Back!

Back in India and enjoying the not so enjoyable IPL 3.0. Somehow this season IPL doesn't seem as exciting as they advertise it. At least I am not going wow and that is mostly because MI are running riot with the league. 12 points already and virtually assured of a semifinal spot they have made the tournament uninteresting. But what's it with teams that face them? Yesterday Preity's band ran them close, but that is the closest any team seems to come. Is Malinga too hot to handle? Given the time he has been around I think everyone should have figured him out - everyone figured Mendis out, didn't they? But just looking at how Malinga, Murali and Vaas have been among the wickets, it is ominous signs for SL at the T20 WC. But oops! They don't have my team's Vaas in their team!!!
As for the fortune of my team, they keep alternating between the fabulous and the ridiculous. Once Gilly, Gibbs and Symonds are back, the only thing that can save DC looks like the bowling of Vaas and Praghy. Kemar Roach doesn't seem like he is as big a capture as he promised to be with his price tag! Time to rethink strategies Gilly. You can't wait until the 6th over to strategize!!!
So next time around, we are going to see 10 teams (when there were numerous other cities I can't imagine what Kochin and Pune are doing in the pack!!! - just my opinion) and 94 matches. "Cricket overkill" as Symonds put it. Hope L-Mod doesn't decide to pack the 94 matches together. It ain't gonna do any magic for you Mod. I think you will split the 94 matches into 2 seasons like a wise man.
And finally, I believed that the media had boycotted the IPL after the footage terms fiasco. But as I switched channels yesterday after the MI-KXIP match I saw every channel having its cricket "expert" and proving one thing - when it comes to money throw self dignity out of the window. Also noted something funny by chance. N Sid was on Times Now and gave the thumbs down to Ryan Mclaren of the MI calling him a weak link and asking for him to be replaced by Jayasuriya. At the same time, "Hair"sha Bhogle was on CNN-IBN praising Mclaren for being there to allow Malinga have a bowl at the middle order in the middle overs. Funny also to see Bhogle grinning embarrassingly as Cyrus Broacha reported from the IPL that was not.
The latest joke that's catching up - IPL = Injured Player League

Injuries and match fixing!

Bret Lee, Masceranhas, Smith, Nehra and now Dhoni - injuries have slowly started becoming an integral part of the IPL nowadays. It only shows that as the seasons come by, the players are trying harder to win it for their teams. Good for their IPL teams - but how about their countries? With the T20 WC lurking perilously close to the IPL the spate of injuries must concern certain teams. Take for example Graeme Smith. I cannot imagine South Africa competing well without him. It's good that the injury that would rule him out of the IPL and might heal in time for the T20 WC occurred early. What if, GC had injured that finger on the last day of the IPL? What if Dhoni had been hit by Bond on the elbow in the final? It looks like the IPL is now following the pattern of the soccer leagues worldwide. Worrying times for fans and teams alike!
Even as the IPL took control of the cricketing world - even the Aus-NZ series, Eng-Ban and WI-Zim series have been pushed into the background - another storm blew Pakistan cricket out. After the PCB had banned Mohammad Yusuf and Younis Khan for life and Shoaib Malik and Naved Hasan for a year, there is news that some players were involved in match fixing on the Aus tour. Disgraceful! Is there a more lower level Pakistan cricket can stoop to?

KKR's year?

So is this going to be KKR's season? Looking at their 2 matches so far - against last year's finalists performances seem very professional. Finally is SRK going to start smiling?
I watched the highlights of that innings by YP for RR. What brutality! Hope he continues to be in good form just for us to see such knocks. Not that I want RR to win the tournament. But at least we can get to see some fireworks.
DC must be reeling under the disadvantages of not playing at home. Last night's match (remember its a Sunday match) had a feeble crowd. The days of fans traveling long distances to watch their teams play are still a long way away. L-Mod's poor planning has denied revenue for DC! But I am happy DC walloped CSK. I consider CSK arch rivals for DC. Well RCB are arch rivals as well but to me CSK are the real arch. :-)
By the way, here is the IPL Channel on Youtube. For all the money they have, it should be HD. But unfortunately its poor video on the channel!!!

I wish

Last year I was in front of the TV for every IPL match. This year, I am stuck in the Netherlands and can only follow the IPL on the internet. I wish I was there to watch DC begin in style. Oops.. I missed mentioning the opening ceremony. A ceremony where RJS shows us he can be louder than Sunny D. A ceremony where L-Mod starts his address assuming 99% of the world is watching him. A ceremony where so many things go on that we almost forget there is a match that will follow!
By the way, I heard that N-Sid is in the commentary team. Aww!! I am going to miss that!!!!