What
The charged up Royal Challengers Bangalore will go head to head against the Chennai Super Kings
When
March 23, 2010, 8pm
Where
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. Having already been witness to two lip-smacking encounters, it would be worth finding out whether the Royal Challengers can continue their fine home-form which blossomed for them in the match against KXIP.
The Protagonists
Jacques Kallis is enjoying a cracker of a tournament, unbeaten in the last four innings he has played, and is also the man who holds the Orange Cap currently. This team has the perfect mix of youth and experience. Pragmatism and risk-taking are traits rarely seen with each other, but the Royal Challengers Bangalore, with youngsters like Kohli, Uthappa and Pandey, playing alongside veterans like Kumble, Kallis and Boucher, bring the best out of each other.
But writing off the Chennai Super Kings will be at the opposition’s risk. No player in this team can be singled out as a star performer, for everyone contributes and plays their part. They would be disappointed and sore after their narrow loss against the Kings XI Punjab, and would be looking to hit back at their opposition and cement a place in the top four of the table. Raina will lead the men from Chennai once more, with players like Hayden, Kemp, Morkel and Muralidaran by his side, ready to give their all for this team.
What next?
A win would keep the Royal Challengers Bangalore on the top of the table and immensely boost their confidence for the matches to come. Ross Taylor may still be some time away from joining the team, but the Royal Challengers are managing brilliantly without him. The talismanic Dhoni would be itching to get back to action, but he will be sitting out this encounter as well. Chennai are currently placed fourth on the table and need this win to boost their chances of a semi-final qualification.
Momentum: force or speed of movement; impetus, as of a physical object or course of events.
11 days into the competition, the eight teams in DLF-IPL have displayed a varying understanding of this word going by their performances on the big stage and consistency over a period of time.
Teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils started off on a high, but slipped mid-way to lose the momentum.
Then there are teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians who have kept up the winning pace. At the other end of the table, teams like Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals started off slowly, but are still to completely snap out of the losing streak.
Both Deccan Chargers and Chennai Super Kings are lodged somewhere in between.
'It is important for teams to combine well as a unit. If you lose back to back games, then the momentum goes for a toss. So one has to be consistent and needs players who can raise their hand on different occasions. Teams should try to win at least four or five matches of the first seven to brighten their chances of making it into the semi-finals,’ opined Ravi Shastri, former India captain and a member of IPL’s Governing Council in a chat with iplt20.com
The men with an onerous task in such situations are the team coaches because a lot depends on how they condition the mind of their wards in such high-pressure situations.
Take Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming, for example, who is looking for someone to fill in for his regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is injured. But till that happens, Fleming is keen that the absence of Dhoni does not affect the fortunes of his side.
"We know from experience that momentum helps down the track. You are going to have periods in this competition where you will lose two or three, it’s just the nature of this type of competition, so the games you can put away early on certainly help,’ he feels.
One man who understands what’s going through Fleming’s mind is Kings XI Punjab coach Tom Moody. The tall Western Australian has seen his side go through three heartbreaks before one narrow win, that too in the Super Over. And Moody has a longer list of injured stars to manage than Fleming.
Moody knows his job has only has just begun as he worked to improve the morale of the side after their three early losses.
"In this form of the game, you need to get momentum, which gives you confidence to play with a free spirit. The most successful players in the format are the players who play without the fear of failure. And when you have had a couple of setbacks as a team, you know it is a battle to re-capture that momentum and that fear of failure,’ summed up Moody in response to a question by iplt20.com.
Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Ray Jennings, though, as always, begs to differ. His side is on a roll and now has a better view of the matter from the top.
"I think momentum is about the guys and how they feel during the course of the day, how they are at net sessions. It is about the respect factor among the guys, a happy side with a fighting spirit - that is momentum. It is not about final performance or wins or losses. If win or loss does not mean anything, then there is really no momentum," says Jennings.
As the debate rages on and the first fortnight of the tournament draws to a close, it is time for the leaderboard to change as well.
Whatever a side’s take on momentum, entertainment reigns supreme in every closely fought contest. All eyes trained on week three.
Bengaluru: During Anil Kumble’s last year in international cricket, one man who was very much like his shadow was Mahendra Singh Dhoni. It can safely be said that Kumble knows more about Dhoni than most cricketers.
Now the two are on the opposite ends of any contest being regular captains for their franchises. But, unfortunately, Dhoni will not be around for the first installment of the clash against his former skipper.
And that has naturally made Kumble raise the stakes for the clash against Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday night at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Dhoni is currently nursing a bruised right forearm.
“In a Twenty20 game, it depends on who plays well on that particular day. That Dhoni is injured is an advantage for us and a setback for Chennai. Justin Kemp - you know his ability with the bat and ball, so maybe that’s an advantage if he doesn’t play,” said Kumble on the eve of the clash.
But Kumble realises that there are a few more players in the Super Kings’ ranks who can take the battle to the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp.
"They have quite a number of good players - there are [Matthew] Hayden and [Suresh] Raina. They have some quality batsmen, so we really need to be up for tomorrow. You can’t take much for granted and we will definitely not be complacent,” he said with characteristic prudence.
With Dhoni not playing, the biggest contest could be between Hayden and Kumble. Hayden with the Mongoose bat against Kumble is a mouth-watering prospect.
“I just look at the batsman. I am not concerned about the bat he uses. You plan a strategy for a batsman, not for the bat,” said Kumble, playing down the importance of Hayden’s choice of bat.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore are on a roll and Kumble is keen to keep up the momentum. But ever the focussed man, Kumble was measured in his response to the current state of the points table.
“I would like to take one game at a time and not look at where we stand on the points table. Even when we were number eight last year halfway through the tournament, I didn’t look at the table.
“For me, being at the bottom of the table or top of the table doesn’t matter. What’s important is that we need to win a cricket match, and that will be the focus. If we keep winning every match we play then, automatically the results and points table will look up. We are not really looking that far ahead, but hopefully, we will be able to change the trend,” he said.
The one thing that Kumble is banking on is the home crowd’s support at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium when the lights are switched on during the Tuesday clash. “It’s nice to play a home game when you have won two home games before, and there will be a great atmosphere,” said Kumble.
The legendary spinner felt that the Bengaluru crowds have backed not just Royal Challengers Bangalore but also the Karnataka Ranji Trophy team. “When the Karnataka players were playing the Ranji Trophy final, there was a lot of following for Manish Pandey, Mithun, Vinay [Kumar] and the Karnataka team, because they were not just looked at as the State Ranji team, but as RCB players also. In that sense, there has been a lot of fan following,” opined Kumble.
Press Release For Immediate Publication
IPL Governing Council to conduct hearing with Ravindra Jadeja and the two franchises on March 25th
Mumbai, March 23rd 2010: The IPL Governing Council has today announced that it has requested Mr. Arun Jaitley to chair and conduct a fresh hearing into the conduct of banned Rajasthan Royals player Ravindra Jadeja. This is basis an appeal from the cricketer and the two franchises involved, the Rajasthan Royals and the Mumbai Indians. The hearing to be chaired by Mr. Jaitely will hear representations from Jadeja and both the franchises involved, prior to reaching a decision. The hearing will be held in Mumbai on March 25th 2010.
Earlier this year in February 2010, the IPL Governing Council had based on a unanimous decision and on instructions from the President of the BCCI, decided to ban India Cricketer – Ravindra Jadeja for a period of one year. The ban was on account of Ravindra Jadeja not signing the renewal contract with the Rajasthan Royals and attempting, instead to negotiate a larger financial contract with another IPL franchise. Thus, resulting in a serious non-adherence to the IPL player guidelines.
Mr. Lalit Modi, Chairman & Commissioner, Indian Premier League today stated, 'The IPL Governing Council has taken a decision to hear Ravindra Jadeja’s plea and will also listen to representations from the two franchises involved, namely the Rajasthan Royals and the Mumbai Indians. Arun Jaitley will at the behest of the IPL Governing Council chair the hearing and arrive at a final decision on Ravindra Jadeja and the same shall be binding on all parties concerned.'
For further information contact:
Percy Dubash/Jitendra Jha
Adfactors PR
+91 9820221792 / +91 9920829216
“Pretty, slick and colourful, they’re fast becoming permanent fixtures in a world where glamour generates the best exchange rate. The IPL, an amalgamation of all that works in the modern sphere, has been quick to embrace cheerleaders. It’s Bollywood on the boundary,” reported The Times of India while discussing the cheerleaders for the Royal Challengers.
