IPL Betting: Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings

Mahela Jayawardene is Delhi's key batsman

Despite a star-studded array of batsmen, neither Delhi or Chennai have so far lived up to expectations. Will we finally see the likes of Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina deliver in today's match between them?

Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings
Start Time: BST (15:30)
TV: Live on ITV and itv.com

Delhi Daredevils

Things go from bad to worse for Delhi's expensively assembled line-up. Defeat in the Super Over to RCB on Tuesday leaves them bottom of the IPL table with zero points. The absence of Kevin Pieterson has been a hammer blow to a batting line-up that was capable of huge scores last year, but now seems far too reliant on David Warner and Mahela Jayawardene. Nevertheless, Delhi retain enough quality with both bat and ball to turn things around and finish in a respectable position.

Chennai Super Kings 

It hasn't been plain sailing for the defending champions and pre-tournament favourites either. A surprise defeat to Pune last time leaves Chennai in seventh place, with two wins and two defeats. We're yet to see anything like the best of Suresh Raina or this superb batting line-up's trademark huge totals. However it's a pretty safe bet to assume they will deliver with the bat at some point, perhaps later in the tournament once Faf Du Plessis arrives.

First Innings Runs

We've seen all sorts of pitches at Feroz Shah Kotla in recent years. This used to be very slow and low but, in response to criticism, last season's surface turned out to be a road, yielding three totals over 190 including 207 and 215. The two innings so far this term were 165 and 114 so conclusions are hard to draw, although it's fair to say the latter owed more to the Delhi's failing than the pitch. At some point, we'll see a big score here and both of these classy line-ups are overdue to deliver. I'll therefore be taking big prices about over 190 and 200.  

Match odds

Delhi's form may be absymal but they're bound to win a match sooner or later. In Warner, Sehwag, Jayawardene and Pathan, they have the power to hammer anyone so it may be worth taking a chance that this is their day. Very few 1.645/8 favourites in T20 cricket go on to win without their odds at least drifting in-running, so Delhi should offer some trading mileage at 2.56/4.

Top Delhi batsman

Virender Sehwag looks a pale shadow of his former self and potentially an easy early wicket for Dirk Nannes and co. That would bring Mahela Jayawardene to the crease early so lets back the skipper at around 4.57/2 to anchor the innings.
 
Top Chennai batsman

Whatever his early failures in this year's IPL, you won't go far wrong backing Chennai's run-machine Suresh Raina at 4.57/2 in most matches. Whereas a case could be made for anyone in their top-seven in hope that their slogging pays off, Raina's accumulative style tends to be the core reason behind their frequent huge totals. That could well be the case here, if the ground indeeds offers little to the bowlers. 

Recommended bet

Back Delhi @ 2.56/4