Struggling teams look to leave the bottom third

Match facts

May 1, 2013
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)

Teams usually go into the IPL targeting one win more than half the matches they play, and then take it from there. Nine has been the magic number all captains have been talking about. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils have played nine games each, and are six and seven wins away from that magic number.

The phrase captains quote most is about doing things right and letting results take care of themselves. Knight Riders and Daredevils haven't quite been able to do that so far. Knight Riders have relied on spin, but their local batsmen have let them down. Daredevils have the big names in both the batting and bowling department, but they haven't fired as much as they would have liked.

They don't have much time left, and need to start winning consistently to keep the league interesting. The halfway point is way too early for teams to be ruled out of the playoff stakes.

Form guide

Delhi Daredevils WLWLL (most recent first)
Kolkata Knight Riders LWLLL

In the spotlight

What has Twenty20 reduced Jacques Kallis to? In the last match, bogged down by his tournament strike rate of 106, with others failing to make up around him, he premeditated a ramp, and ended up playing from well wide of off with eyes nearly closed to get dismissed. He looks stylish when he bats, he is a classy batsman without doubt, but he shouldn't have to resort to such ugly shots.

Mahela Jayawardene, David Warner and Morne Morkel usually take the three overseas slots for Daredevils, but they haven't been able to sort out their fourth foreign player. They have tried Andre Russell, Johan Botha, Jeevan Mendis, Ben Rohrer and Roelof van der Merwe without any success. Will they go a step ahead and play with eight Indian players?

Stats and Trivia

• Gautam Gambhir is the second highest run-getter in all IPLs, behind Suresh Raina, but he has hit the most fours: 280.
• In nine matches, Daredevils' wicketkeepers put together have registered four dismissals, the worst per-match rate in the league.

Quotes

"Hi guys, continue your support, KKR flight has hit slightly rough weather....am sure we'll soon take control. Need your wishes"
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gambhir on Twitter