“IPL 2010 scores with TV audiences,” published The Hindu. It elaborated, “Study based on the first eight matches (up to March 16) reveals a nine per cent increase. It was 27.6 million in 2008; it’s 36.7 million in 2010. The DLF-IPL 2010 has created history by scoring an all-India record of 67 million eyeballs on SET Max for the first three on March 12 and 13”. It quoted Television Audience Measurement (TAM) Media official as saying,
“What a cracker of a match we had against Kings XI Punjab in our previous game. I would be lying if I don’t confess that I was disappointed to see my team, Chennai Super Kings, lose the way they did. It won’t be an exaggeration to say we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory… An interesting development for Chennai has been the arrival of the ever-smiling Makhaya Ntini,” wrote Mahendra Singh Dhoni in The Times of India on eve of Chennai Super Kings match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“This is one grand rush for which this sleepy hill resort might not be ready. With Dharamsala all set to host two IPL matches in April, the tourism industry is working overtime to ensure that the cricketing and Bollywood stars - and their entourage - leave with pleasant memories,” reported the Hindustan Times.
“I have worked hard on my T20 batting for both South Africa and RCB and it seems to be paying off. I also enjoy opening in T20 as it allows me time to play the ball on merit, rather than thrash everything over the ropes. I haven't changed my style. I usually keep things simple in all three formats. I'm one of the very few genuine all-rounders today which is crucial in the shorter formats of the game,” DNA quoted Jacques Kallis as saying.
“Pune being included as one of the teams in the Indian Premier League is a big boost for the cricketers of this city and all those who play for Maharashtra. This will revive cricket and help Maharashtra team produce better results in domestic cricket," former Maharashtra player Riaz Poonawala was quoted as saying by the Gulf News.
DLF IPL 2010 has well and truly taken off. In just over 11 days, we have had everything that can be hoped for from the world's fastest growing league. As if the excitement wasn’t enough, it’s time to welcome on board a new range of stars that’s expected to dazzle in this already glittering carnival of cricket.
Joining the party first up was Chris Gayle on a blockbuster Monday night clash in Mumbai. Turning out for his beloved Kolkata Knight Riders, Gayle hit form straightaway with a measured 75 against Mumbai Indians.
His knock may not have been enough to turn the tide for Kolkata Knight Riders, but Gayle showed the kind of impact he could have on the rest of the tournament. Gayle's return is only good news for the Kolkata Knight Riders. They further await the arrival of Brendon McCullum and David Hussey.
McCullum has just slammed a Test hundred and is in top form in all formats of the game. His arrival will brings the much-needed X-factor to the Knight Riders. McCullum led the side last season and felt that the extra responsibility affected him. "I think the messages that I was preaching I actually wasn`t following myself in terms of that aggressive style of cricket. In hindsight, I think I let the captaincy affect my batting, but fortunately, towards the end of the competition I produced some performances that helped the team win as well," McCullum was quoted as saying.
Gayle and McCullum at the top of the order could spell doom for most bowling attacks. "It’s going to be awesome. We did it in South Africa but we played on some fresher wickets and obviously our games are helped by flat decks, so hopefully we get some flat ones in India. If all goes well we’ll open together and get a few away," added McCullum.
Up north, there was some more good news awaiting fans as the swiftest bowler in the world, Brett Lee, was back again in India. He linked up with his Kings XI Punjab teammates in Mohali. He is fit again and just raring to go.
“[Brett] Lee went to Sydney to get an injection on his injured elbow. He is fit and raring to go. He has obtained necessary clearance from Cricket Australia, but a final call on his playing on Wednesday will be taken on the eve of the match,’’ Col Arvinder Singh, senior vice-president (Cricket Operations), KXIP was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Also joining the Kings XI Punjab squad was the Orange Cap holder of IPL 2008, Shaun Marsh. The entry of the left-hander from Western Australia means the Kings XI Punjab will have a more prolific profile at the top.
Kings XI Punjab coach Tom Moody was cautious about building up pressure on Marsh straightaway. ``He is ready to go, fit. But again he, like all the other players that currently aren't in the XI, will have to find their way back into the side. It’s not going to be a walk back into the side. Shaun's form two years ago was awesome. But that was two years ago and we hope when he gets his opportunity, whether it’s Wednesday or whenever it may be that he recaptures that form [he performs],'' said Moody.
Two very resourceful cricketers, Paul Collingwood and Daniel Vettori, are set to rejoin Delhi Daredevils. In their own way, the duo will look to lift the morale of the side.
But the team that looks to benefit most from the arrivals is Royal Challengers Bangalore. Arriving in a couple of days is the switch-hit man Kevin Pietersen. He travels straight from Chittagong to Bengaluru after finishing a Test match.
Then a few days later, Cameron White joins RCB, adding another dimension to the line-up. And to round it all off, in the first week of April, Royal Challengers will welcome another dynamic player, Ross Taylor.
So get ready to take off yet and fasten your seat belts – it’s showtime all over again!
Bengaluru: Suresh Raina, stand-in captain of the Chennai Super Kings, has won the toss and elected to field first on a good Bengaluru track.
Talking to commentator Sunil Gavaskar, Raina said he was enjoying his stint as captain. He thanked MS Dhoni for his advice. “He told me you’re looking good,” he said, adding that Dhoni’s has asked him to, “Just keep it simple.”
George Bailey comes in for an injured Justin Kemp in the CSK line-up.
Anil Kumble, captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, felt the pitch was a little bit drier than the previous two games. “It looks like a good wicket for runs. Last two games there was nice carry and bounce,” he said. A confident Kumble said that it was nice to go into a game with a win.
Playing XI
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Anil Kumble (captain), Jacques Kallis, Manish Pandey, Robin Uthappa, Eoin Morgan, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, Mark Boucher (wk), Dale Steyn, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar
Chennai Super Kings
Suresh Raina (captain), Matthew Hayden, Murali Vijay, Parthiv Patel (wk), R Ashwin, Subramaniam Badrinath, Muttiah Muralidaran, L Balaji, Albie Morkel, George Bailey, Sudeep Tyagi
It was a perfect outing for Mumbai Indians on Monday night. When Sachin Tendulkar dictates terms - it is a fan’s delight. The straight drive, back foot drive, pull, hook and the punches – one can’t set a fielding for such an array of shots all over the ground. Sachin was his true self against Kolkata Knight Riders. Coming into the match after the defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sachin knew that he had to play the match-winning role and make sure that his team win this tie on the home ground and top the points table.
When on song, it is difficult to restrict Sachin. I think in a way he dictated the bowlers to bowl to his strengths after he started scoring on good deliveries.
I was really surprised to see [Ashoke] Dinda not featuring in KKR’s Playing XI. He bowled pretty well in the last game against Rajasthan Royals and his presence would have surely given more teeth to Kolkata’s bowling department. Murali Karthik has been the standout bowler across all squads so far and his economy rate provides enough evidence to prove the fact.
Although the bowling line was not in accordance with the field positions when Mumbai Indians were bowling, overall it was a perfect day at the office for the home team. I was a bit surprised at Chris Gayle’s uncharacteristic knock at the CCI on Monday. The batting of Kolkata Knight Riders has been in disarray for the last couple of games and Gayle’s inclusion in KKR’s Playing XI raised expectations for a big total. I think Gayle’s strategy to bat through the innings could have been because he wanted to accelerate in the last overs, but the slowness of the wicket didn’t help him either. And by his standards, it was not a knock he would cherish for long.
Harbhajan Singh, amongst the spinners, impressed me the most in the match. He is the strike bowler for Mumbai Indians and has been effective in the T20 format. His figures of 4-0-17-1 after the match speak volumes about his performance. The wicket was slow and started holding the ball and Bhajji used it to perfection.
Saurabh Tiwary has got the best possible platform if he wants to stake a claim for a national team berth. His fearless approach has helped the team in more than one ways.
It was good to see Sourav Ganguly pull off an amazing catch off his namesake Saurabh Tiwary. It just showed that competitiveness forces even the very best to stretch their own yardsticks. He timed his jump very well and caught it.
Overall, it was a delight for Mumbai Indians’ fans as everything went their way. The team will take a lot confidence after such a professional performance. This win will also help them when they take on Chennai Super Kings on March 25.
(Guide, mentor and friend to his brother Sachin, Ajit Tendulkar uses his keen sense of cricket to analyse the Mumbai Indians’ performances in IPL 2010)
Chennai: In his 10th year of top-flight cricket, Yuvraj Singh has finally exorcised a ghost.
While finding his way through the early part of his career, Yuvraj's battles with spin and especially Muttiah Muralidaran presented an interesting sight. But on Sunday night, he well and truly put an end to all those nightmares.
Yuvraj's heroics, especially against Muttiah Muralidaran in the Super Over, showed that he had finally overcome a big hurdle in his evolution as a player. Yuvraj played an uncharacteristic reverse sweep off Murali to seal the first win for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2010.
“We needed this win badly. We had lost three games. We put on a good performance today. The boys stood up very well. Irfan bowled very well. The new guy [Juan] Theron also bowled well,” Yuvraj told iplt20.com in an exclusive interview.
Yuvraj played a part in both the regular game and the Super Over, thereby scripting a turnaround for his side in the tournament. Yuvraj's partnership with Mohammed Kaif came at a crucial stage, even if it was at a slow pace.
“It was a slow wicket. We thought 150-145 was a good total. We were pretty happy with the way we defended 135,'' Yuvraj opined.
