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!!!!

IPL and security

Before I begin. Salute to Sachin! I have never been a fan of the adulation he receives. But hats off! That 200 was simply great. None but he deserved to get there first!!
Alright let's get into the IPL issue now
The much discussed IPL security issue is almost threatening to divide the cricket world. While the retired ones like Gilly, Haydy, Symy and Warny (they earn more from IPL than from their respective boards - CA here) are throwing their weight behind L-Mod, players contracted to their respective boards (and this means they earn from the IPL and equally heavily from their boards) are a bit reluctant. Well Kiwis and Ponting, would you be sticking to the same stand if you have also retired from all forms of cricket? I guess no!
By the way, Ricky Ponting and his Aussie cohorts can be assured that life for an Aussie is much safer in India when you compare it with how safe it is for an Indian in Australia. So stop whining and come here to play in the IPL - but wait.. is he playing in the IPL? I don't think he is!! And he doesn't want fellow Aussies to get the money he will not get. Now that's clever Ricky!!! Beware Watsy, Bretty and the remaining y's!!!

IPL still in rough waters and is the IPL going out again?

IPL3.0 still doesn't seem to have set its foot strongly on Indian soil. With so much drama happening around the IPL everyday, L-Mod seems to have a tough time guiding his "Titanic". Firstly, it was the threat from Shiva Sena against the Aussie players. Just when L-Mod thought he had weathered that storm, came another blow - the Pune attack. Not only did the Pune attack come as a shock. It came with an addendum - a threat to foreign players not to come to India to play in the IPL. Now add the T issue in Hyderabad that almost forced DC to boycott the IPL and media boycott of IPL3.0. Just when L-Mod thought he had enuf icebergs to negotiate his Titantic through, Shane Warne has opened a hornet's nest by saying that IPL3.0 could move once again to South Africa. I am sure L-Mod will come out with a denial and Warne will issue a clarification. But the very idea of Warne could make quite a few players think if that could be done. L-Mod, keep your mobile charged, coz you may have to answer a lot of calls very soon!!!
Even as the IPL3.0 boat rocks in rough weather, plans are on the way for the future. 2 more franchises are to be added to the IPL bandwagon. And would you believe this? There are 12 cities that have put in their applications for the 2 slots. Come whatever, the money spinner just keeps spinning on right? And adding more spice is the fact that the owners of one of the top EPL clubs have shown interest in buying one of these teams. Way to go IPL! Way to go L-Mod!!

Kings become Heroes

Couldn't resist this. Anyway let me try

This is breaking news, breaking first on the IPL Spectator blog. An exclusive on blogger. The KingsXI Punjab team has now been bought by Hero Honda. Remember, this is breaking first on your blog - IPL Spectator!

Hero Honda are sponsors of the DD team. How will this turn out. They also have Veeru as one of their brand ambassadors. Will they pry out Veeru from DD and take him to KXIP next year?

On the flip side, Bret Lee, Sangakkara, Yuvi and others are going to miss the hug. ha ha ha!

An update
Well.. its 11.40 am now and I am forced to update this blog with an update. As expected, the news that I broke on this blog is not true!! I am left white faced like just like news anchors on the TV news channels now. But just like the channels I have no shame, remorse or guilty feeling because I am just bring in the news as fast as I can!