Rajasthan Royals vs Pune Warriors – Indian Premier League 5 – Match Preview
With the Indian Premier League set to reach its penultimate round of league matches, top four contenders, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Warriors-c861’ side in the 60th match of the current season, played at the former’s home in Jaipur, the
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, on May 13, 2012.
The equation for Royals for now is simple – they need to win all their remaining matches, starting with the upcoming clash. They can ill afford any slip up, following their erratic display against Chennai Super Kings.
They, along with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Dravid-c2229, their skipper, would relish conquering. They have played some good attacking cricket and credit
must go to the Indian veteran, who has sensibly carried forward the team following the retirement of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shane-Keith-Warne-c89672.
Ideally, the team has the most preferred run in – a match with Warriors will be followed by an away bout against another struggling outfit in Deccan Chargers. Wins from these games will immensely help their charge and confidence, considering their ultimate
match is against Mumbai Indians at their favoured home ground in Jaipur – a potential decider for the all-important play-off spot.
But they will need to pick themselves up after losing a tight previous game. After struggling with the bat, posting just 126, they managed to restrict the Super Kings at 84 for 6 in the 17th over, only to falter against the power hitting of Ablie
Morkel and S Anirudha, both of whom played game changing cameos.
Their batting will need to step up, especially the top three. While Dravid has been in sound form, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558 is an instrumental figure for the Royals,
and his form will be crucial for the franchise.
His inclusion has seen http://www.senore.com/Cricket/OA-Shah-c2134 dropping out of the playing XI, and the hosts will be relying on the Australian to prove his worth and turn around the side’s fortunes in the coming days.
They will be confident taking on a deflated Warriors’ franchise, which can’t seem to buy a win at present. Their struggles culminated in a seventh consecutive defeat, inflicted by the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s hitman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CH-Gayle-c1221, whose brisk half-century
paved way for a thumping win for his side.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sourav-Chandidas-Ganguly-c90746 sat out the previous game after his leadership capabilities were called into question by the media and former cricketers, who were of the view that the veteran left-hander must now relinquish his position to allow youngsters to make a reckoning.
However, with his team again faltering, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tamim-Iqbal-c2640
to finally make his first appearance of the season.
Angelo Matthews has been their standout overseas performer in recent time, and remains the only confirmed overseas starter. Confidence is now a serious concern for the costliest IPL franchise and one could expect all sorts of tinkering to their playing XI.
Their owners, and fans, would ideally want their side to end a rather disappointing season on a high.
On current form however, Royals remain favourites to claim victory.
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