The match spilled over into the Super Over after a tight couple of overs by KXIP bowlers Irfan Pathan and Juan Theron. Kings XI Punjab were batting second and needed 10 runs to win this exhilarating clash. Chennai Super Kings had the crafty Muttiah Muralidaran bowling the crucial over. Yuvraj got the strike after Mahela Jayawardene got out going for a big expansive shot. Needing four off four, Yuvraj played a dot ball. The pressure increased manifold and everybody’s sweat glands were working overtime. The equation now was four runs off three balls.
Did he feel the pressure? “No. We needed four off three balls. The only problem was that if we lost a wicket, we would have lost the game. So I had to take a risk.''
And then came the shot which sealed the fate of the match. Yuvraj played a reverse sweep off Murali to settle a few scores for good.
"I knew Murali was going to bowl quicker. That (short third-man) was the only area which was open. So I thought maybe if I played the reverse sweep it could work. I don't play reverse sweeps well, but that was the only option. (Thankfully) It worked,'' recalled Yuvraj.
The excitement spilled over and the entire Kings XI Punjab squad ran onto the field. No wonder at the end of it all, Yuvraj signed off saying, “I am feeling good now.”
Cuttack: Darren Lehmann was nothing less than a sublime batsman in his playing days. Experts talk of using the length of the crease, but few have used its width as Lehmann did in his time.
As an out-and-out stroke-player, he treated spectators to an audacious mixture of swashbuckling aggression and deft finesse. He now leads a pack of batsmen - Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds and Herschelle Gibbs - who have redefined batsmanship in their own way.
In an exclusive interview with IPLT20.COM, Lehmann spoke his heart out on his compatriots in the IPL, the big boys of his team and his new ‘lucky’ home ground.
Speaking on the thrilling 10-run win over Delhi Daredevils, Lehmann said, “Yeah two great games at home. We wanted to win both the games at home and we did it. I think Delhi Daredevils are a strong side and we just stole victory from them. I think that is the beauty of the format. We batted brilliantly but we didn’t bowl well as we would have liked first-up. But what we really did well was we batted well up-front. Our performances have been getting better, so that to me is more impressive.”
Lehmann expressed his delight that the seniors in the team have come good and taken all the pressure on themselves in crunch situations of the game. “Yeah, they all have been great. The good thing I like about them is that they hand-hold young kids and tell them about the game. They make sure that the youngsters in the side get to understand the game better and learn from their experiences. We are working hard to make these young cricketers better. The old guys keep standing for us in every game at the moment and that is great for us. Of course they can’t do it every time but I am confident that the example they have set on the field will inspire the youngsters to come good when required,” he said.
When asked about the ‘favourites tag’ in the tournament, Lehmann replied, “It is good feeling. But we are taking one game at a time. The spirits in the group are high and we know that if we stick to our basics then it will be really hard for the opponents to beat us.”
And what about his ‘Midas touch’?
“I really don’t know about that ‘Midas touch’ at all. It is just that we have got a very good team. I, as a coach, just make sure that they stick to the basics and the rest I leave up to them. I am a firm believer in the fact that if a team gets their basics right, then most of the time they will end up winning. In the first season it was Shane Warne for the Royals and then Adam Gilchrist followed him by winning the IPL trophy. Hopefully, my luck will continue and Deccan Chargers will lift the trophy this season,” he replied with a big smile.
Lehmann said that it was hard to strategise in such a fast paced format but most of the time his plans fall in place. “We always have a game plan and so far it had been holding out for us pretty well. It is still early days in the tournament but I hope that we continue to execute whatever we have planned. The end results will come our way. The only thing I expect from my team is that they should all stick to their natural game and get the basics right,” he said.
And hasn’t one of the strategies been to ask Gibbs to tone down his game and hang around so that others can play around him. “We spoke to him [Herschelle Gibbs] about his batting order [dropping] from the opening slot to the first down position. And he has been brilliant so far. He is evolving as a cricketer - I mean he is learning. He is confident about his game and he is enjoying his new role. When we lost a wicket today, he came out and took the pressure off Gilchrist and then Symonds. I think a big knock from either Gibbs or Symonds or may be Gilly at the top is round the corner. We are just doing the rights things at the right time,” he explained.
Lehmann further said that Indian Premier League is also a great platform for the youngsters to experience an international standard of cricket and pressure from the crowds. “Well you see he [Mitchell Marsh] is a young player. We are not pushing in the young players at the moment. We just need to wait for a while before a need arises and we require his services. He is a fine youngster. But as I said - it is about the whole squad and not about the individual,” he reiterated.
“The things Mitchell has learned as part of this development have been really critical. It gives kids the chance to play for their country, which they may never do again. And it also gives kids the chance to captain their country. They get the chance to play on the international stage. While we understand the benefits of domestic cricket, touring makes sure a player's career is rounded. It brings a whole new dimension of culture, which is the platform of our game,” he added.
What comes to his mind when he thinks about his next match against Rajasthan Royals? “Adam Voges is a good cricketer and Warnie (Shane Warne) is a class act. We just hope that we perform well when we face them,” he replied.
Lehmann’s tenure as coach has been a very successful one. Does anyone else impress him in IPL?
“Yeah there are quite a few in IPL. I think Ray Jennings has a fantastic cricketing brain and then there is Tom Moody and Dav Whatmore. Jennings has the ability to zero in on the weakness of the opposition in no time. I have been watching their bowlers bowl those rising, short of length balls and troubling the batsmen. The strategy worked well against Indian batsmen but for batting line-ups like that of the Deccan Chargers – it will be of no use. Gilly, Symmo and Gibbs have played that length all their lives. It is the other lengths that they [have to] adjust [to] and this is what they have [been] playing,” he said.
What
The big one. Mumbai Indians, looking to make amends for the loss against RCB clash with Kolkata Knight Riders in the hunt for a redeeming win after the big defeat against Rajasthan.
When
March 22, 2010, 8 pm
Where
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. With the previous encounters being absolute run-fests, it would be no surprise to see another match with close to a total of 350 runs being scored. Though the pitch favours the bowling side, it will be worth watching how many runs and wickets the pitch will conjure.
The Protagonists
The Mumbai Indians are still seething after their batting collapse against their previous opponents, the Royal Challengers Bangalore. They would want to put it behind them by winning this one and staying in the top half of the table. With big hitters like Pollard, Jayasuriya and Bravo, their side also has a good mixture of youth in the form of Rayudu, Saurabh Tiwary and Aditya Tare.
The Kolkata Knight Riders would be rueing the fact that their last match was a defeat caused by their inability to hit big when it mattered. The evergreen Dada is yet to find his feet, but with the likes of Chris Gayle, Owais Shah and Angelo Mathews, the team could cause some serious damage. Their bowling side, on the other hand, is now bolstered by the return of Shane Bond and Ishant Sharma.
What next?
Since both sides were beaten comprehensively by their respective opponents in their last match, they would want to bounce back strongly. Both teams have failed to make it to the top four in the last two editions of the tournament. Expect some serious action in this one, as former India openers Sourav and Sachin lock horns in a battle of wits.
“Things look a little ominous for Kolkata at the moment and they need to stem the rot in the next game itself. The team looks like it is hesitant and afraid to lose and perhaps the entry of Gayle will change the momentum for them,” wrote Steve Waugh in The Times of India.
“I was very happy to get the team and hope that the company will serve the country as it has done in the past in different fields of sports,” Subrata Roy, Chairman , Sahara Indian Parivar, told The Times of India. “A few Indian cricketers had suggested that Sahara should buy an IPL team. Since we share an emotional bond with these players, we had to buy a team. Soon, we will start planning and by September everything will be in place for sure,” he added.
“We take on the Mumbai Indians in our next game. They have also suffered a defeat at the hands of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Our contest against Sachin and company will be interesting, as both the teams will be desperate to get back to winning ways,” wrote Kolkata Knight Riders captain Sourav Ganguly in the Hindustan Times, on the eve of their match against the Mumbai Indians.
“Deccan Chargers skipper Adam Gilchrist today appreciated the expansion of the Indian Premier League matches,” published the Indian Express. "It is good that IPL is expanding. Good substances will come up by this," it quoted Gilchrist as saying. “He said passion for cricket in India was the prime factor behind expansion of IPL matches and added the Deccan Chargers played a good game at Barabati,” it added.
Toss Report: MI vs KKR
Mumbai: Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Sourav Ganguly has won the toss and elected to bat against Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium on Monday.
Ganguly called correctly and instantly made his decision known. ``It looks like a good deck. It might to do a bit later on. It is important to have runs on the board. We have lost two games, but there is a long way to go in the tournament,'' he said.
Chris Gayle will finally play in the tournament. He will replace Brad Hodge. Also sitting out is Manoj Tiwary, who makes way for Harpreet Singh. ``It's really unfortunate that we have to leave out Brad Hodge because he has done really well for us. But we can only play four overseas players,'' Ganguly told commentator Pommie Mbangwa at the toss.
Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar was happy to bowl first. ``We would have bowled first,'' he said. The Mumbai Indians have made a couple of changes to their playing XI as well. Sanath Jayasuriya has been rested and Ryan McLaren has been included. Also playing in place of an injured Ambati Rayudu is Shikhar Dhawan.
``I am very happy with the depth in my squad. We have some real talent on the bench. Unfortunately only 11 can play,'' said Tendulkar while chatting with commentator Michael Kasprowicz.
Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians
Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Ryan McLaren, Aditya Tare (wk), Saurabh Tiwary, Shikhar Dhawan, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Rajagopal Sathish, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga
Kolkata Knight Riders
Sourav Ganguly (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, Shane Bond, Murali Kartik, Chris Gayle, Harpreet Singh, Owais Shah, Mandeep Singh
Chennai: Kumar Sangakkara was a proud skipper as he spoke after Kings XI Punjab scored a memorable win over Chennai Super Kings.
Excerpts:
On the victory
Yeah! Every game was important to us, including the three that we lost. But we were in great positions in those games. In this one, I think we came from behind to really steal [the win] at the end and the team responded well to the pressure and to the expectations to got out there and win.
On Juan Theron's bowling
I thought he bowled unbelievably well. He was just off the plane and that was exactly what we were looking for from him. It’s nice to see that he kept it very simple and trusted his strengths and he delivered. So did Yuvraj [Singh] for us ... he batted magnificently in the two innings that he had. And credit goes to everyone out there ... the fielders who backed the bowlers up. Piyush Chawla and Ramesh Powar, who was brought in especially for this game. He really responded ... Shalabh [Srivastava], Irfan [Pathan], everyone who bowled really did the job for us.
On Mahela Jaywardene’s batting in Super Over
I don't think it was surprising to our camp, because he is one of the guys who rotates the ball. He has got great skills and touch, deflections. He is very good on the short ball, great against spin. So he is the kind of guy as a lynchpin, so that players like Yuvraj [Singh] and Irfan [Pathan] can express themselves.
On Murali bowling Super Over
No, I think we were expecting that. He bowled brilliantly in this game. It’s good for Sri Lankan cricket that he is back to his best, but not for Kings XI Punjab. So we expected him to do really well. And we expected him to bowl the Super Over, it was a wicket that was difficult to play spin on.
On whether he thought the win was possible
No, at the start of the 20th over, I thought we will win this. There was a lucky little edge that went through [off the] first ball. Then a couple of singles [were] sneaked. But you know the last two balls – a lot of credit to Irfan [Pathan] for holding his nerve and then bowling those balls in the right place. And you know once that catch was taken we were hoping for a Super Over, when the scores were tied. So it was good that it happened.
On the win
Well, we have got to get our heads around the fact that we won this game by not really playing to our best ability. So there is a lot more that we can offer the team as individuals. Those are things we kind of get from the players and we can only get better from here. As performances go, you are never sure of a win in Twenty20. But what you can ensure is that you [are disciplined] and you perform consistently well. And that puts you in great position to win games.
On Yuvraj Singh
My personal view of Yuvraj is that he is one of the best stroke-players I have ever seen playing cricket. You know batsmen like that, sometimes they do come a cropper trying to deliver for the side. But today was an example when he went in, soaked up the pressure in two instances and did the hard work for the side. I think it’s great to have him with that attitude, coming back into form. And we are just expecting him to get better and better. But to me always Yuvraj has been that one player who can win games, change games. But at the same time as a side you must understand there are six other batsmen to support each other and score the runs. One of them, including Yuvraj, might not have a great outing, might fail once or twice, but then that's why there are other batsmen in the side to deliver. So when [they] have that confidence in each other and that trust, you will find that batting sides do really well.
Chennai: Kings XI Punjab coach Tom Moody was calm and collected in his reactions to his team’s famous win over Chennai Super Kings.
Excerpts:
On how the side lifted themselves after losing three games
Look, the most difficult thing is obviously momentum. In this form of the game, you need to get momentum which gives you confidence to play with a free spirit. The most successful players in the format are the players who play without the fear of failure. And when you have had a couple of setbacks as a team, you know it is a battle to recapture that momentum and that fear of failure. Tonight's win is a significant win for Kings XI Punjab because they have climbed that hill of fear and hopefully they won't look back from this point.
On the bowling
We have been inconsistent with bat and ball. And that's one of the reasons we've dropped three games. It was good as Kumar [Sangakkara] said we adjusted well and adapted to the conditions here. We knew that the conditions were probably going to favour spin. With Chennai having four left-handers in their top six, we felt it was important to bring back Powar into our line-up and he bowled very well. [Juan] Theron, to do what he did, given he only landed 12 hours [earlier] … not quite 12 ... but not so long ago, it was a credit to him. We have hopefully got players coming back into the side, coming back into the contention, once they get past some fitness hurdles. So hopefully we go from strength to strength.
On Shaun Marsh joining the squad
Yeah! Shaun's arrived in India. We will be seeing him tomorrow. He is in Chandigarh now. So he is ready to go - fit. But again he, like all the other players that currently aren't in the XI, will have to find their way back into the side. It’s not going to be an [easy] walk back into the side. Shaun's form two years ago was awesome. But that was two years ago and we hope when he gets his opportunity, whether it’s Wednesday or whenever, he recaptures that form.
Chennai: After the long wait, the announcement has finally been made – the Indian Premier League is to expand to 10 franchises with the addition of the Pune and Kochi franchises from the 2011 season onwards.
The Sahara Adventure Sports Group has won the Pune bid at USD 370 million while the Rendezvous Sports World Limited has landed the Kochi bid at USD 333.33 million.
The announcement was made at noon in Chennai by IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi. Tenders had been floated on March 7 inviting bids for two new franchises.
Teams were earlier to be announced on March 7, following a tender process that had been put in place in February. The process was, however, cancelled and some of the requisites for bidders tweaked.
Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar was all praise for the new development. He said, “It’s fantastic that two new teams have come in, it will give more youngsters an opportunity to show their talent and that's only going to be good for Indian cricket. The youngsters will not only come into national focus but international focus as well”
When asked about the pitfalls of franchises being city-specific he said, “It doesn't matter from which city they [franchises] are, we have seen in the past that a player doesn't have to be from a particular city. The franchise can pick him from any where.”
And what are his thoughts on the new franchises? “Pune has always been a sporting city, Kochi has always been an athletic and football[-oriented] city. Now with cricket coming in with the IPL, it will only continue to be more good news,” he said.
What
The Deccan Chargers prepare to host their second home match against the Delhi Daredevils
When
Sunday, March 21, 4pm
Where
The Deccan Chargers, having broken their home jinx in India, would be playing another match at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. This time as well the stadium looks set to be the venue for a run-fest.
The Protagonists
The Deccan Chargers, having won their last two matches, would be looking to continue their winning rhythm and will try to make it three in a row. Gibbs, Symonds and Gilchrist are men whose mere mention sends shudders down any bowler’s spine. With RP Singh, Vaas, and the yet to be played Kemar Roach, the defending champions seem invincible on paper.
The Delhi Daredevils are no coy customers themselves. Two losses for them would mean nothing compared to the morale-boosting return of their captain Gautam Gambhir from a hamstring injury. Warner, Sehwag and Dilshan are capable of decimating any bowling attack. Aussie southpaw Dirk Nannes looks in destructive touch and Faraveez Maharoof is still in the hunt for the Purple Cap.
What next?
One team has won two matches in a row, and the other has lost two matches in a row, so both need the win for altogether different reasons. A win would keep the Deccan Chargers in the top four of the table, and a win for the Daredevils would lift them from the bottom four.
Press Release
For Immediate Publication
Vinay, Steyn script Bangalore Royal Challengers seven wicket win over Mumbai Indians
Match Report: Match-14: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, 20th March 2010.
Mumbai, March 20: Bangalore Royal Challengers quelled the challenge of the Mumbai Indians by seven wickets to cruise to their third successive victory in Match 14 of the IPL 2010 at Brabourne Stadium here today. Bangalore Royal Challengers chased down the moderate target of 152 in 19.1 overs. Earlier Dale Styen (3/26) and D Vinay Kumar (3/25) schemed and plotted the downfall of the Mumbai Indians and Orange Cap holder Jacques Kallis (66 not out off 55 balls, 10x4), the tournament’s highest scorer with 264 runs, guided Bangalore Royal Challengers home for a comfortable win and to the top of the leader board with six points.
Earlier, Mumbai Indians highly rated batting was made to work hard for runs from the start as only 37 runs came from the first five overs. Sanath Jayasuriya was back in the pavilion in the second over itself. South African fast bowler Dale Steyn, who worked up good pace, caught the 40-year-old Lankan left-hander napping by having him leg before with his third ball. Steyn (3/26) and Praveen Kumar were spot on from the word go. Even the mighty Sachin Tendulkar could not break free as the bowling was tight. Although a legitimate leg glance boundary off Praveen Kumar was denied by umpire Sanjay Hazare, the Mumbai Indian skipper got three successive boundaries off Steyn’s second over. Aditya Tare of the Mumbai Indians was the second wicket to fall at 36, when he attempted to play a feeble pull shot off the wily Kallis to be caught at short mid-wicket.
