. Daredevils’ plight is evident in the fact they have deployed 13 bowlers but have a mere 30 wickets to show in 10 matches. Jaydev Unadkat averages 35.33, Mohammad Shami 60.80, Wayne Parnell 31 and Shahbaz Nadeem 44.80. This particularly ineffective bowling sums up its misery.

Quality side

Royals, though a little inconsistent in their 10 matches, have the quality to advance to the play-offs. Thanks to the extraordinary batting display by Australians Smith and Faulkner against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Royals have retained the no. 3 spot in the points table.

Royals scored a thrilling win against the Kolkata Knight Riders here in the first home match, but was overpowerd by the Sunrisers’ seam bowling in the second.

Thrashed by Chennai Super Kings at Ranchi on Tuesday, Royals cannot afford to slip again. The champion of the inaugural edition has to fire on all cylinders against Daredevils and stay among the top four.