The home side has little to play for, other than personal pride, as their first season in the IPL comes to a close. Their record of just three wins from 12 games to date, sees them rooted to the foot of the qualifying table, the best that they can finish being one place higher.
On the other hand, the visiting Delhi Daredevils still have everything to play for, as they play the first of their final three fixtures in the qualifying stage of IPL9.
The Delhi Daredevils, who haven’t registered a top four finish since 2012, when they eventually finished third in the tournament, are currently sitting in fifth position in the table. Probably the worst of all positions, as it is the top position that doesn’t secure a post-season spot, and the chance of becoming IPL Champions.
However, Delhi are far from out of the hunt. Their six wins have come fro 11 fixtures, which places them two points adrift of all three sides immediately above them, and having played a match less than the Gujarat Lions, and two less than the reigning Champions the Mumbai Indians.
If the daredevils can complete the expected victory on Tuesday, the pressure would mount on their rivals, and in particular on the Indians, who have only one game left to play, and which they would almost certainly then need to win, to retain hope of a third IPL title in four years.
Delhi missed the chance at the weekend of effectively eliminating Mumbai, when they fell to a crushing 80-run defeat to their rivals in Visakhapatnam. The Indians posting 206-4, before dismissing Delhi for a mere 126.