Saurabh Tiwary (25 off 21 balls), who came into the match with two successive half-centuries, could not get his third when veteran Anil Kumble out thought the left-hander with a well-disguised googly. Ambati Rayudu survived a confident lbw shout off Kumble, the bowler clearly unhappy with Kumara Dharmasena’s decision. But the Hyderabadi Ranji player was out next over, caught behind to the hard-working Vinay Kumar. His half-hearted cut was held by Mark Boucher. Vinay Kumar cherished the next wicket. This time it was the big scalp of Tendulkar (25 off 22 balls), who exposed his stumps for a pull shot, missed it completely to be bowled. Three balls later West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was plumb in front to give Vinay three wickets in his third over. The Bangalore Royal Challengers were on top stifling the Mumbai Indians batting for runs with the score on 76/6 in 11 overs. Vinay Kumar completed his dream spell of 4-0-25-3.
Rajagopal Satish and Kieron Pollard, the latest Mumbai Indians recruit, revived their teams hopes with a 47-run stand for the seventh wicket. But Steyn, brought back for his final over, dealt a double blow by dismissing both the batsmen in one over. The fiery Steyn forced Pollard to play straight to Virat Kohli at deep covers and then Rahul Dravid pulled off a splendid catch at mid-wicket to send back Satish. It was not an abject surrender by Mumbai Indian batsmen, as much as it was a disciplined bowling effort by the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The Mumbai Indians eventually reached 151/9 in 20 overs thanks to nine-ball 23 by number ten batsman Zaheer Khan.
The Royal Challengers opening pair of Manish Pandey (40 off 27 balls) and Jacques Kallis put on 85, which pretty much ensured the end for the Mumbai Indians, who got their first break through in the 10th over. It was too late as Royal Challengers Bangalore then romped home in style with the loss of Pandey, Robin Uthappa and Virat Kohli’s wickets.
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What
The Chennai Super Kings look to win their first game at home against a Kings XI Punjab who have lost their first three matches in a row
When
Sunday, March 21, 8pm
Where
MA Chidambaram Stadium. The Stadium played host to the Chennai Super Kings in their first match. CSK faithfuls would be hoping for nothing less than a victory to keep them in the top four of the table.
The Protagonists
Chennai Super Kings are still missing their captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni due to an injury, but appear to be at great ease and comfort with Raina handling the reins of the team. The Super Kings, even without their talismanic Dhoni, are a formidable unit.
Hayden, Raina and Kemp are batsmen who wield the willow like an axe, and in Morkel, Gony, Muralidaran and Balaji, they have bowlers who can get the ball to spit fire and dance in any way they please.
The Kings XI Punjab side is desperately looking for their first win in the tournament. No department lacks in firepower. Yuvraj, Sangakkara and Jayawardene are batsmen who can turn the tide of any match, while Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan and Piyush Chawla have what it takes to come out on top.
What next?
It’s an upper versus lower half of the table clash here. The Chennai Super Kings would want to continue with their winning ways, after comprehensively defeating the Knight Riders and the Daredevils in Kolkata and Delhi respectively.
The Kings XI Punjab are desperately looking to end their losing rut. Irfan Pathan’s heroics in the last match almost got them over the line, but sensible bowling changes by Gilchrist in the death over tilted the balance back in the favour of his side. Adrian Barath is back in the side for them, but the services of Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh and James Hopes are still missing. The Kings would be looking to fire on all cylinders to break their losing streak and fuel their semi-final hopes.
Ladies have a field day at IPL. More women are watching the IPL than ever before,” reported The Times of India. The report was based on a media research by Television Audience Measurement (TAM) that showed female viewership for IPL 2010 had grown four per cent from last year. The research says 38% of all IPL viewers this time round are female. That means roughly 6.68 million screaming female fans.
Where others have failed, Vaas has succeeded. The left- hander has brought his experience into play and kept it pretty simple,” wrote Sunil Gavaskar in the Hindustan Times. Discussing how bowlers falter while trying too many variations too outsmart the batsman, he wrote, “Vaas differs here because even when he bowls a slower delivery it is partially slower than his normal speed.”
“The role of DJs at the IPL games is gaining importance by the day. The better the timing and choice of the numbers, the more thrill the spectators get. At the CCI on Saturday, the crowd was kept on its feet right throughout and the numbers played were welcomed big time,” reported The Times of India.
“It’s like a dream come true... My first MoM award in the IPL and it’s against the KKR... In fact, this match will always remain special,” Abhishek Jhunjhunwala said to The Telegraph. Knowing the opposition so well, I could, of course, plan my innings better.”
Appreciating Suresh Raina’s captaincy against Delhi Daredevils, Stephen Fleming wrote in The Times of India, “I have to say Suresh (Raina) was excellent, from the captaining point of view. It was hard work for Suresh but he was calm and composed. He is definitely a future captain material, and this is part of what the IPL is about to help develop the Indian players, and if we can do that, then it’s another feather in Chennai’s cap.”
Speaking about Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach Wasim Akram, Kiwi pacer Shane Bond told The Telegraph, “He’s brilliant... I’m sure there will be things to learn.” He added, “I’m driven by my own expectations, not the expectations of others... I wanted to be the world’s No.1 fast bowler and worked towards that goal.”
“Fans are awe-struck with Matthew Hayden and his Mongoose bat following his 43-ball blitz on Friday night at the Feroz Shah Kotla and they look forward to another exhilarating experience from the opening batsman when Chennai Super Kings play the host to cellar-dwellers Kings XI Punjab here today,” published the Gulf News.
Toss Report: DC vs DD
Cuttack: Adam Gilchrist, captain of the Deccan Chargers, won the toss and has elected to bat first at the Barabati Stadium here.
Talking about the pitch, Gilly said, “It is the same wicket we used on Friday night. The wicket here is good.” He was happy about the crowd support the team has received at Cuttack and said that it had become a home away from home. Gilchrist’s opening partner VVS Laxman has been left out of the playing XI due to an injury.
Delhi Daredevils’ stand-in captain Dinesh Karthik felt the wicket looked good. He said, “It's a good wicket to bat on. I have played here before so I know the wicket quite well.” He was okay with losing the toss as he felt it was a good opportunity for bowlers to come good. The Delhi Daredevils have also made some changes, leaving out Tillakaratne Dilshan for Moises Henriques.
Starting XI
Deccan Chargers
Adam Gilchrist (captain & wk), Andrew Symonds, Venugopal Rao, Chaminda Vaas, Herschelle Gibbs, Rahul Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, RP Singh, T Suman, Monish Mishra
Delhi Daredevils
Dinesh Karthik (captain & wk), Virender Sehwag, David Warner, Moises Henriques, AB de Villiers, Mithun Manhas, Amit Mishra, Dirk Nannes, Yogesh Nagar, Umesh Yadav, Sarabjeet Ladda
On whether he was lucky to get Sachin’s wicket
Not really, actually. We had a plan where we concentrated [our attention] around Sachin [Tendulkar] and [Sanath] Jayasuriya’s wicket and we got Jayasuriya’s wicket early. Then I just bowled to my strengths. On Indian wickets if you compare [them with overseas wickets], only if you bowl variations can you get batsmen out. If you bowl normal [deliveries] then it will be difficult for a bowler to get wickets.
On what the turning point of the game was
In that over I took three wickets and from there on the match turned, I think. In the first or second over, Dale Steyn took Jayasuriya’s wicket - that also was a turning point because he is a very hard-hitting batsman. Once he went, the pressure obviously was on Sachin and then Sachin fell later. In the end, Zaheer played really well otherwise the target would have been around 130-135 runs.
On Dale Steyn and Praveen Kumar
Steyn has pace - he bowls quick and Praveen has swing. Bowling first they take care of the batsmen and after that I come and just stick to my basics. So we have a very good bowling attack, initially those two then [Jacques] Kallis who bowls well too.
On Kumble’s captaincy
Yeah, he puts a lot of energy in the players. In the team meetings he really backs you, and if you have one or two bad overs, then he will come and talk to you. That pep talk works and the bowlers do well.
On whether there was a bowling strategy
Yeah, actually we had a plan like bowling more to the centre of the stumps because most of the Indian batsmen are not that comfortable playing in-swingers. This time we had plans.
On the feeling after winning three matches
It has been great. We lost the first match but after that we won the next three matches, so it is a nice feeling.
Toss Report: CSK vs KXIP
Chennai: Chennai Super Kings’ stand-in captain Suresh Raina has won the toss and elected to field first against Kings XI Punjab.
Raina was enthused by the Chennai crowd support. He said, “It’s always good to play here.” On the quality of the pitch and his decision to bowl first, he said, “It looks really good. But the dew factor would take effect here later.”
