Newspaper round-up - March 16

Newspaper round-up - March 16


“IPL opener is a hit,” reports the DNA. It further elaborates, “The TRPs (target rating point) are out and the IPL opener on Friday night got 6.95 Tam ratings. In simple numbers, the inaugural Kolkata Knight Riders-Deccan Chargers match was seen in 17.6 million homes in six metros as compared to 13 million (between KKR and RCB) in IPL 2008 and 12.3 millions (between MI and CSK) in IPL 2009. This is about 43 per cent higher than the opener of the previous year and is 35 per cent more than the viewership for the first match of Season One.” It adds “A-Map has put the number at 4.3, which an official said, "is very, very high." The ratings (top-6 Metro) showed a 22 per cent jump from 3.5 per cent last year.” It quoted Google spokesman on the number of hits recorded on YouTube saying, "So far we have got over seven million hits globally".

“The Indian Premier League (IPL) is no longer an Indian tournament. It is fast emerging as one of the finest cricketing events in the world. Though touted as a clash between teams from Indian cities, the inclusion of the world's best stars in the different teams has transformed this event into a clash beyond boundaries and nationalities”, reported the Gulf News. While attributing credit to Lalit Modi, the visionary of this tournament, it added, “There was a time when cricketers, especially from Australia and England, had numerous objections towards an Indian tour. For the fear of coming down with an upset stomach, Australians used to fly in their own food during their tours. The English players had even complained about air pollution. Today, none of them seem to have any complaints. That is the IPL magic. It has got cricketers to fall in love with India, with some even candidly admitting that it is one of the finest places in the world to play cricket”.

“Kolkata is out with its dancing shoes on. Usually, the only time Kolkata publicly shakes a leg (or both) to Hindi film numbers is when Goddess Durga is bid goodbye. Unusually, it does the same in the time of the IPL,” reported Hindustan Times. “A groovy kind of Eden wasn't the only proof of inhibitions being shed for a three-hour programme that was more about sportainment. A middle-aged lady in green with two pre-teen boys wearing the old black-and- gold KKR shirts was throwing water pouches in air as the home team romped to victory. Nobody complained. The lady was proof that I wasn't the only parent dragged to a show that is as removed from my idea of sport as Didi (Mamata Banerjee) is from Dada. In purple shirts or black and gold and at least one in the yellow of the Brazil football team, the boys, teen and below, proved this marriage of cricket and Bollywood works for them”, added the daily.

“There's no place for complacency. Two wins in two matches. Ample reason to feel confident, but we are trying to guard against complacency. This format does not allow you to relax because a small slip-up might take the momentum away. One doesn't like to look back but one has to take a leaf out of the past”, wrote Sourav Ganguly in Hindustan Times. The Kolkata Knight Riders Captain added, “Wasim Akram's knowledge and guidance have been a huge help. I strongly believe Ishant Sharma and Co will stand to gain working under this legend. Angelo Mathews was again the pick of the bowlers. His effort in the middle overs added an edge to our attack. It will be tough on these guys to come out and play every second day. Our support team - Andrew Leipus and Adrian le Roux - will have a crucial role to play in keeping the boys fresh”.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings skipper, wrote in the The Times of India, “I am sure my bowlers and my batsmen will be keen to make amends today against the Kolkata Knight Riders, who are riding high on confidence having won their first two matches. However, my team is equally determined to bounce back with a good all-round performance,” on the eve of their match against Kolkata Knight Riders. “Playing at the Eden Gardens has its own charm, and although, the packed stadium would be rooting for Dada’s team, we will have our task cut out. In the team discussions, we have figured out where we went wrong and where we need to get our act right. A good showing will help us get back to winning ways and open our account on the points table”, he added.

“Fans will also get to see Dhoni and Sourav face-off as equals, but here I think Dhoni will win hands down. Yes, Sourav has more overall experience, but Dhoni has more in this format of the game. It’s going to be fun to see what happens”, Stephen Fleming, coach, Chennai Super Kings, wrote in the The Times of India. “Playing at the Eden is always an experience with the fans and the noise, but the boys are used to that by now. Here, at the Chepauk, one would imagine there were 100,000 screaming fans!” he added.

“Do what the heart says, do what’s best for the team. Don’t regret. Indeed, don’t leave room for any regret at all. After a game, don’t say ‘I didn’t do this’ or ‘I didn’t do that’...,” said Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Sourav Ganguly in an interview to The Telegraph. While speaking on his captaincy, he added, “I just did it my way, did what I felt was right for the team. As captain, Sachin (Tendulkar) helped my cricket blossom... He had a lot of faith in my abilities... Actually, both mine and Rahul Dravid's, at an important stage in our careers. When I became the India captain, I gave the same confidence to my players... In fact, I’m doing just that at KKR as well”. Appreciating Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his captaincy, Ganguly said, “He has done very well... Of course, he is fortunate to have a very good team. So was I, really... Then, he’s himself playing well. That helps. He doesn’t show it, but I’m sure he feels the pressure... He’s bound to feel it as, after all, he’s only human... He wants India to win and wants to do well himself. So, there will be pressure. The good thing is that he absorbs it.”

“Sourav back as captain has made a big difference. He knows the conditions, knows the players… More importantly, he’s a thinking guy, keeps changing the field, rotating the bowlers,” The Telegraph quoted paceman Charl Langeveldt as saying. On Wasim Akram as a bowling consultant, he was quoted as saying, “Akram is unbelievable… Speaking to him about swing bowling - conventional and reverse - is an education. He is an asset to the team.”