Sehwag keen to improve Durban record

Virender Sehwag does not have many happy memories playing at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead. But the Indian opener who will lead the Delhi Daredevils in their game against the Chennai Super Kings here today believes the time has come to make his mark at this venue.

The pace and bounce that the Kingsmead track offers excites the Daredevils captain, who looked at the wicket and offered the following: "It's hard and it will be bouncy as it has been in all my past visits to Durban.

"I believe it will give me the urge to play my shots and go for a big one against the Super Kings."

The Indian opener was talking of hooking, cutting and pulling something he did while his squad put the finishing touches to their preparations for a tough game against the Super Kings.

Four in four
Sehwag's record here is not something he is proud of but wants to get a big score to obliterate the unhappiness of the past. In the four World Twenty20 matches, the Delhi star played for India here, he scored a mere four runs one each against Pakistan, England, South Africa and Australia.

"That," he said, "is a poor record. I need to put that right and it could start here today. I want to get on a roll that's been my motivating factor ever since the IPL was moved to South Africa."

Solid line-up
While Sehwag may be one of the stars in the Daredevils squad there are others like Gautam Gambhir, who has hit a purple patch ever since the New Zealand tour, AB de Villiers, Daniel Vettori and Tillakaratne Dilshan who also offer solidity in their batting. Vettori doubles up as an all-rounder.

Meanwhile, the Super Kings are going to rely on spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who starred in the game against the Bangalore Royal Challengers on Monday evening, and the in-form Matthew Hayden, who currently leads the table for the most runs.

The weather has cleared but there's still a chance of rain. The expected minimum is 18 degrees Celsius with a high of 22 degrees while there's a 30 per cent chance of rain.

However, with a 16.00 IST start, the teams could possibly get away with bowling the full quota of 20 overs each.