Gibbs' Indian Premier League future in doubt

Herschelle Gibbs is out. His future in the Indian Premier League has been put in doubt with his axing from the Deccan Chargers team for their game against the Rajasthan Royals on Monday night.

Gibbs, one of the most talented players in the game, showed indifferent form and no responsibility as a senior professional - he has scored just one half-century in eight visits to the crease - and was dropped in favour of West Indian Dwayne Smith.

Gibbs and many of the other South Africans have battled to keep their place in the first XIs of their franchises and are sitting in the dugout.

The Cape Cobras batsman has scored 237 runs in total in a team that has been inconsistent in 2010 after winning the IPL crown in South Africa in 2009.

The Chargers' top order again misfired and they were beaten in a nail-biting match by Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals by two runs at the Vidarbha Stadium.

Chasing a modest 160, the Chargers were dealt three huge blows as VVS Laxman (6), Adam Gilchrist (34) and Andrew Symonds (15) were out with only 86 runs on the board.

While Aditya Dole did the early damage, it was Warne's magic that mesmerised the Chargers as he introduced himself in the 12th over and began his destruction.

His devastating 4-22 in four overs was telling and it brought the Royals back into the game.

Only Rohit Sharma stood between them and victory. Sharma took the Chargers to the brink but failed to get them across the line.

In the final over, when six runs were needed, the home side lost three wickets - two picked up by Sid Trevidi and a run-out which gave Warne's team a narrow two-run win.

"We have an inexperienced squad - some senior players are nursing injuries - and those who have been given opportunities have made unbelievable progress on this stage," a delighted Warne said.

In the Royals' 159, Australian Shane Watson top-scored with 58 while Fiaz Fazal contributed 36. The rest of their batsmen failed.

"We had the game in our grasp," said a disappointed Gilchrist. "Our experienced top order once again let us down ."

The clash everyone has been waiting for will be between the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians in Chennai on tuesday.

Each team has some of the best Twenty20 players in the world and the game has all the ingredients to be a real classic.

TV: 4.30pm on SuperSport.