Mr Cricket: Mumbai Indians v Deccan Chargers (Hyderabad)

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IPL - Mumbai Indians v Deccan Chargers (Hyderabad)

Here it is .. the match we have all been waiting for. Not so much for the contest - but more to see Andrew Symonds return to Mumbai where he was racially abused by Indian spectators last year. Will there be any monkey magic from the crowd this time? It's probably unlikely now as a potential powerdkeg has been removed with Mumbai spinner Harbhajan Singh (Symonds' bitter arch rival) sensationally on the outer for allegedly slapping his Indian teammate Sreesanth. The sell-out crowd would have been looking forward to the Symonds-Harbhajan clash but it will come to nothing with the Turbanator on the sidelines and again in hot water.

But even with a reduced potential for a flare-up, this match still has plenty of intriguing elements. For starters, is there any danger of these teams actually winning a match??!! Both are on the bottom of the table with a terrible 0-3 record. It's a particularly shambolic state of affairs for the Hyderabad side who came into the IPL as hot tournament favourites yet haven't fired a shot despite boasting a side containing Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shahid Afridi, Rohit Sharma and VVS Laxman. It is downright embarrassing for Hyderabad and if they lose this game they might as well forget about the rest of the tournament because they will just be making up the numbers.

Not that Mumbai is travelling well either. Losing Harbhajan is an emormous blow (we can't repeat too often how valuable elite spinners can be in this format) and they will also have to find a new captain. Shaun Pollock may get the job if Tendulkar is again ruled out with fitness worries but it is hardly an ideal situation. Both of these teams have hit rock bottom and one will have even more egg on its face after this match.

In terms of the batting matchups we have the Hyderabad big guns (Symonds, Gilchrist and Afridi) up against Mumbai's Sanath Jayasuriya, Dwayne Bravo and Shaun Pollock with Tendulkar again a doubtful starter for Mumbai. Despite their winless form, we find it impossible to believe that Hyderabad's ace batsmen won't fire up here. There was talk about the pressure getting to them in the last few matches but that's gone out the window now as they have their backs to the wall and have nothing to lose. Never ever bet against Gilchrist, and Symonds to a lesser extent, when they are challenged. Symonds' bowling has been terrible - conceding 101 runs in 6.5 overs in the IPL at an economy rate of 14.78 - but everyone knows he is better than that.

Gilchrist and Symonds know that it is their job to lead the side out of the doldrums and this is the match where they will come up with the magic we know they can produce. One or two of Symonds, Gilchrist and Afridi will fire here against a placid Mumbai bowling attack with no Harbhajan. That will be enough to produce a huge total for Hyderabad. The only question mark is on the pitch - the game is being staged at a new venue in Mumbai and has had the pitch recently relaid - but the curator is certain it will produce a batting bonanza. We hate tipping favourites in the IPL but we do think Hyderabad are the best of good things here. If one of their many big guns doesn't inspire them to a win here then we will never be tipping them for the rest of our lives. Get on Hyderabad at $1.63 (which we think is well 'overs') with RacingOdds for 1 unit.

Kings Punjab XI (Mohali) v Delhi Daredevils

It's been an amazing few days for the Punjab side and in particular their emotional fast bowler Sreesanth. The former Indian breakdance champion made worldwide headlines when he broke down in tears after being allegedly slapped by Indian national teammate Harbhajan Singh during the recent clash against Mumbai. We never thought we'd see a fast bowler in tears - especially one that has enjoyed taunting Australia so much over the last few years. But there seems to be an emormous groundswell of support for Sreesanth in India and we can really see the Punjab side playing on pure emotion in the game against Delhi, particularly in front of their home crowd in Mohali. Sreesanth's Punjab teammates - including captain Yuvraj Singh and Aussie quick Brett Lee - appear to be right behind Sreesanth. So that gives the team an extra edge and added determination heading into the clash against the unbeaten Delhi side.

Delhi are the form team of the IPL and have lost only two wickets in the tournament. The Daredevils have been bankrolled by impressive openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Delhi's top-order has been so good with the bat that their middle-order and lower-order has not been sighted. But the Punjab bowling team, led by Lee and Sreesanth and also containing Irfan Pathan, will be a vastly different proposition. You can't imagine the hot-blooded Sehwag, who leads the tournament batting strike rate with an incredible SR of 235, being able to have things all his way here. And therein lies the problem for Delhi. Unless they get off to a sizzling start like they have in the last two games, many of Delhi's batsmen have not struck a ball in anger this tournament and could be exposed. Delhi's middle-order of Shoaib Malik, Dinesh Kartik, Manoj Tiwary and Rajat Bhatia are hardly household names and look vulnerable if Sehwag and Gambhir fall early.

Punjab could also be boosted by the return of Australian James Hopes in the opening position. The hard-hitting Hopes (who missed the last game with a stomach bug) is one of the most impressive Twenty20 batsmen in the world. Punjab's top-order that includes Hopes, Kumar Sangakkara, Yuvraj Singh and probably Mahela Jayawardene looks menacing. They will have to contend with Delhi pace aces Glenn McGrath and Mohammad Asif but we have always thought a good batsman will trump a good bowler in this crash-and-bash format.

All in all we think too much relies on Delhi openers Sehwag and Gambhir. Both men have been in unbelievable form but as we have seen in 20-over cricket, form is ever only temporary and you are ever only one ball away from disaster. This is also Brett Lee's last match for Punjab and he will be desperate to leave his stamp on this game and outbowl McGrath. And then there is the Sreesanth factor we have already mentioned. All roads lead to Punjab here and we like them for a two unit bet at $2.0 with Centrebet or Lasseters. We think most bookies have got this one wrong by installing Delhi as favourities. Go Punjab go!!