It will be a real test of character for the beleaguered Rajasthan Royals when they face an upbeat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 'Eliminator' of the Pepsi Indian Premier League here tomorrow.
Since the ugly revelations of the spot-fixing Scandal followed by the arrests of three of its players, including India international S Sreesanth, cricketing matters have taken a backseat for the champions of the first edition of the IPL.
One can expect the Sunrisers to be overwhelming favourites as they don't have to deal with the demons of an ugly controversy that has shaken the cricketing establishment.
For Rajasthan Royals and especially their skipper Rahul Dravid, it will be a challenge to go out in the field shedding inhibitions and perform to the best of their abilities.
For the Royals and their loyal band of supporters, a good performance at least can help them deflect the unwanted attention that is on them for the time being.
But there is no denying the fact that the team is under immense pressure. The two foundations of a good team: self belief and confidence in each other's abilities has been hit badly after the controversy.
Will Rahul Dravid have the same confidence when he hands over the ball to a particular bowler? Can he change the batting order randomly without having a crease on his forehead? These are question that will only be answered tomorrow.
Therefore, it wasn't surprising that the Royals management decided to have their last practice session ahead of the 'Eliminator' in Jaipur.
Since Jaipur-Delhi is less than an hour's flight, the squad will only arrive here in the evening. This ensures that media will be busy covering the high-profile first Qualifier between the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
