Last I've seen him bat was when Guru Gregg was the coach of Indian team and of all the players who were tried during that time only Venu didn't feel like he was part of the ODI setup. His pathetic strike rate of 91 odd in the domestic 20 -20 version proves that too but I guess they wanted some Player from Andhra to be in the side and boy does it hurt. It's about time they have Dwaraka ravi teja drafted into the team as an opener in place of venu or better yet have boom boom afridi open the innnings, what a sight that would be with him on one side and Gilli on the other, the opposing captain and the bowlers would have their hands full from the word go.
Next up VVS Laxman, has to come down the order maybe at number 5 or 6 for a simple reason that his game is not suited for playing chip shots either is he quick between the wickets and that's what is needed during the power play i.e clear the infield to pick up those boundaries while field restrictions are there and also take some quick singles once fielders are pushed back to the 30 yard circle. For the past two matches that's where I feel we lost the momentum by not scoring much during the initial overs which ultimately cost the matches too. It's important to have a good start be it a 5 day match or a 3 hour 20-20 match. The idea of going along with Venu and Laxman in the top order sounds good only when Gilli is going hammer and tongs at the other end, otherwise you are 3 down in no time with not much score on board and it puts immense pressure on the batsmen who follow, wherein they need to keep the score board ticking as well as keep wickets intact.
The game against Jaipur will not be easy, with them coming back of a comprehensive victory against Punjab King's 11 and also the fact that Graeme Smith becomes available for selection. It should be interesting to see Warne and Smith play in the same team, ain't that one of the beauties of this tournament like having those two or Ponting and Ganguly/Mccullum or Oram and Hayden or Sachin and Pollock or Sehwag and Mohammed Asif playing for the same teams.
Deccan chargers need to solve their batting problems at the top of the order if they are to win tomorrows match against Rajasthan Royals. If one of Gilchrist, Symonds or Afridi come big tomorrow then the Royals will have their task cutout and the same goes for chargers if Watson can replicate the innings he played against Punjab in the last match. It's a do or die situation for the Chargers to notch up their first win of the tournament while Rajasthan would want to continue it's winning momentum. I would say that it's advantage Chargers, with them having the better gasp of conditions, match being played on their home ground but it would matter little if they don't back it up with some good performances on the field.
My prediction is that it will be a Chargers victory tomorrow.