Kumar Sangakkara, Kings XI Punjab captain, said that the new entrant in the team, South African Rusty Theron, would be in the playing XI. Sangakkara expressed dissatisfaction about the team not coming through with wins after putting themselves in winning positions. He said that he would also have decided to field first, had he won the toss. “Now we will look to put up a good total and get a good start. Bat for 20 overs and then defend it,” he said.
Playing XI
Chennai Super Kings
Suresh Raina (captain), Matthew Hayden, Murali Vijay, Parthiv Patel (wk), R Ashwin, Subramaniam Badrinath, Muttiah Muralidaran, M Gony, Justin Kemp, L Balaji, Albie Morkel
Kings XI Punjab
Kumar Sangakkara (captain and wk), Irfan Pathan, Mahela Jayawardene, Manvinder Bisla, Mohammed Kaif, Piyush Chawla, Romesh Powar, Ravi Bopara, Juan Theron, S Srivastava, Yuvraj Singh
Match: Deccan Chargers vs Delhi Daredevils
When: March 21, 2010, 4 pm
Where: Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
Who won: Deccan Chargers
How: By 10 runs
Man-of-the-match: Andrew Symonds
MVP of the match: Andrew Symonds
What’d he do?: What would the Chargers do without him? The Aussie was at his all-round best in the match. Three wickets with the ball and 35 runs with the bat, Symonds once again proved to be the match-winner for the Chargers.
Turning point: Match clincher. Andrew Symonds did just that, plucking the ball from thin air effecting a caught and bowled to get the crucial wicket of Daredevils captain Dinesh Karthik in the 19th over of the DD innings.
Longest hit: Adam Gilchrist is no stranger to clearing the ropes, but even Gilly would be proud of this particular effort, where he went on one knee to smash the ball over the square leg boundary.
Innovative stroke: Moises Henriques didn’t deserve what he got - Rohit Sharma shuffled across his stumps and delicately lifted the ball over backward square leg for a sublime six.
Dot-ball hero: He can do no wrong at the moment - Chaminda Vaas bowled brilliantly to accumulate 11 dot balls, other than a vital wicket.
Captain vs Captain: Delhi Daredevils captain Dinesh Karthik could almost taste victory, but Symonds’ timely intervention took victory away from the away side. Karthik himself almost turned it around for his side making a quick-fire 46, but it wasn’t enough. On the other hand, Gilchrist gave the Chargers a customary blazing start. Although it didn’t last long, it was enough for the Chargers to sneak home the win.
Off-beat moment: After dropping Dinesh Karthik off the earlier ball to the disgust of bowler Andrew Symonds, RP Singh made sure he hung on to a dolly off the very next ball to dismiss Moises Henriques. The relief on Singh’s face was evident.
Moment of the day: No one knew what got into AB de Villiers as the normally refined South African tried to swipe a Rahul Sharma full toss over the boundary, only to see the ball completely miss the bat and make contact with his off stump.
It’s official – IPL 2010 has been proclaimed a ratings success in the United Kingdom for ITV’s digital channel ITV4.
Despite the continued suspicion of Twenty20 cricket amongst the ‘purists’, as well as England’s own ongoing Test series with Bangladesh – contributing to a lack of English representation in the tournament up to now – the early signs indicate the IPL is starting to seep into the British consciousness.
Viewing figures released for the opening three days showed a peak average of more than 400,000 per broadcast – 10 times that of the figure generated by Setanta, who covered IPL 2 in the UK.
It may still be early days but the signs are encouraging – particularly with the quality of cricket showing no sign of diminishing as the tournament progresses.
Naturally the Asian ex-pat audience in Britain will have boosted the popularity of ITV4’s coverage and it is this section of the population that has proven most difficult to capture for local broadcasters.
The IPL offers fans a concoction of cricket and Bollywood that has proven irresistible to Indians, in particular, both in the stands at various stadia and in the comfort of their homes throughout the world.
British television is beginning to see the viability of such a product through the first set of BARB (Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board) figures registered.
For the record, they were:
Friday 12th March: 479,000
Saturday 13th March: 402,000
Sunday 14th March: 401,000
The numbers above exclude ITV4+1's ratings and any recorded elements viewed later.
ITV4 have taken care to appeal to both the indigenous and ex-pat audiences through their choice of presenters. Matt Smith provides a familiar face to sports fans through his work in football and a variety of other sports, while actress and model Mandira Bedi offers the Bollywood glamour.
Bedi has been afforded the most prominent UK televisual role given to a woman for a major cricket tournament, yet her presence is not something that will seem unfamiliar to those who have followed the game in India.
Pundits have so far ranged from Graham Thorpe and Alec Stewart to John Emburey and Graeme Hick, with more set to follow over the coming weeks as the appeal grows.
Bedi and Smith play the part of passionate cricket followers keen to learn more from those who have been there and done that.
Hick’s explanation of why the Mongoose bat has proved such an effective weapon for Matthew Hayden, for example, is a necessary ingredient in looking beyond the raw statistics of the game.
With further big names poised to join the IPL fray over the next few weeks – Kevin Pietersen chief among them – the gathering ITV4 throng looks set to hit the duffers for six a few more times before the end of April is out.
Immediate Publication
Symonds powers Deccan Chargers to a 10-run win over Delhi Daredevils
Match Report: Match-15: Deccan Chargers Hyderabad vs Delhi Daredevils at Barbati Stadium, Cuttack, 21st March 2010
Cuttack, March 21: Man of the match Andrew Symonds (35 off 24 balls and 3/21) powered Deccan Chargers past the Delhi Daredevils’ by 10 runs in Match 15 of the IPL 2010 at Barbati Stadium here today.
This was the Deccan Chargers second successive win at their home away from home in Cuttack, as they successfully defended 171 restricting the Delhi Daredevils to 161/9. Delhi Daredevils lost their third match on the trot while this was Deccan Chargers’ third win in a row that put them in second position in the league table.
The Deccan Chargers captured the big scalp that of Virender Sehwag in the fourth over. Sehwag, overshadowed by Warner, made a seven-ball three. He was caught at long off, by a beautifully judged low catch taken by Herschelle Gibbs off Pragyan Ojha.
Pocket dynamo David Warner smashed 33-ball 57 (4x4, 4x4) before he was run out by a throw from short fine leg by RP Singh while AB de Villiers missed a full toss to be bowled by Rahul Sharma for 27. Deccan Chargers bounced back into the match by taking the wickets of Mithun Manhas (good catch by Suman in the deep) and Moises Henriques. Dinesh Karthik kept Delhi Daredevils’ hopes alive with a 27-ball 46 (4x4, 2x6) but Andrew Symonds swung the match in Deccan Chargers’s favour by taking the wickets of Karthik and Amit Mishra off successive deliveries. Vaas bowled a great last over to seal the win for the Deccan Chargers.
Earlier, Karthik made a surprise move by making Amit Mishra open the attack and the leg spinner obliged the Delhi Daredevils skipper in the first over itself. Mishra bowled Madhya Pradesh Ranji opener Mohnish Mishra, who came in place of the injured VVS Laxman, with a googly in the fourth ball of the innings. Deccan Chargers skipper Gilchrist (24; 14 balls, 4x4, 1x6) made yet another explosive start. Sarabhjit Ladda, the second leg spinner, got into act and he got a big wicket. The left-hander top-edged a googly to be caught in the off side by wicketkeeper Karthik.
Herschelle Gibbs, who survived a run out chance, hit a 26-ball 31 (2x4, 2x6). But ths South African innings was cut short, thanks to a fine catch at backward point by Australian all rounder Henriques, who came in place of out-of-form TM Dilshan. The aggressive Symonds (35; 24 balls, 3x4, 2x6), who has been among runs, looked good for another 50 but Henriques had him caught at short covers and Deccan Charges were reduced to 103/4.
However, Rohit Sharma and T Suman were associated in a 60-run stand for the fifth wicket. Sharma played a hard-hitting and fast-paced innings for his 30-ball 45 (3x4, 3x6) before he was out in the 19th over. Suman stayed till the end to score another useful 19-ball 29 (3x4, 1x6) as the Deccan Chargers put up a competitive 171/6. Y Venugopala Rao was included in the team for the first time. He came in place of Anirudh Singh.
For the first time, left-arm seamer Dirk Nannes proved expensive as he finished 4-0-39-1. Amit Mishra, who did not bowl his fourth, had 1 for 12 in three overs.
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Mumbai: The fun has just begun with IPL 2010 already 10 games old. A big weekend awaits us with all top teams clashing. But before we look ahead, let’s rewind a little. IPLT20.com looks back at some of the most interesting moments from the first week of the tournament.
Dada charging Ishant - a sight to behold: Right after the last ball bowled by Ishant Sharma, Sourav Ganguly charges towards Ishant and jumps on him as KKR beat defending champions Deccan Chargers. Scenes from the Natwest Trophy Final, with dada whirling his jersey, came flooding back to memory. Hail the Prince of Kolkata!
