Can Gilchrist save Hyderabad IPL?

Favourites Delhi Daredevils will take on Hyderabad Deccan Chargers at Feroz Shaw Kotla ground in New Delhi. Hyderabad hopes solely depend on their captain Adam Gilchrist. Even Rohit Sharma is playing consistently; he is not a match winner like Gilchrist. Hyderabad needs to change their batting order in order to win this match. Shahid Afridi should play in this match and Gibbs should come lower down the order as he is looking uncomfortable against moving ball. Hyderabad top order needs to play carefully against Glenn McGrath.

Delhi Daredevils will try to win their match against Hyderabad to raise their hopes for Semi-final spot whicl almost unlikely. Famed Delhi top order was brutally exposed by Shoaib Akhtar in the last match. Sehwag and Gambhir will try to restore their pride by capitalising on the weak Hyderabad bowling. Delhi is looking strong over Hyderabad in all departments. If opposition can take top order wickets as Kolkata did, Delhi will be in trouble.
Hyderabad should remove Scott Styris and believe in youngsters. Gilchrist should properly utilise and guide youngsters like Venugopal Rao, Ravi Teja and Vijay Kumar. Delhi lost previous four matches due to individual brilliance. So Hyderabad hopes lay on Adam Gilchrist individual brilliance. Venugopal Rao all-round brilliance in the last match is a ray of hope for Hyderabad. If Gibbs and Afridi regain their form, Hyderabad may surprise Delhi.

Probable teams:

Hyderabad Deccan Chargers: Adam Gilchrist (captain), Ravi Teja, Herschelle Gibbs, Rohit Sharma, Venugopal Rao, Shahid Afridi, Chaminda Vaas/Zoysa, RP Singh, Vijay Kumar, Sanjay Bangar and Pragyan Ojha.

Delhi Daredevils: Virender Sehwag (Captain), Gautam Gambhir, De Villiers, Shikhar Dhawan, Rajat Bhatia/Mohammad Asif, Farveez Maharoof, Dilshan, Amit Mishra, Pradeep Sangwan, Glenn McGrath and Yo Mahesh.

Verdict: Delhi is strong favourite against Hyderabad but recent form of both teams is not convincing and Delhi is relying too much on Sehwag and Gambhir. Either Mumbai or Kolkata will go to semi-finals if Delhi will not take things seriously. I don’t have any hopes on weak Deccan Chargers bowling.