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'It won't be easy for Dravid's Daredevils against Lions'

The Gujarat Lions continue to impress and progress up the points table. Despite Virat Kohli's superb century, they did not get distracted by the applause for the Bangalore skipper and kept their focus on the job at hand. They have taken the hard decisions about their team combination and left out those who seemed to be living on past performances.

Ever since the 2014 edition where he bowled those two full tosses on the leg-stump to the Mumbai Indians which were easily walloped for sixes, Faulkner has just not been the same bowler. Why he bowled that second quickish delivery when the slower one earlier in the over had gone for only a single is something that only he can explain. His first quickish delivery had gone into the stands so one would have thought that he would not attempt another one when all that Mumbai Indians needed to qualify was a boundary or a six.

With the scores level a Mumbai win with just a single would not have enabled them to qualify but it would have been the Rajasthan team that would have qualified for the semis despite losing the game. The low full toss on the leg-stump that went for a six meant that Mumbai qualified with a better net run rate. Faulkner has hardly been the same since then though he does come up with the sporadic performance.

Dwayne Bravo did pretty similar to what Faulkner did in the final over that he bowled to Kohli where he bowled the quicker deliveries which Kohli smashed for boundaries and a six to reach his hundred. The slower deliveries in the same over had been missed by Kohli so those quicker deliveries made no sense at all. Bravo of course came back as only he can as he struck the boundary that took the Gujarat team over the line.

Dinesh Karthik who has had an indifferent last couple of seasons after being bought for humongous amounts and not being able to cope with the pressure of those expectations seems a lot more relaxed with the current price tag and is batting and keeping splendidly.

The Delhi team also have picked themselves up nicely and are being competitive than the walk overs they were last season. Rahul Dravid must be given most of the credit for he has brought in the kind of work ethic and clear thinking which was lacking last year and with Zaheer Khan leading cannily, the capital team is looking a force in the tournament. They will want to continue the winning rhythm too but it won't be easy against the Gujarat team.

Source: PMG



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