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New Delhi: Kings XI Punjab captain Adam Gilchrist won the toss and chose to bowl against Delhi Daredevils in their IPL match at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi on Saturday.
The 39-year-old Gilchrist still has it in him to thrash any side black-and-blue.
Yet, Delhi will be more worried about Gilly's opening partner Paul Valthaty, who has taken the IPL by storm, getting better with every match. More than the 247 runs he has scored so far in the tournament to own the Orange Cap right now, his devastating strokeplay has forced skipper Gilchrist to take a backseat at the top of the order.
Valthaty is currently striking the ball at 168, notching up a century and a fifty in the process, making him every team's prime target. Not one to be overawed by any bowler, the 28-year-old took on the likes of Shaun Tait with aplomb to continue his fine form against Rajasthan Royals in Mohali on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Delhi, looking the weakest outfit this season so far, have finally got their wish for a livelier track at Kotla but their pacers, led by Morne Morkel, will probably face one of their toughest challenges bowling to Valthaty and Gilchrist at the top of the order. It will be safe to say that Saturday's contest will be a face-off against two off the most dangerous opening combinations in the IPL.
The Daredevils' answer will come in the form of Virender Sehwag and David Warner. When the duo fire in tandem it is hard to stop the Delhi side but it has done that only once this season - which resulted in a win over Pune Warriors.
Warner has been the more consistent of the two, notching up two half-centuries in the team's first four matches.
The Kotla pitch is expected to provide a bit more life that the bare tracks on show here so far this season. Still it doesn't mean good news for the bowlers as a more livelier pitch can help strokemakers too.
