As the top two teams at #IPL8 face each other in Qualifier 1 match today, there is an interesting statistic that needs a look in.
On the #Fair #Play Points table, #CSK are as usual on the top (its pretty remarkable, how they do well on both the tables - points and fair play - season after season) and #MI? .. you guessed it right ... at the bottom (this is big pain point in their inconsistent performances over the years).
Is the Fair Play points table is a good indicator of team's consistency, form and winability?
Its an interesting question to answer.
Teams that generally stay on top of this fair play table, either do very well or do very poorly.
The 2015 Fair Play table looks like this
1. CSK
2. KKR
3. KXIP
4. DD
5. SRH
6. RR
7. RCB
8. MI
Barring CSK that is on top, teams from positions 2 to 5 have been knocked out while teams 6,7 and 8 have qualified for the playoffs. This is an amazing stat.
Does playing fair mean compromising on winning? or should teams shouldn't care about fair play and focus only on the points table?
This is why CSK is the best team in IPL ever.
And they have been consistent on both tables year after year.
Just goes to show how #MSDhoni has built this team to play fair and yet keep winning. Win at all cost ... may not work all the time .
RR, RCB and MI can really learn from the CSK about this fair play habit!
No doubt they have some outstanding performers and entertainers, but champs with humility are always looked up to by the public!
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This is it .. after grueling six weeks of non stop action, drama and amazing performance .. it has come down to the top 4 teams making the playoffs at #IPL - Indian Premier League. Cant get better and bigger than this!
Qualifier 1 - #MSDhoni led table-toppers Chennai Super Kings, the indomitable force in all seasons of the IPL will take on the mercurial and in-form Mumbai Indians led by #RohitSharma at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai today. Promises to be a cracker of a game. Remember, winner goes straight to the #IPL final - a massive incentive to win. The loser gets another crack by playing qualifier 2. That's a bonus too!
Team #MI - will be selected from below
Rohit Sharma
Corey Anderson
AC Blizzard
Jaspreet Bumrah,
Unmukt Chand,
M de Lange,
S Gopal,
Alex Hales,
Harbhajan Singh,
Ben Hilfenhaus,
SD Lad,
Mitchell McClenaghan,
Lasith Malinga,
Abhimanyu Mithun,
C Munro,
Pragyan Ojha,
Harsh Pandya,
Parthiv Patel,
Kieron Pollard,
Navin Rana,
Ambati Rayudu
Lendl Simmons,
J Suchith,
P Suyal,
Aditya Tare,
Vinay Kumar,
AA Wakhare
Team #CSK - will be selected from below
MS Dhoni,
Kyle Abbott,
Baba Aparajith,
Ravichandran Ashwin,
Shrinivas Badree,
AK Bains,
Dwayne Bravo,
Faf du Plessis,
ER Dwivedi,
Mike Henry,
Mike Hussey,
Ravindra Jadeja,
Brendon McCullum,
Mithun Manhas,
RG More,
Pawan Negi,
Ashish Nehra,
Ishwar Pandey,
Irfan Pathan,
Pratyush Singh,
Suresh Raina,
Mohit Sharma,
R Sharma,
Dwayne Smith,
AJ Tye
Both teams look solid both with the bat and ball.
CSK looks stronger with the bat slightly whereas Mumbai look a shade better on the bowling front.
MS' boys can turn around games on their sheer relentlessness while Rohit can inspire his MI team to produce an incredible batting or bowling innings. Thats how it is pioised?
So, who will win? who will prevail? who can handle pressure better?
The clinical #CSK or the red-hot #MI? Time will tell.
May the best team win!
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The "Fair Play Award" is a wonderful concept brought in by #IPL.
The system ranks teams based on spirit of game demonstrated by teams, no or less verbal aggression, considerations on injuries of opponent teams, good over rates to finish innings, well mannered behavior on-off the field and respect earned from umpires, opposing teams and crowd. The team that scores most on this system wins the fair play award.