Yusuf, you beauty: The second match saw one of the most breath-taking innings of IPL 2010 as the Baroda Bomb exploded at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Royals’ Yusuf Pathan went ballistic scoring a blistering 100 of just 37 balls. He was about to snatch victory from the hands of Mumbai Indians who were relaxing after having scored 212 runs when he got run-out.
Sree let’s the ball do the talking: In the third match, Sreesanth made the ball talk as he first snapped the wicket of Sehwag and then got Dilshan scooping one to the fielder at mid-wicket. With the seam falling perfectly, he was soon seen working up good pace and even shared stern looks with Gambhir, de Villiers and Karthik. The Sreesanth of old was back and running quick, a welcome sight for Indian cricket.
Celeb Watch: The celebrity quotient of IPL games just keeps on increasing. The audiences saw some of the most popular stars at the games. So if Shahrukh Khan turned up for KKR, Nita Ambani and Anjali Tendulkar cheered the Mumbai Indians; Deepika Padukone chatted with Siddharth Mallya while Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra gave the Rajasthan boys all their support.
When the stars come down: Most IPL teams did not have their full strength teams to start with as some of the stars were busy with their international commitments. Those who have joined in so far are – Shane Bond, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle and those who are still being missed are Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Kemar Roach, Andrew Flintoff, Brendon McCullum and Kevin Pietersen.
The future’s bright, the future’s blue: Every year the IPL throws up some new names to watch out for. This year is no different with Saurabh Tiwary, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Manvinder Bisla and lots more already doing the rounds. To see these stars play bowlers like Warne, Kumble, Steyn, Bond and hit them with such disdain definitely augurs well for Team India. Tiwary and Rayudu especially have impressed a lot of people. Manvinder Bisla from KXIP was seen slamming Kumble out of the ground on two occasions. The future of Indian cricket is in good hands.
Beaming at the batsmen: The DC versus CSK match had a few off-beat moments as Sudeep Tyagi was taken off the attack having bowled two beamers at the batsmen. One of the top bowlers for CSK last time around, Tyagi seemed to be rusty giving away 39 runs off just 1.5 overs. After going for 18 runs in his first over Dhoni brought the youngster back to redeem himself but he disappointed giving away 21 runs off 5 balls.
Tendlya is King in all formats: Mumbai versus Delhi, a traditional rivalry which will never die out. The passion was there for all to see as Sachin Tendulkar went about demolishing the Daredevils attack striking at almost 200 scoring 62 off 32 balls. Sachin seemed to be in a very punishing mood as he walked down to bowlers, played around with the field, hitting bowlers to literally all corners of the ground. It was a pity that he got out before scoring his first in Twenty20 hundred.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Yogesh Nagar!: A blinder, a miracle, one that you would go miles to watch. Yogesh Nagar pulled off an absolute cracker of a catch. Diving backwards and completely airborne, Nagar put his hand out and grabbed one at mid-off to dismiss Jayasuriya in the DD vs MI game. Undoubtedly, the catch of IPL 2010 so far.
Triple treat: It’s the first hat-trick of IPL 2010. Praveen Kumar destroyed the Rajasthan Royals in the tenth match of the tournament with a spine breaking spell. Royals were looking to up the ante as Praveen Kumar came in to the attack. Kumar bowled with purpose starting with the perfect yorker getting rid of Damien Martyn. He then bowled a good shorter one to debutant Sumit Narwal who top-edged it to be caught by a juggling Manish Pandey at fine leg. And the third, the best of the lot, was a clever slower bouncer to Paras Dogra rattling his stumps and with it, the Rajasthan Royals’ confidence.
The first week of IPL has gone by and I have enjoyed every minute of it. When I look back, there have been quite a few defining moments of the tournament thus far.
But I think the way Jacques Kallis has batted, he has shown how to build an innings. Even though in the Twenty20 format it does come off very quickly, the composure shown by Kallis has been amazing. Then you have the Indian legends in Tendulkar and Sehwag who just prove what an exciting concept Twenty20 cricket is. I think the IPL just proves what the T20 format can showcase if you have all the talent enjoyed by all.
Then we have seen a couple of really good catches also through the matches.
But I think as a former fast bowler, Dirk Nannes’ spell in the earlier game in Ahmadabad stood out for me. The way he bowled with figures of 2-12 was outstanding. We haven't seen too many fast bowlers get much joy in this series at this stage but I hope Dirk hasn't probably has saved his best for first, used his best bowling in the first match.
There is so much good cricket happening that defining five best moments is damn near impossible. But that innings by Yusuf Pathan to get the Rajasthan Royals so close to winning down in Mumbai, that’s probably got to be number one moment of the week.
I have not been surprised by the nature of pitches on offer during the tournament, not at all. I think that is what we are going to get. Good, flat, hard wickets that encourage the batsmen to go and play all their shots.
But we will find the way that the batsmen are enjoying great form right now, the bowlers too will begin to bowl with skill, and use a bit of tactics now that they have seen some of the players, the way they play. They certainly will adjust and I am looking forward to that stage.
But the way the likes of Virender Sehwag, Yusuf Pathan, Matthew Hayden and the others are batting, I am glad I am not bowling. It is certainly much easier up here in the commentary box.
Media Release For Immediate Publishing
IPL and Topps partner to introduce exciting and new Trading Card Game
Topps Company Inc., is the world leader in sports and entertainment collectables
New Delhi, March 19, 2010: The Indian Premier League and Topps Company, Inc., a leader in sports and entertainment collectables worldwide, today announced a long term partnership to launch a range of exciting and new collectable products and trading cards for the IPL in 2011. Topps has been the market leader for collectable trading cards since inventing the modern trading card in 1952.
As part of this association, Topps will introduce a range of IPL collectables that will include stickers, albums and trading cards, which will be sold both at retail and digitally. Topps will support the partnership with a substantial marketing campaign, including TV and sampling initiatives as well as a nationwide ‘Game Play demonstration tour’, which will allow children to play and swap their IPL collectables.
Sundar Raman, Chief Operating Officer, Indian Premier League, said, “This alliance with Topps – the world leader in collectables, is part of our effort to actively engage IPL fans across multiple platforms. Collectable trading cards are an integral part of any fan experience globally and through this partnership we are happy to introduce Indian fans to this unique and exciting global concept. There have been numerous instances where collectable trading cards of famous players have become invaluable to their owners. I am certain that this association with Topps will set a trend in world cricket for others to follow.”
Michael Eisner, Chairman, Topps further added, "Topps trading cards and stickers are, around the globe, an integral part of the history and heritage of many sports. Our relationship with the IPL today marks the start of a new era for IPL cricket fans that will enable them to connect with their sport, their team and their heroes through the medium of Topps products. The IPL is the most successful and exciting sports league to have been launched in the last 20 years and I am thrilled that Topps will be part of it".
Chris Rodman, Topps Vice President said, “The Topps business has, like the IPL, has been built on creativity, innovation & dynamism and it is these skills that we will harness in generating mass consumer appeal for an exciting range of IPL collectables. Few properties in the world can rival the IPL for passion and interest and when this is allied to Topps trading cards and stickers we are confident in building a long term franchise that will benefit IPL cricket fans around the globe.”
Headquartered in New York, Topps distributes throughout the world via a network of international offices. The company has sold more trading cards in the world than anyone else. Topps’ English Premier League Match Attax trading card product is the world’s most successful sports trading card.
Besides the English Premier League, Topps offers a wide range of both sport and entertainment collectables including products featuring the Bundesliga football, Serie A football, Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Start Wars, Ben 10 and Disney’s Club Penguin.
About Topps Company, Inc.
Topps is an international marketer of entertainment products, principally collectible trading cards, confections, sticker collections, and collectible strategy games.
The Topps Company was founded in 1938 as Topps Chewing Gum, and in its early years produced a popular penny "Topps Gum" from a factory in Brooklyn, N.Y. After World War II, the company developed Bazooka Bubble Gum, and in 1950, added trading cards to its product line. Baseball cards appeared in 1951 and quickly became a vital part of pop culture, a tradition that continues to this day, and includes football (both American and European) and basketball, in addition to entertainment cards and stickers and albums. In July 2003, Topps acquired WizKids, LLC a designer and marketer of collectible strategy games. Topps was acquired in October 2007 by Madison Dearborn Partners, a private equity group, and Michael Eisner, former CEO of Disney. Now headquartered in New York City, Topps maintains offices in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, and Argentina, in addition to the U.S.
Topps also manufactures the popular lollipop brands marketed as Ring Pops, Push Pops, Baby Bottle Pops and other novelty candy and gum products.
For more information contact:
Percy Dubash / Jitendra Jha
Adfactors PR
Tel: +919820221792 / +919920829216
Ravi Shastri
It's trivial but Delhi Daredevils ought to look at it carefully. They were simply blown away in front of the home crowd by Mumbai Indians the other night. It was a game in which they conceded 17 extras - the most in the tournament so far.
They are also the only team to have conceded double-digit runs as extras in another game. A team with serious ambition of crossing the line in the trophy stakes this year, the Daredevils can't allow it to become a norm.
