Ferozeshah Kotla, Delhi’s home ground definitely has a lot of firepower to offer tonight as it hosts the match between Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings. And after several reports doing rounds in media about the alleged Dhoni-Sehwag rift, this can very well tagged as ‘the match of the season’. Even though both of these stalwarts denied the rift, the heat can’t be subsided considering the emotional attachment of the crowd with the local boy Sehwag.

Both of them have a win against their name in the tournament and they both have world class players in their arsenal to turn the tide for them. If Chennai would be riding high after their last win against Deccan Chargers where they posted the highest score of the tournament so far, Delhi would be much more relaxed with the arrival of Mahela Jayawerdene and Kevin Pietersen.

Kotla would be hosting its first match of the season and Delhi would like to start things at their home with a win. Chennai on the other hand would go out all guns blazing to deny the hosts a glory to keep their title defence on track.

Here are some of the players who can make the difference for their team:

Delhi Daredevils

Virender Sehwag: Mr Swashbuckling, as he is called by the commentators, had a fair start to the tournament before getting out on a duck in the second match against Royal Challengers Bangalore and would be a force to reckon in this match. He would be playing more freely today, considering the fact that Mahela and Pietersen have joined the team. Even though he has been inconsistent, seldom does any team know when he would fire, because if it happens on a given day, bowlers do run out of answers.

Mahela Jayawerdene: Skipper of Sri Lanka, Mahela is known for his clinical approach. His experience would definitely be a plus along with his batting. Chennai know his capabilities and would have to strategize on getting him out for cheap, because if he gets going, match would can very well become an one-sided affair.

Kevin Pietersen: Known for his switch hit, his innovations on the cricket pitch sends a bowler into tizzy. Pietersen has already proved what he can do when it comes down to power hitting and a lot would depend on him. If he gets going, things will get difficult for Dhoni & Co.
Irfan Pathan: He is striking the ball with conviction. After helping Delhi win the first match against Kolkata, he was on course of taking his team to victory in the last match as well and his team would be counting on his lusty hitting towards the end of the innings.

Umesh Yadav: Spearhead of Delhi’s bowling, he has the capability of getting early breakthroughs and also bowl miserly in the slog overs. Yadav has had a decent tournament so far and but would be looking forward to make his presence count in a big way.
Morne Morkel: He was lethal in the first match and his toe crushing Yorkers against Kolkata hardly had any answers. He bowled against Bangalore in the second match as well and Sehwag would be defending on him to get those early breakthroughs.

Chennai Super Kings:

Ravindra Jadeja: The million dollar boy failed miserably in the opening match against Mumbai Indians, but soon came back hard to justify his price tag as he scored 48 runs to help Chennai post 193 and then later took five wickets to see that Deccan were never were in the match. He is the man to look out for and Chennai would depend on him a lot.

F du Plessis: He has proved his six hitting prowess in the last match where he hit four sixes in his 25 balls innings which yielded 39 runs. If he starts off again in today’s match he could definitely make things tough for Delhi.

Dwayne Bravo: The best all-rounder in the team, he can hit bowlers at will. More than that Chennai would want him to deliver big with the ball. His slower deliveries are just impossible to pick and if get those spot on he can very well make difference with the ball as well.

Suresh Raina: He had a decent start to the tournament. He is a proven campaigner in IPL and one of the most successful batsmen in the tournament’s history. So it would not take him much time to turn the heat on and Sehwag would know that very well. So Delhi would want him back in the pavilion very soon, because if he stays there, he could wreck havoc.

By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
Indian Sports News