Over the last 7 seasons, it has been observed that one team has consistently performed magnificently on this system. Yes, that team is Chennai Super Kings or #CSK and a lot of its credit must go the "cult figure" #MSDhoni. The question is why?
For starters, MSD leading this team just gives it stability. His ability to pick the right players. nurture them into match winners and lead by example are top most qualities that make teams champions both in terms of wins on the field and off it.
He commands respect and can order his troops to behave if he senses problems. He gets them to focus on performance with bat-bowl rather than out-n-out gamesmanship. As a result, not only do they play fair but their record in the match points table is outstanding too. Twice winners, twice runners up and multiple time semi finalists. This team has got its priorities right. They go out to win games on their cricket skills not anything else. Hence they don't need to supplement their performance by antics and gimmicks that bring umpire wrath and negative points on the fair play system.
Another important aspect could be - MS being India captain - teams from other players automatically tone down themselves against CSK? (you don't want to peeve off the Indian captain if you are looking to play for India?)
Guess, the success mantra for CSK is "lets play cricket ...." and that leads them to do well on the ground and off it. Well done CSK! Other teams please take a cue!
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#IPL8
The IPL is hotting up. Some teams have hit the groove well right from the start while some of them are just settling in. Players have hit their straps upfront while others have struggled outright. The IPL has been a roller coaster already..
While #CSK and #RR have been the best winning teams till date (RR is unbeaten while CSK has only been beaten by RR), #MI, #RCB and #KXIP have had a hard time getting off the blocks.
MI, after losing 4 straight games before pulling one back against RCB, may just have got the impetus to make a dash at the top teams. KXIP and RCB have struggled to close games (RCB "almost" pulled it against MI only to stumble at the end while KXIP were blown away by #KKR's Russell-Yusuf partnership after dominating the game for most part). SRH have been shaky while KKR has been steady through their good batting and bowling, #CSK has always been a strong horse with wonderful balance led by the charismatic #MSDhoni and #RR have topped everyone with their batting heroes - Rahane, Steve Smith, Watson, Hooda, etc)
So, who do you think will take the first four spots in that league table at half way stage (7 games each)? RR and CSK seem to be certainly there but the other two? maybe KKR and SRH? or will RCB, MI or KXIP pull up some surprises?
Its all happening at #IPL2015 ... stay tuned!
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#CSK vs #DD
#IPL8
9th Apr 2015
An #AlbieMorkel stunner couldn't put DD over the line against CSK in a sensational thriller at Chennai. Chasing 151 to win, DD made a hash of it losing wickets upfront to Ashish Nehra and then again in the middle innings to make it real tough but Morkel was the last man standing. He came in at 3 and was there until the end but just couldnt hit the last ball of the match a couple of yards further to earn the sixer needed to win! It was that close... CSK and Dhoni will have heaved a big sigh of relief as they got out of jail here...
Needing 20 to win in the last over by Dwayne Bravo, Morkel edged one behind to thirdman for a boundary, much needed start. Two singles of the next two balls meant DD needed 14 in 3 balls with Morkel on strike. He smote the next delivery over long on for a massive six to bring the equation to 8 in 2 and within striking range.
The next delivery was cut fiercely towards deep point, where Suresh Raina dived full length to stop a certain boundary and restrict Morkel to two.
6 needed from 1 ball.
A long discussion between Dhoni and co to set fields, and Bravo served a wide half volley that Morkel smashed between long off and deep extra cover. The ball sailed for a long time and everyone felt it would go the distance but it just fell short by a couple of metres inside the rope. Boundary! Oh no... DD fall 1 run short of a tie and CSK win...
Earlier in the day, put into bat, CSK didnt look comfortable upfront against Coulter-Nile and struggled to keep the momentum going but Faf Du Plessis and Dwayne Smith steadied the ship before a typical Dhoni end-over show took them to a respectable 150 for 7 in 20 overs.
A superb game DD should have won though ... Albie you beauty!
Superb!
Brief Scores:
CSK: 150 for 7 (20 overs)
DD: 149 for 9 (20 overs)
Man of the Match: Ashish Nehra for his three wickets to dent DD's start in their run-chase.
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