Gujarat Lions (GL) will look to strenthen their case for a playoff spot as they host the Delhi Daredevils (DD) in Match 31 of IPL 2016 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Tuesday. The Lions are inching closer to a playoff spot, after picking up 12 points from eight matches.
The Daredevils have also impressed in the ongoing season of the IPL, unlike in the previous editions. The Zaheer Khan-led team are coming in to this match on the back of a win against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Lions on the other hand, were handed a drubbing by the Kings XI Punjab in their last game.
Gujarat Lions need not worry about their top order but Raina will want Bravo and Jadeja to step up with the bat in the lower-middle-order as well. It takes a lot of pressure away from the top order batsmen when they see that the lower-middle order batsmen are able to contribute with some valuable runs as well.
Beating the Lions at their den will be a tough challenge for the visitors. Gujarat Lions have been at their best in their maiden IPL season, and they will look to continue with that form against the Daredevils as well.
Zaheer's leadership will be key if the Daredevils are to beat the Lions on Tuesday. The veteran has led the side from the front and that has worked for the Daredevils. He was brilliant with the ball in the last match against KKR and the veteran seamer will look to carry that form forward when his side will take on an upbeat Gujarat Lions side.
Sam Billings who lit things up at the Feroz Shah Kotla against KKR, will look to continue with that form against the Lions as well. But he will be facing a stern test as he will have to play the likes of youngster Shivil Kaushik, who adds a bit of suspense to this bowling attack, and Ravindra Jadeja.
"I enjoy the challenge of facing spin. It is an art that you need to master. It is like the seaming ball in England. Watching different players play spin really helps. You watch AB de Villiers and Kohli, they are the two people I look up to. They both use their feet incredibly well and put the bowler under pressure. So you watch and learn," Billings was quoted as saying by the official website of the IPL.
"We have three players every day that go out and practice against spin. We have net bowlers and some of our spinners come and bowl. And because there's only three of you, you have as much time as you need and want essentially. So it's brilliant."
The last time the Lions and the Daredevils squared off at the Feroz Shah Kola in New Delhi, the former won the match by just one run. It was heartbreaking for the home side as they lost that match, in spite of a valiant effort from Chris Morris.
This time the Daredevils will look to go for those crucial two points against the Lions, which will put Zaheer and co. in second position in the IPL 206 points table.
Where to watch live
Gujarat Lions vs Delhi Daredevils IPL 2016 match– is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. IST (3:30 a.m. BST, 10:30 a.m. ET). Live TV coverage of the Gujarat Lions vs Delhi Daredevils IPL 2016 match will be on Sony Max, Sony Six/HD, Sony ESPN/HD. Online options are available on Hotstar and Starsports.com.
Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports HD 3 will broadcast the Gujarat Lions vs Delhi Daredevils IPL 2016 match live in the UK and Ireland, with the live stream options on Watch Sky Sports and Sky Go.
Viewers in the US can watch Gujarat Lions vs Delhi Daredevils IPL 2016 match on ESPN, while the game can also be live streamed on Watch ESPN.
Sportsnet and viewers in Canada can watch the Gujarat Lions vs Delhi Daredevils IPL 2016 match on Watch Sportsnet.
OSN Sports Cricket will show Gujarat Lions vs Delhi Daredevils game live in the Middle East and North Africa, while all the action can also be watched via live streaming online on OSN Cricket Play.
Supersport and Supersport Live Video will broadcast Gujarat Lions vs Delhi Daredevils IPL 2016 match LIVE in South Africa.
Viewers from across the world, around 133 countries, can watch the IPL 2016 match live online on Cricketgateway.
