The Rajasthan Royals will look to firm their grip on third place when they take on the don't-really-have-anything-to-play-for Delhi Daredevils in their IPL 2014 match in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Where to Watch Live:
Watch the Highlights HERE
Get the report HERE
The game is scheduled for an 8 pm IST (3.30 pm BST, 10.30 am ET) start with live coverage on Sony Six (English) and Sony Max (Hindi) in India. The match can also be watched via live streaming online HERE or HERE. Watch the match in the rest of the world HERE, HERE or through the GoCricket apps. Viewers in the US can catch the game on Willow TV or with the live streaming option HERE, while Canada viewers can do the same HERE.
Viewers in the UK can catch the match on ITV, while Pakistan viewers can do the same on Geo Super, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh audience able to watch the game on TV on Masaranga TV and Carlton Sports Network respectively. Viewers in the Middle East can watch the action on OSN with the live streaming option available HERE, while New Zealand viewers can do the same via Sky NZ or HERE or via the above rest of the world options.
The Royals missed their opportunity to draw level with the Chennai Super Kings in their last game, with the latter proving to be just too strong on the day.
With four points now separating RR from Kings XI Punjab and CSK, it does look likely that the Royals will have to settle for third place in the table, with a win against the Daredevils taking them to 14 points, four ahead of fourth-placed KKR.
The Royals made a couple of interesting changes to their side against CSK, with one particular inductee – Ankit Sharma – doing pretty well on the night, playing a decent knock with the bat at the top, while also finishing with impressive figures of two for 20, picking up the dangerous Brendon McCullum and Suresh Raina.
"My performance was good," Ankit told IPL's official website after his commendable all-round performance. "The support staff had helped and everything worked out well for me. The line and length was good while bowling, and my batting was good too."
Sanju Samson was rested for the game against CSK, with Dishant Yagnik replacing the Kerala teenager as the wicketkeeper, and it will be interesting to see if the precociously talented youngster manages to get back into the side.
While RR made a good start in their previous game, with Shane Watson looking comfortable opening the innings, the middle order did fumble a little, and Watson might have to think about going back to the No.4 position, even if opening clearly is his best slot in T20 cricket.
For the Daredevils, this game is about pride and little else. DD have been one of the most disappointing sides in the IPL for the second season in a row, managing just two wins in their first ten matches.
The likes of Kevin Pietersen, Dinesh Karthik and Murali Vijay just haven't been able to justify their price tags, while DD's bowling has also been quite unimpressive.
Only JP Duminy has stood out for the Daredevils this season, but one man alone cannot win you games on every single occasion. The Daredevils faced the brunt of a monster Yuvraj Singh attack in their previous game, with the RCB left-hander making six-hitting look like taking an easy single in the middle overs.
With the bowlers unable to restrict RCB to a decent total at the high-scoring Chinnaswamy, the batsmen could not quite step up to the plate either, with only Duminy and Kedar Jadhav putting up a fight with the bat.
DD will be keen to go on a winning run to finish the season, to just build a sense of hope around the side for next season, with this year's chances of making the playoffs dead and buried long back.
