#IPL2015
And so we thought IPL, or T20 for that matter, was a batsman's game?
Think again. With all rules stacked heavily in their favor - the powerplay, the two bouncers per over rule, the Freehit, massive bats (but the ball has remained unchanged over the years), field restrictions and everything else - the batsmen are still not able to strike it rich in this year's edition so far!
Just one century in 34 games!
#Brendon McCullum is the only one to get to the three figure mark this year with a stunning 100 for 56 deliveries against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rohit has come close with 98 but other than that there havent been huge individual scores from batsmen.
Goes to show, its not about the rules or advantages, its about skill and applying it to score runs!
Edges are flying for sixes, mishits are clearing ropes easily, defensive shots are screaming to the fence and short boundaries making life easy for batsmen.. Yet .. just one century.
Why?
Is the level of batsmanship and skill going down overall?
Are bowlers doing better than expected?
Too much pressure on batsmen to perform given their advantages?
Just feel, the overall skills are dropping and cricketers making entry to international sides, especially in test cricket, via IPL will struggle big time. There will be odd exceptions but generally the level of batting is going down. Sad but true!
Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com
#IPL2015 - Delhi Daredevils paid Yuvraj Singh a whopping INR. 12 Crore (approx. USD 2 million) in the IPL auction this year. It raised a lot of eyebrows considering #Yuvi's form and over fitness.
As it stands, his performance for the DD has been well below par so far. We all know he is magnificent impact player but he seems past his best for sure.
No doubt, the #cancer problem has drained a lot out of him and you want him to do well to inspire others to excel in their fields despite the dreaded disease.
C'mon Yuvraj ... show youngsters the way. Inspire them to achieve new heights in moments of adversity. We all know you can!
Powered by: http://www.whowillwinthecup.com
#RajasthanRoyals vs #Kings XI Punjab
#Ahmedabad
In a stunning run chase in regulation play, KXIP tied RR's mammoth 191 in 20 overs to setup a mouthwatering #IPLSuperOver decider.
Both teams scored 191 in their stipulated 20 overs
Rahane, Watson, Hooda scoring for RR while Shaun Marsh, Miller, Saha, Johnson and Axar's last ball boundary helped KXIP tie the game. Some sloppy RR fielding ensured the game went into a super over.
Batting first in the super over were KXIP.
Miller and Marsh, the two dashing top scorers in the regulation play .. stepped out to face Morris, arguably the best seamer on that RR side.
Ball 1 - Morris traps Miller LBW! What a start!
Ball 2 - Maxwell, the new man in , somehow sneaks in a single
Ball 3 (No ball) - Four
Ball 3 - Four
Ball 4 - Four
All by Marsh ... igniting KXIP hopes
Ball 5- No run
Ball 6 - 1 leg bye and Marsh is run out trying to steal another one
Score: 15/2 in over
RR need 16 to win
Watson and Faulkner walked in to face Johnson.
An all Aussie duel to decide an IPL game? WOW!!!
Ball 1 - Watson castled first ball. Similar start to KXIP in that SuperOver
Ball 2 - Another Aussie walks in ... Steve Smith - NO BALL - edged for four
Ball 2 - Single
Ball 3 - RUN OUT .... Faulkner is run out and its game over!
Remember - If you lose two wickets in a super over, you are considered all out... No more batting even if there are deliveries remaining!!
In what was looking like a straightforward win for RR in the regulation time, turned out to be a super over thrill to decide the winner and KXIP grabbed that chance with both hands!!
Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com
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!
Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com
#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!
Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com
With all dues respect to all legends and great players on that Mumbai Indians team, they have "behaved" erratically at times over the last 7 years of the #IPL.
They have had some really rough moments on the field over the years and consistently been at bottom of the "Fair Play Award" table.
There have been so many episodes including:
1. The infamous Sreesanth slapping incident by Harbhajan
2. The umpire crowding incident where they circled the umpire like vultures after a bad decision
3. The Pollard - Starc incident (although both were guilty probably)
and many more...
Ironical when you consider Sachin Tendulkar has been at their helm for a number of years and considered Mr. Conduct of Cricket!
Hope they come good on that front..
They are a fantastic team of very good players and can win matches on their talent alone.
Rohit, Pollard, Finch, Anderson, Rayudu on the batting front while Malinga, Harbhajan, Hazlewood, Vinay Kumar the bowlers.
They have lost both their IPL8 games so far and havent seen any untoward incident so far in their games. Hope they keep winning but without those "ouch" moments. Perhaps they could take lead from #CSK? who are always high on both the match point and fair play point tables? Look up to Dhoni for some inspiration!
Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com
The first weekend double header seems to be intriguing and exciting both.
Both games pit superstars from the same country teams against each other which makes it a really mouthwatering proposition.
#CSK vs #Sunrisers
Trent Boult will be in action against his NZ captain Brendon McCullum in this one.
Shikhar Dhawan will face off with Ravi Ashwin and Mohit Sharma while Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma would try to trouble MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina..
All in all a fascinating duel between team mates!
CSK definitely looking the stronger side
Who will come out on top
McCullum/Dwayne Smith or Dhawan/Warner
Boult/Sharma or Mohit/Ashwin
Or will it be the fielders that decide the game?
CSK have a plethora of athletes - Raina, Faf, McCullum, Jadeja could turn the match on their fielding prowess alone!
The second game of the day is interesting too
#KKR vs #RCB
All eyes, no doubt, will be on #ViratKohli especially after his outburst against media and everyone who condemned #AnushkaSharma for his poor form and exit from the #CWC15. The aggressively expressive cricketer will be out there to prove a point. Will Anushka be there too? Remains to be seen...
Both captains are over the top players, losing their cool at the drop of a hat and thats where other senior players and umpires need to keep watch and control over proceedings in this game. Remember their famous on field spat a couple of seasons ago? Hope it doesn't repeat here
RCB are batting heavy with Virat-ABD-Gayle trio. They can decimate any attack on their day single handedly. Bowling seems to be their biggest concerns especially with not a lot of superstar power in those ranks except the exceptional Mtichell Starc and lively Adam Milne.
KKR seem more balanced on the bowling side with good combination of speed, swing and spin.
Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav will lead the speed guns while Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan and KC Cariappa (suprise pick for 2.4 crores!) will handle the spin dept. Batting is steady but not destructive - Gambhir will look to control innings at the top while Utthappa, Surya Yadav and Yusuf Pathan will tee off as needed.
All in all, very intriguing and exciting games these....
Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com
#RichieBenaud
1930 - 2015
#RIP Richie Benaud.
The talismanic Australian cricketer, captain, spinner and commentator par excellence left for the heavenly abode early today. He was 84.
A fierce competitor on the field leading Australia to famous wins and that tied test vs West Indies, he transformed the world of cricket commentary in his own inimitable style. Simply awesome. A great student of the game, an astute observer, wonderful language and an ascent (imitated by players, would be commentators and everyone around the world), he made people watch matches to listen to his commentary.
Fighting skin cancer, Richie continued commentary until the fag end of his life.
With looks more like an army colonel than a cricketer, he led Australian cricket in the 60s through great discipline and courage needed to tackle the English and West Indies sides'.
As he lies to rest in Sydney, the voice behind the mike is lost, gone forever.
Richie we love you ... always!
Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com