Against Mumbai, there were as many as 11 wides and two no- balls. Most of these wides slipped past the radar of wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik and crossed the ropes behind. Okay, the Mumbai Indians made a record total, so these transgressions can be explained.
But against the Kings XI Punjab, the Daredevils again gave away 13 runs in extras, including five wides. Am I making too much out of nothing? I don't think so. Such indiscipline on most occasions suggests a lackadaisical approach on the field.
For example, the Daredevils twice missed run-out opportunities against Sanath Jayasuriya. It allowed Mumbai Indians the platform. There were a couple of stunners too, none better than substitute Yogesh Nagar's overhead snatch against a Jayasuriya mis-hit. Still, the Daredevils were mostly inconsistent on the field.
I make this point because the Daredevils' loss always takes cricket experts by surprise. They are perhaps one of the most balanced outfits in the IPL. Dazzling batsman, impressive fast bowlers, quality spinners and all-rounders - you name it and they have them.
It is these little nuances they need to come to grips with. Talking of extras, the Rajasthan Royals are second in the dubious list with 16 extras against Mumbai, again. So, Tendulkar's team is also benefitting from the largesse of the rivals besides their own brilliance!
Maybe, it's their batting might, which is forcing the rivals to lose their poise. With the kind of score the Royals made on Thursday night, it's a slip they can't afford.
The Mumbai Indians, currently on a roll like nobody else, not surprisingly are a shining example. They haven't bowled a no-ball so far in their first two games.
Even when Yusuf Pathan was blazing away, they conceded a mere five extras in a total of 208 runs. It shows the details to which this team has planned this year.
But then, their resolve can be understood. It was apparent the way they bid for Kieron Pollard, pulling all stops till they got their man. They look the team to beat this season.
TCM
Mumbai: Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar has won the toss and is very certain that he wants to bat first. Sachin feels it is a fantastic track, looks hard and firm, so batmen should enjoy it. Each boundary at the Brabourne is 75 yards long and the outfield is really quick and since there will be some dew, Tendulkar wants to use it to his advantage.
Sachin had scored his first triple century here as a school kid and believes that was the turning point of his life at that stage.
In the clash of the titans, Royal Challengers captain Anil Kumble is keen to lock horns with his old team mate and would like to get the upper hand. Kumble was proud of his boys as he says, “Great atmosphere here, and the last two games have been great - one with the bat and one with the ball. Hope we should get both together today."
Both teams have unchanged squads from their previous encounters, which means the crowds might get to watch Pollard in action once again.
Playing XI
Mumbai Indians
Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Aditya Tare (wk), Saurabh Tiwary, Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Rajagopal Sathish, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Anil Kumble (captain), Jacques Kallis, Manish Pandey, Robin Uthappa, Eoin Morgan, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, Mark Boucher (wk), Dale Steyn, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar
New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings stand-in skipper Suresh Raina was over the moon after his maiden outing at the helm fetched good returns.
Here's more from his interaction with the media.
Excerpts:
On the win against CSK
First of all, I thank God, I think he has been really kind to me. We played a good game. If you look at our performances, then Haydos [Matthew Hayden] and Murali [Muttiah Muralidaran] did well. In the end it was good teamwork. As a captain, I was happy that all players did well for us. We will try in the next match to play as well as this.
On the Mongoose bat and Hayden
I think Hayden tried it well at practice, both here and in Chennai. Yesterday he practiced with it for two hours in the nets. He has a different thinking towards the game. Even I batted with that bat at nets, but I didn’t click with it. Then I thought I should bat with my normal bat. But Haydos had a different idea and he got success with it as well.
On why he did not use it
I used it for two hours, but I didn’t feel too well with it and I thought, okay fine, let’s return to my normal bat.
On the specialty of the bat
I think you should ask Hayden, he will be able to tell you better about it.
On Dhoni’s reaction
I haven’t spoken [to him but] I am sure he must be happy … Each and every player is looking forward to the next game
On the positives
I think when Hayden gets going, he bats really well. The way he dominated [Tillakaratne] Dilshan, [Amit] Mishra, [Dirk] Nannes, those were positives for us.
On Jogindar Sharma
Joginder bowls with a lot of variation and on slow tracks you need someone like him. He has bowled really well in first-class crcket. Even after injury he has worked hard on his fitness. I was only thinking about the positives and the state of the game. In the next game at Chennai we will use a different strategy.
On CSK’s bowling strategy
When you are bowling and have [Virender] Sehwag in front of you, there is nothing much that can be done. He is one of the best in world cricket. The way he dominated the bowling, I thought I could try something different against him. I had both Murali and Ashwin, and I knew spin bowling is my strength on that pitch. Medium-pace bowling will not be that useful especially in the Powerplay overs. In Twenty20 cricket you have to keep making quick changes to achieve success.
New Delhi: Delhi Daredevils stand-in captain Dinesh Karthik was his usual candid self as he spoke to the media after losing his second straight game at home, this time to Chennai Super Kings.
Excerpts:
On the Mongoose bat
I always thought the mongoose would only bite (laughs)
On the loss against CSK
Once [Matthew] Hayden got out, we definitely believed in ourselves and we thought we could come back in the game and get a couple of wickets. But still it was a little late in the day, I would I think. I mean, another 10 runs and we could have probably fought, but these 10 runs here and there always [come into play] whenever it is a close game but hats off to the Chennai Super Kings - the way they played. I think they bowled well and the batted well too.
On the need for improvement
I think we have some areas to improve. I think we are losing too many wickets in between … and when we lose one wicket, we seem to be losing a couple more at the same point which hinders us from pushing the run rate to probably even a bigger score. So there are some areas that we can really work on.
On Dilshan not scoring
See it is tough to pinpoint one person. It is a team game and last year I think, [Tillakartne] Dilshan and AB [de Villiers] did very well for us but this year they have been slow starters and we all have seen what Dilshan and AB are capable of. Dilshan is T20 World Player of the Year so he can’t be too far away from a big score.
On Umesh Yadav
I think I am very impressed with Umesh Yadav. He has got that extra pace and you could see he was beating the bat just out of sheer pace which is a good sign for us. I think he is a good bowler and we will definitely keep backing him and see how well he goes.
On the impact of the shots from the Mongoose bat
Well, I think from the back it sounded the same but I can tell you the power was pretty great.
On Virender Sehwag getting injured
It is nothing serious, I am sure he will be fine for the next game.
On Gambhir
Haven’t they [the team management] informed you? I don’t know … I am busy captaining and losing matches … I don’t know at the moment … they will tell you (laughs)
(The team media manager steps in: “Gautam, let me tell you, we have just got reports, [injury updates] are on a day to day progress. As and when I get updates, I will myself tell you.”)
On the late entry of Amit Mishra
It was a tough call, honestly. It was a call where I thought probably that if he goes for a six off a fast bowler … I gave one over to Dilshan and there were two left-handers and he smacked three sixes so I thought that if Amit Mishra bowls, it might be tough on him. I thought if we can push in a couple of overs with the fast bowlers, then probably if he mis-hits one then we can have a chance, and we can always bring in Mishra - he has the experience. But I don’t think he mis-hit even one.
On the loss of momentum
Well I think when you lose two games on the trot you are going to lose momentum, there is no doubt about it. But this momentum and all that, I don’t believe in [it]. Every game is a new game and every day is a new day and you have to go out there and believe you can win, that’s the most important thing.
On the dilemma players face – exposing yourself to injuries playing IPL
I will definitely play IPL. (But isn’t it the responsibility of IPL to ensure [that players are fit for national duty] … asks the journalist) But what can [organisers] do? They can just organise the tournament. It is up to us to play and not get injured.
On a disappointing start to the tournament
Definitely. Last two years we have been coming to the semi-finals. This year I think for the first time at the start of the tournament we have lost two matches. But again, we have got another 10 games to go and I am sure we will do well.
On whether playing away games is better
Just because we have lost two games does not mean we are [more comfortable] playing away. I don’t know our home record but I am sure we will do well at home as well.
What
The Rajasthan Royals playing against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 13th game of the tournament
When
Saturday, March 20, 4pm.
Where
At the second home of the Rajasthan Royals, Ahmedabad. The Sardar Vallabhai Patel stadium hosts its second T20 and the pitch is likely be another paradise for the batsmen, sans the dew, this being a day encounter.
The Protagonists
The Kolkata Knight Riders would want to build upon the ideal start they have had this season and prove that their loss was just an aberration. Chris Gayle has returned from international duty and would give Dav Whatmore a serious headache in selecting the playing 11 for the Knight Riders.
The Royals, on the other hand, have problems in all departments, after injuries to key players. With Shane Watson quite some time away from joining them, the Royals need some real inspiration to emerge from this mini-slump.
What next?
While KKR want to stay in the top half of the table, Rajasthan would be looking to climb out of the bottom half.
The Royals have had perhaps their worst season till date. Being the team which has won the most games in all seasons of IPL till now, they’d want to keep that reputation intact. A win here would help get them back on track in the tournament.
