Port Elizabeth, May 1 (Inditop) Deccan Chargers would be looking to rediscover their winning touch when they meet Rajasthan Royals in Saturday’s double-header of the Indian Premier League here.
Deccan Chargers have ruthlessly crushed opponents this season, but their four-match winning streak was halted by Delhi Daredevils in their last match Thursday.
Chargers still occupy the top spot in the standings with eight points and would treat the six-wicket loss as an aberration.
The hot-form of Chargers’ strong batting line-up eluded them against Daredevils.
Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs and Rohit Sharma were dismissed cheaply and it was left to Dwayne Smith’s batting pyrotechnics to give some respectability to the score.
Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have blown hot and cold in the tournament and are currently occupying sixth place with five points after two wins.
Royals captain Shane Warne, despite all his effort to shore-up the batting order, is still to find a good combination.
The greenhorns at the top have failed to fire and the team is over dependent on Yusuf Pathan and Graeme Smith to perform.
Pathan played a crucial role with the bat in both the victories while Smith has given him support.
Both failed against Super Kings and Royals lost by 38 runs.
Bringing Pathan down the order worked against Delhi Daredevils, but came unstuck against Super Kings.
Warne again served a reminder to the top-order batsmen and asked them to pull up their socks.
“The top-order has not put enough runs on board in the first six overs. It leaves the middle order to do the catching up job. It is one area that we have to improve.”
Royals may not be scorching the turf like last year, but even with a depleted side they have kept themselves alive in the competition.
They will draw inspiration from their win against a strong side like Delhi Daredevils.
“It is still some distance to go in the competition and we don’t have to finish at the top of table. We just have to be among the top four to be in the semi-finals,” Warne said.
rounak