As wooden as the spoon can get

Shahid Afridi could just fire and strike a 30-ball 100. Deccan Chargers could see the top-order fulfill their collective blasting potential and knock on a total of 250.

Shahid Afridi could just fire and strike a 30-ball 100. Deccan Chargers could see the top-order fulfill their collective blasting potential and knock on a total of 250. Jacques Kallis could forget the quiet summer that has passed, and wrap up a one-man show. Zaheer Khan could run in for an explosive spell which sets up a comprehensive win for Royal Challengers. Rohit Sharma could cap his impressive IPL first season with a well-deserved maiden ton. Virat Kohli could find his groove and ring back happy memories of the junior World Cup. And a game involving the wooden-spoon contenders Bangalore and Hyderabad could finally draw a response, other than sniggers.

When the two clash in Hyderabad on Sunday, the two teams fighting it out to avoid the ignominy of finishing last would be seeking to put a nightmarish IPL behind, and play as freely as a competitive sphere permits. While other teams are locked in their respective battles for a spot in the semi-finals and with an eye firmly on Sunday — a week later, Bangalore and Hyderabad would want to make the most of the crumbs on offer at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here.

Royal Challengers, though, have the advantage in the battle to avoid finishing last. They have six points from 12 matches as against the Chargers’ four. The Rahul Dravid-led side would also have the psychological advantage after their shock 14-run defeat of Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday and would want to continue their winning streak. Captain Rahul Dravid is the highest run-getter for the team, followed by Mark Boucher, Kallis and Virat Kohli. But the side will require all of their batsmen to fire to win their second match on the trot. After their shock-win against Chennai, and having previously beaten Hyderabad at home, Bangalore go in with greater confidence.

Story continues below this ad

In the bowling department, veteran spinner Anil Kumar and speedsters Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Dale Steyn make an envious line-up. But on the traditionally batsman-friendly track here, they have to repeat their miserly spells again to emerge victors.

Deccan Chargers: Adam Gilchrist (Capt), Sanjay Bangar, H Gibbs, D Kalyan Krishna, Pragyan Ojha, D Ravi Teja, Shahid Afridi, Rohit Sharma, RP Singh, Chamara Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Y Venugopal Rao.

Bangalore Royal Challengers (from): Rahul Dravid (Capt), B Akhil, Dale Steyn, Virat Kohli, Shreevats Goswami, Anil Kumble, Cameron White, Misbah-ul-Haq, Zaheer Khan, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Praveen Kumar.