Charge!

Deccan Chargers will host Chennai Super Kings today.

After Mumbai Indians defeat yesterday, Delhi Dare Devils have progressed to the semi-finals. With both Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings vying for the last semi- final spot. Mumbai will be relying on the Super Kings losing this game against the bottom placed Deccan Chargers along with defeating Bangalore to ensure they end on a higher run rate.

The irony of tonight's game is that a side not playing has more to lose than a team that is. Deccan, that has one of the strongest sides on paper have been firing duds through the length of the IPL. If Chennai Super Kings win this game, they earn the last semi-final spot.
Mumbai can only hope that the Deccan's "charge" today under Captain Adam Gilchrist will be a strong one and find them victorious.


Deccan Chargers Team (Likely):
Adam Gilchrist (capt & wk), Shahid Afridi, Herschelle Gibbs, Rohit Sharma, Venugopal Rao, Ravi Teja, Scott Styris, PM Sarvesh Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, RP Singh, P Vijaykumar.

Chennai Super Kings Team (Likely):
Parthiv Patel, Stephen Fleming, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wk), S Badrinath, Albie Morkel, S Vidyut, Joginder Sharma, Muttiah Muralitharan, Manpreet Gony, Makhaya Ntini.

Deccan Chargers will host Chennai Super Kings today.

After Mumbai Indians defeat yesterday, Delhi Dare Devils have progressed to the semi-finals. Mumbai Indians will have to rely on Chennai Super Kings losing this game against the bottom placed Deccan Chargers along with defeating Bangalore to ensure they end on a higher run rate.

The irony of tonight's game is that a side not playing has more to lose than a team that's playing.
Deccan, that has one of the strongest sides on paper have been firing duds through the length of the IPL. If Chennai Super Kings win this game, they earn the last semi-final spot.
Mumbai can only hope that the Deccan's "charge" today under Captain Adam Gilchrist will be a strong one and find them victorious.


Deccan Chargers Team (Likely):
Adam Gilchrist (capt & wk), Shahid Afridi, Herschelle Gibbs, Rohit Sharma, Venugopal Rao, Ravi Teja, Scott Styris, PM Sarvesh Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, RP Singh, P Vijaykumar.

Chennai Super Kings Team (Likely):
Parthiv Patel, Stephen Fleming, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wk), S Badrinath, Albie Morkel, S Vidyut, Joginder Sharma, Muttiah Muralitharan, Manpreet Gony, Makhaya Ntini.

Kolkata Extinguished

What is Shahrukh Khan going to do with 17,000 helmets now that the Knight Riders are out?

Mumbai looking good to enter semis

Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders
Match abandoned without a ball bowled

The Kolkata Knight Riders became the third team to be eliminated from the race for a semi-final spot after persistent rain caused their match against the Delhi Daredevils to be abandoned without a ball being bowled. The result was good news for the Kings XI Punjab, though, as it guarantees them a berth in the final four.

The washout leaves Delhi with a must-win situation in their remaining fixture against the Mumbai Indians at the Feroz Shah Kotla - a fixture that is threatened, though, by the forecast of thunderstorms for the next three days. A victory in that game will take them to 15 points, three above Mumbai - who will then have to win their remaining two games to reach the semi-finals. If that game is washed out as well, then one win for Mumbai will suffice.

Though the rain let up around 75 minutes after the scheduled start, the ground staff reckoned they needed about two hours to ensure the ground was fit for play which was beyond the cut-off time for the match to begin. Earlier, curator Radhey Shyam had said two Super Soppers were pressed into service and called the Kotla "one of the best grounds in the country in terms of drainage".

Delhi had been lashed with unseasonal rains over the past three days and though the pitch and surrounding areas had been covered, the wet outfield posed a problem. This is Delhi's second straight home game to be affected by rain. Last Saturday, they lost after Punjab blasted 94 in eight overs to win on the Duckworth/Lewis method.

After starting off with a bang, things have gone downhill for Kolkata. Their batting struggled to cope with the loss of several big-name signings, who left for national duties, and managed only four totals above 150 in their 12 innings, leaving their bowlers too much to do. Another crippling drawback was their inability to triumph against the top teams: Four of their five victories came against the bottom two teams - Bangalore Royal Challengers and Deccan Chargers.

Courtesy: Cricinfo

So near...

