The big question: Who will win the IPL?

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Wessels says Kings XI Punjab are a good team and the semi0final encounter will be a hard fought one.

“We have played them twice and beaten them twice. We had two very good games with them in the lead up to the competition. We acknowledge that they are a very strong side, well balanced and they have doing things very well through put the tournament with the exception of the first two matches. So they will be formidable opponent. But so is every body. There is no easy match in this competition. Every side has got match winners in their combination and this match will be no different,” he says

Wessels goes on to say that Dhoni has been an able skipper and has handled the pressure situations very well. Now the team needs Dhoni to come up with some big scores, he says.

“We want him (Dhoni) to fire. He is one of our match winners and it will absolutely tremendous if in the semi-final he can put together a performance that will really unsettle the opposition. But he has led the team very well. He has played a couple of innings that have been very significant. He is in good form and I think he is really determined to do well. He has handled the pressure though out very well and he has been under a lot of pressure. In the semi-finals and finals everything come down to basics. He has got the ability to lead the side well in a pressure situation,” Wessels points out.

Wessels says the IPL semi-finals and finals are going to be a grand affair.

“It very different when you are a player and a coach. From coaching point of view it is terrific to be involved in these sorts of games. From a player’s point of view, I have been involved in these sorts of matches many times in my career. There is always excitement and adrenaline rush. It is just tremendous to be a part of the final four teams in a major competition,” he adds.

Delhi Daredevils

Delhi daredevils have one of the most explosive opening pair in Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Also in Glenn McGrath and Mohammad Asif, they have two of the best fast bowlers in the tournament. If they are to progress any further in the tournament all the four players must play their part to perfection.

“I hope its Delhi vs Chennai final and Chennai win,” Srikkanth jokes.

But the former India opener, himself an explosive batsman in his playing days, says, “Virender Sehwag is an extraordinary batsman. They have a very good opening combination. Both Viru and Gautam Gambhir are in very good form. Shikhar Dhawan has done very well. Dinesh Karthik won the last match for them. Overall it is one of the best-balanced sides on paper. They have a very good captain too in Virender Sehwag. I really appreciate this side. Delhi is a very good side.”

Former India fast bowler Srinath agrees that McGrath and Asif are very economical and can take wickets too.

“Yeah, I think they have the best balance with the bat and the ball. With McGrath you can’t ask anything better. He is followed by Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh and Asif. They are really bowling well. Farveez Maharoof is not a bad bowler too. So their bowling is pretty good. If you really see the difference between batting and bowling in all the teams in this tournament, they have the best. In batting the first three are superb and it’s ideally made for the Twenty20 and you have Tillakaratne Dilshan later in the order and them Maharoof excelling in the death overs is amazing to watch. So on the whole as Srikkanth said on papers they are the best side,” Srinath adds.

He also points out that fielding does make a big difference in Twenty20.

“Yes, this tournament has thrown up some amazing fielders. Most of the teams except maybe Bangalore or to some extent Mumbai you see some excellent fielders. I think fielding has made a huge difference in this tournament. Fielding has been instrumental in this tournament.”

However, Srinath very diplomatically declines to reveal which team he is backing.

“In sudden death anyone can win,” is all he says.

But in the next three days it would all be clear and the cricket world will have the IPL champion.