Deccan Chargers (Hyderabad) v Rajasthan Royals (Jaipur)

	Downloads Bookmark this site Set as homepage Andrew W Scott

IPL - Deccan Chargers (Hyderabad) v Rajasthan Royals (Jaipur)

Before the tournament, most people would have thought this match would be a non-event. Hyderabad, the firm IPL favourites, against Jaipur, the rank outsiders. Game over. But only midway through week two, the IPL has been turned on its head. Hyderabad, just about everyone's pick to win the tournament, are dead last and haven't won either of their opening two matches. Pre-post wooden spoon favourites Jaipur are fourth with a respectable 1-1 record.

If Twenty20 cricket ever gets serious, this is the match where Hyderabad has to get serious. If they lose here and are 0-3 they can just about say goodbye to their IPL aspirations. Andrew Symonds' $1.5 million pricetag - along with the big bikkies paid to Adam Gilchrist - will have been a waste. Both men will be under heavy pressure to perform here because Indians don't take failure lightly. Grandstands have been set on fire over less. One of the fascinating battles within the battle will be watching Symonds and Gilchrist facing up to Jaipur skipper Shane Warne.

Hyderabad are heavy favourites here but we think they are false favourites - and certainly way too short at around the $1.50 mark. Jaipur have plenty of ticks in their boxes with South African skipper Graeme Smith likely to come into the side. They also have a massive bonus in that they will play with absolutely no pressure. Few are expecting them to win and you can just imagine Warne in his absolute element here. Say what you want about Warne but he thrives when he has his back to the wall. Look at all those times for Australia when his personal life was under incredible scrutiny yet he played in an emotional vacuum on the field and was always a matchwinner. As captain and coach of Jaipur, Warne seems to have all his players heading in the right direction. Half of the Jaipur side would be in awe of Warne and keen to impress the legspin superstar. Don't forget, Warne has a point to prove because he always wanted to captain Australia and never got to. Don't you reckon he would love to win here? Not only to prove he could have been an astute international skipper, but also to trump Gilchrist. Warne and Gilchrist have never been bosom buddies and Warne will be plotting something here for sure. Jaipur can fly under the radar and just go out and have fun here as no-one expects them to win. That will suit Warne and co to a tee and that is what Twenty20 is all about. Hyderabad by contrast will have players under incredible scrutiny. Imagine the newspaper headlines in India if Gilly and Symo fail again?

And while Jaipur may not be the strongest side on paper, we may have under-rated them before the tournament. Shane Watson is in great form and the allrounder can help bankroll his side with his powerful batting and often clever change-up bowling. Warne is coming off a great individual performance and Smith is a great bonus. It is easy to dismiss the South African as a Test player only but we reckon he is one of the most destructive limited overs forces on his day. I was in Johannesburg when Smith helped launch South Africa's world record one-day score of 9 for 438 against Australia and I will never forget it. To sum up, Jaipur can play without a care in the world and have some in-form guns in Warne and Watson and the valuable Smith. Hyderabad suddenly have to justify their million-dollar pricetags and we can easily see them getting done again. A lot will depend on whether Gilly and Symo can fire as we really don't like the look of VVS Laxman in the Hyderabad top-order. A lot of roads lead to Jaipur at good value. We suggest a 1 unit bet at $2.50 at the TAB, Lasseters or Paddypower.