IPL3: Not jerking this—Daredevils do have an edge

You might say that I am blowing the same horn that has been voiced by some of the betting agencies who have placed the Delhi Daredevils as the most favored team to win the IPL3 but this isn’t so—the fact is that this is one of the most balanced sides in the third edition of the IPL. They have someone like Glenn McGrath waiting in the ranks and Rajat Bhatia hasn’t been listed for the first four matches though he is a very useful all-rounder. Further, there is an abundance of handy players in the side who can bat and bowl, including the likes of Sehewag and Dilshan who are good enough to win matches with their batting alone. Add to this mix, the likes of Gambhir, the Daredevil skipper, and DeVilliers and you have the most formidable batting line-up in the competition. The fielding standards too are at par with any other team playing in IPL3 and none of the players are scheduled to leave the side before the final match is played—a problem being faced by many sides in the competition, and none of the benched players are unfit or struggling for form. What all this means is that Daredevils are the only side that can field a full-fit and competitive side for each of their IPL3 league matches.

Any surprises for India ODI team against Lankans?

I am not expecting much in terms of any new faces being inducted in the Indian team that is soon to take upon Lankans in an ODI and T20 series. The fact is that there are some very impressive faces in the domestic scene but it is up to the selectors to be brave enough to try-out some of these. Rajat Bhatia and Virat Kohli's name came to the fore. Both belong to Delhi and bring the same type of street-smart cricket that has been shown by the likes of Gambhir and Sehewag. Hoping that Rohit Sharma does not get another chance simply because he has done anything really impressive when playing in domestic matches. It would be worth a try to give Praveen Kumar more chances to perform as an all-rounder. In terms of spinners, Ojha could be used to give Bhajji a much-needed rest but then Bhajji has been contributing with the bat and Ojha is your typical number 11 who just cannot put bat to ball.

Rajat Bhatia keeps peforming, anyone even notices?

Most Indian cricket followers won't even know about Rajat Bhatia. He is one of the most capable, untried players from the Indian domestic scene. Further, he is best suited to fill-in the gap of the all-rounder that is still there in the Indian team. Despite not having much pace or swing in his bowling, this street-smart cricketer has been able to take bucket-full of wickets and further, his batting is a big advantage. So many times, Rajat has bailed out his side, coming down at number five, batting like a true champion > dogged, determined till the last ball is bowled. Some followers of the Delhi cricket scene often called him LMS> Last Man Standing, because despite what happens in a match Rajat Bhatia just doesn't quit and yet, his performance has gone largely unnoticed by the Indian selectors.