Rajasthan up for Royal show against weak Warriors

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Having broken a run of four consecutive losses against Kings XI Punjab playing away on Saturday, Rajasthan Royals are now just one a point adrift of Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, who are placed fourth and fifth respectively in the points table.

Rahul Dravid’s men are still very much in contention for a play-off berth, but a lot will depend on their ability to retain the winning momentum.

Going by odds and recent win-record, they Royals shouldn’t face too much problems when they go up against hapless Pune Warriors here on Tuesday.

Sourav Ganguly’s Pune haven’t won a single game since April 21 when they beat Delhi Daredevils on the latter’s home ground, losing five of their last six matches.

They had a fantastic start to the tournament, defying bookies who had labeled them tournament’s whipping boys even before the start of Season Five.

But they couldn’t sustain their early show and despite some big foreign names and proven domestic performers in the roster, they have now settled just above the bottom-ranked Deccan Chargers in points table.

The addition of Michael Clarke in the line-up hasn’t changed things, with the Australian skipper scoring 54 runs in three matches.

The biggest setback to the team though has been the skipper’s lack of runs. Ganguly has averaged a little over 20 this season without a single fifty, and although he has captained well, he hasn’t led from the front.

Languishing at the eighth position Pune will have to win all their remaining four matches to be in contention for a play-off berth – which seems very unlikely.

Still they have managed to taken the game into the final overs in the last two games, and it’s should Dravid should be aware of.

Dravid made 46 while Australian all-rounder Shane Watson hit a 17-ball 36-run cameo and also picked up two wickets to help Rajasthan’s cause against Kings XI. Watson and Shaun Tait’s inclusion has brought the much-needed balance in their bowling attack.

But they are still too dependant on the openers Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane. In the first six overs, Rajasthan Royals have scored more runs than any other team apart from Delhi Daredevils, and despite it they’ve been nowhere near as dominating as Delhi. Dravid will hope their match against the Warriors will change that.