Looking back, there was something wrong yesterday, even before the game had begun. The crowd just didn’t seem to hit the right decibels. I said to myself, perhaps it’s because it’s an afternoon game, but then I remembered the game against the Daredevils and how my heart was beating along with drums. “No, no”, I consoled myself saying, “that was a Sunday, today the stadium is almost packed and its bang in the middle of the week.” But still something just seemed of the mark. It’s not everyday at Wankhede that the “Sachin! Sachin!” chant doesn’t quite sound like the chorus of fifty five thousand people. Even the Mexican wave didn’t get going.

I am truly devastated and still in a state of bewilderment about what happened against the Kings XI. I don’t mean to be one of those fans who criticize with the power of hindsight but even before the game it was easy to make out that there was an error in tactics.

What was the need to change a winning combination in such a crucial game?

I say crucial because if we had won we would have moved into second place and practically cemented our place in the semi-finals. Besides, it was our last home game in the league stages and possibly in the competition, if things take a drastic turn for the worse. With the crowd behind you, a familiar wicket and a strong opposion, doesn’t it make sense to play the best squad you can muster?

I feel sympathetic for inexperienced Yeligati and Chitnis who were brought in for the match knowing that the pitch had eased out over the past couple of games and was looking a beautiful batting wicket. I have never seen them before but I’m certain if they are in such a great side, they are destined for great things. These are young players who have never been on such a large stage before. I’m certain their confidence must have taken a beating as Yeligati went for 43 runs and Chitnis took 2 for 40 in each of their four overs. What I’m trying to say here is, what was the need to play two new spinners when Jayasuria is quite effective with the ball in this version of the game and why was Dominic Thornely, who has been so effective with bat and ball, left out of the squad?

Strangely neither Pollock nor Nehra finish their spells? And surely, with figures of 3 overs 12 for 1 Pollock should have been bowling that last over where Nehra gave away 18 runs. Talking about bad decisions, don’t get me started on the running between the wickets and the pro-pink jersey umpires’.

“It’s over!” that’s all I have to tell myself now and stop complaining.

In the end it was a great game and ‘ah!’ the beauty of watching the great man score a marvellous fifty, right before your eyes. There was something different yesterday when he walked out to bat. You could sense it. His walk seemed altered; a little more determined, the way he’d look at the field settings after each ball and plot and plan his innings. It was easy to predict that it was going to be his turn with the bat and today and Surya was going to be the onlooker.

I was lucky to watch the game yesterday, unfortunately for me, it has left me looking a little strange, the nails on my fingers have disappeared!

The Long Ride Home.

Sorry dada, for our bad behaviour after the Kolkata vs Mumbai game, for those who don't know what we're talking about let me brief you. Most of us were jubilant about the double (beat them at home and away) and were not conducting ourselves in the best manner. It was at that time that the Kolkata Knight Riders players bus faltered past us Mumbaikars as it exited the Wankhede Stadium. It was but necessary to give them a sign of our love and affection for the team by showing them the finger. Unfortunately, our ex-captain was sitting in the front and was the first to bare the brunt of it. He responded only in acknowledgment, knowing it was his second defeat at the hands of the Indians. The benched Murali Kartik, on the other hand, didn't respond so gracefully, as he had his third finger raised in reply.

Once again our apologies to Souravji. Had we known you were sitting there, we wouldn't be so unkind, it was just meant for the rest of the team.

All Up In Smoke

It was outlandish to see so many people in black and gold jerseys lining up outside the gates of the Wankhede stadium, when The Mumbai Indians were to take on the Knight Riders.

I frankly don’t see the reason why most people are supporting the KKR just because King Khan owns the team. I mean if you love Sharukh so much, go to the movies and save yourself a good 450 bucks. Then take that money and spend it on chilled beers to beat the heat and take my word for it, that, that's enough beer to make you believe you're on a date with the Bollywood superstar better than spotting him from one end of North stand.

It troubles me to see people who have their binoculars glued to their face, not to see Surya or Sachin dismiss the Kolkata bowlers around the park, but rather stare at the stands in a hope to catch a glimpse of Shahrukh. Trust me for those who didn’t get a sight of him, you didn’t miss much. King Khan seemed a lot like Sylvester Stallone for the entirety of the game, that is, with just one expression on his face i.e. PISSED OFF! The only time he moved was when he was lighting up his Classic Milds to deal with his team’s dismal performance. To add insult to injury, he now has to deal with Mumbai Mirror’s front page exclusive of him smoking his lungs out and NGO’s saying he’s setting a bad example for children… Aryan are you listening?

