At last

At last DC managed to win. Suman was an unlikely hero indeed. When he began batting in the innings, it was more about the ball hitting his bat rather than he hitting the ball. I thought it was going to be yet another tactical mistake from DC. But he surprised me and the entire Bangalore crowd. Everyone in that crowd was expecting DC to roll over. And when Gilly was foxed by Jumbo I thought so. Good to see Symmo hitting. When I saw him against RR the other day I thought it was all over for him. Staying with DC, doesn't RGS and his laziness seem to suggest that he might just become Indian captain some time in the future.
For the second day running, Gibbs was asked on TV how he feels about feeling left out. Poor guy! I wish he punches the nose of that silly leech who asks him that question next time. BTW.. did you notice Deepika praying for Bangalore to win? It seems she has turned out to be the "bringer of misfortune" for RCB this year. Whenever she visits, RCB loses.
Good to see Gilly and RP sending out veiled messages to the IPL about their displeasure at playing in pseudo home grounds.

Boring

It was a case of back in boredom. The Chennai heat took its toll as none of the players at yesterday's match put up a 20-20 show. CSK played just like how Dhoni wanted them to play - win at any cost. But haven't we been told that the IPL is all about entertainment and the players are paid so much to entertain us? Come on L Mod! Talk to MS. We need entertainment - the kind provided by Vijay the other day. And we need it every day!!

The case of the pseudo home crowd

One more insipid performance from DC. What was "Rogue hit" thinking when he hit that last shot? That the fielder would drop the catch? You must be a @#$#@$ to play that shot rogie!! You just got your slice of luck when Harmeet just crossed over the previous ball!!! And what was it with Symmo and RP? What kind of glory were they looking for?
Playing in front of pseudo home crowds does have its effect. Take for example the Nagpur crowd. It was supposed to be DC's home stadium! You must have heard the roar when Yusuf walked in and the hushed silence when he was dismissed. Were DC playing at home? Same was the case on Saturday as well. You can't play your home game against Mumbai at Mumbai? Not one soul at the stadium was a Charger!!
By the way - hasn't anyone told Gaurav about the beard? Come on SET. You spend so much for the 10 year rights to telecast the IPL. Can't you spend 20 bucks on a shave?
Now that DC have ensured that they can only fight for the wooden spoon, it is time to target a team and derail its semifinal chance. To put it short - It is time to play spoilsport Gilly. Do that at least!!
And finally - it looks like the old and the new of the IPL are about to begin a war as this report suggests. But if the IPL is going to say that come next year the players that represented your favorite team for 3 years are not going to be there anymore - what happens to the fun of following your favorite team?

The thing with lame anchors

It's ridiculous. Mandira Bedi is officially a cricket expert now while the likes of Ayushman, Angad, Gaurav (did you watch him with that stupid looking beard yesterday) and Samir Kochar are making a joke of the position she vacated at Set Max. With the likes of Harsha Bhogle, Danny Morrison and Ravi Shastri just doing commentary (wherein they are mostly singing praise of you know who) these "juniors" are making watching the IPL very very uninteresting.
Finally there was the IPL josh at the IPL. What a weekend! about 80 sixes in 4 matches compared to about 300 in all previous games put together- 31 matches for 300 sixes and 80 for the last 4. Now that is what I was looking for.
When I looked at the performances of the Indians over the 4 matches - there was one clear fact that came out. There are at least 4 players who must be on the flight to the West Indies - SRT is obvious. But we also need Vijay, Uthappa and Mishra in that group. Come on selectors - there is still some time left!
Finally, DC proved again that don't seem like being ready for the fight. Every time they do very well until the 15th over (bat and bowl) and then things go haywire. Firstly, they need a proper bowler to bowl at the top - Roach,RP Singh and Vaas required at the top of their performance levels here. Then they need to find someone who can hold up the later order after Gilly and co perish at the top. Also given the 4 foreign player clause - time for either Gibbs or Symonds to sit out may be?

Are they going through the motions?

I think I have found out why this year's IPL is not very interesting. I have a feeling most players are just going through the motions as this is the last year of their contracts with respective franchises. I got this feeling yesterday when I watched DC roll over for KKR. There seemed to be absolutely no inspiration at all within the team. Having basked in glory last year, they seem to have exhausted everything last year and are just seeing out their contracts this year. With 2 more franchises next year and the prospect of making money at other clubs this fever does not just seem to be restricted to one club. Most players seem disinterested the same way. Pity on the audience - includes me.

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?