Kings, Calypso, Poker & Nel

Dwayne Bravo's outstanding performance earned him the man of the match ("Bravo!!!") in last night’s game but by now he will be onboard Mr. Mukesh Ambani's private jet to Jamaica for a West Indian practice session before the Aussies arrive for the first test. As disappointing as his exit may be, another player comes to the table, South African pace man, Andre Nel.

As interesting as Nel’s entry to the team sounds, the Indians’ bowling attack looks well rounded, with eight out of the first 11 squad being able to turn their arms. Nel may have to sit out the next game and Loots Bosman, his South African comrade, may be given a try. Bosman, a hard hitting T20 specialist may turn out to be a wild card in the Mumbai Indians' batting line up, something we will need, to defeat a confident looking Kings XI and book a place at the semi-finals.

But after six straight wins, will the odds catch up on us or will our visit to Mohali find us in second place and sealed with a semi-final spot? It’s clear though, that if Mumbai plays its cards right, it is all but a game of poker. A victory against the Kings XI would mean with the second-last stage and the finals being at home in Mumbai, every one of us knows that “the house always wins!”

That's Six!

HYDERABAD: It was yet another dismal performance from the Deccan Chargers. It suffered its fifth straight defeat at home as Mumbai Indians notched up it’s sixth straight win with a 25-run verdict in the DFL-Indian Premier League at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Sunday.

Sri Lankan pace bowler Dilhara Fernando’s double strike in the fifth over of the innings — forcing the dangerous Adam Gilchrist to slash to third man and trapping Rohit Sharma leg before — effectively short-circuited whatever hopes the host had entertained.

Bravo strikes

Before this eventful over, Dwayne Bravo helped the momentum shift sending back Shahid Afridi for a duck — mistiming a big hit to send the crowd into stunned silence.

Then, it was a question of the inevitable being only delayed by the fighting knocks from Venugopala Rao (57, 38b, 4x4, 3x6) and D.B. Ravi Teja (37, 27b, 2x4, 3x6).

Earlier, when Sanath Jayasuriya (36, 6x4, 2x6) was on fire Gilchrist may have pondered the advisability of his decision to insert the opposition.

Hitting back

But, to his captain’s delight, Venugopal, who was brought on in the third over, fought back well after being swept twice by Jayasuriya to lure him into a third one and see the star striker give the deep square-leg a simple catch.

Shahid Afridi sent back Sachin Tendulkar when he had to go for a big stroke.

Then, southpaw Abhishek Nayar (38, 3x4, 2x6) took charge with some authentic strokes — two huge sixes off Afridi and R.P. Singh being the pick. In the company of the more elegant Dwayne Bravo (30, 17b, 2x4, 2x6) Nayar ensured that Mumbai put up a challenging total.

The scores:

Mumbai Indians:

S. Jayasuriya c R.P. Singh b Venugopala Rao 36,

S. Tendulkar c Silva b Afridi 23,

D. Thornely lbw b Afridi 8,

A. Nayar c Sharma b R.P. Singh 38,

R. Uthappa c Afridi b Venugopala 7,

D. Bravo b R.P. Singh 30,

P. Shah b R.P. Singh 10,

Y. Takawale (not out) 5,

R. Raje (not out) 1;

Extras (lb-11, w-7, nb-2): 20.

Total (for seven wkts in 20 overs): 178.

Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-72, 3-72, 4-96, 5-150, 6-156, 7-175.

Deccan Chargers bowling:

Vijaykumar 2-0-24-0,

Zoysa 3-0-37-0,

Venugopala Rao 3-0-25-2,

R.P. Singh 4-0-35-3,

Afridi 4-0-23-2,

Ojha 4-0-23-0.

Deccan Chargers:

A. Gilchrist c Shah b Fernando 13,

S. Afridi c Thornely b Bravo 0,

R. Sharma lbw b Fernando 6,

C. Silva c Takawale b Nayar 17,

Y. Venugopala Rao c Shah b Bravo 57,

D. Ravi Teja b Bravo 37,

N. Zoysa (not out) 10,

H. Das (run out) 2,

R.P. Singh (not out) 3;

Extras (b-1, lb-3, w-3, nb-1): 8.

Total (for seven wkts in 20 overs): 153.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-20, 3-20, 4-56, 5-130, 6-136, 7-145.

Mumbai Indians bowling:

Nehra 4-0-29-0,

Bravo 4-0-24-3,

Fernando 4-0-38-2,

Raje 2-0-19-0,

Nayar 3-0-18-1,

Thornely 1-0-8-0,

Jayasuriya 2-0-13-0.

Courtesy: The Hindu.