even before mumbai indians lost the final of ipl season three... there were talks that ipl should change the format and there should be best of three finals to judge who was the better side...
i never liked this idea...
going by same logic... what about the other two semifinalists who gets knocked out of tournament on the basis of just one bad outing...? do they play thrice with each other to decide who the finalist will be...?
if we revise the format to say the two top teams of the league stage will play three finals to decide which one is better... then it will also mean that most of the team will not fight till end knowing their fate well in advance that they can not be the top two teams... turning many matches into glorified exhibition matches...
the beauty about the existing format is that it warms up as the matches goes by and in the end it becomes really intense coz not many teams can say for sure that they will be the top four teams of the league... so the race is always on to find a place in top four somehow and then wait for other results...
this also keeps the interest of fans going who not only follow the matches their teams playing but also the results of other teams with equal interest if not more... making almost every match meaningful at later stage of the tournament...
it is also not rocket science that probability, hence intensity, will be much more to find a place in top four than say top two teams...
another argument is it is not fair on team who wins almost everything at league stage and then gets knocked out for one bad outing... but when sports (or life) is about being fair...?
just one tweet and two of the most promising people's reputation gets slaughtered by media trials sighting 'sources' though its another matter that these 'sources' goes on vacation as soon as the 'deed' is done... to sight you most recent example...
besides... the promise of unknown is good for any competition... the probability of sudden death keeps the buzz going... knowing you are not going to get second chance... it makes the semifinals and final a breath taking spectacle coz it is a do or die...
finally... if it gives a chance to team like chennai, who were on the verge of packing their bags to home at more than one occasion during league stage of the tournament, to become champion or dream to become champion... then why not...?
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now that every team has played 14 games and semifinal spots are sealed... like last time... its time to see how team india performed in ipl this season...here's the appraisal...
virender sehwar and gautam gambhir... poor...
strictly going by t20 form they should feel lucky that the team for t20 world cup was announced a month before... if one threw his wicket for reckless... random shots... another threw it for his reckless running which is threatening to become his hallmark... still gambhir managed to play some crucial knocks despite him not being in great form and but for his running would have played more... i would suggest, like last time, rohit sharma should open along with gambhir for team india there... leaving sehwag to either warm benches or play a finisher role in middle order... on current form...
suresh raina... good...
it should be attributed to his immense potential that even after being the highest scorer in ipl history... we look at him as still-in-finishing-stage batsman... though he seems to have listened to my advice... and now have started playing shots on off side too which makes him double dangerous now... the only question remains... will he be able to carry his ipl form to t20 world cup...? i think he will...
rohit sharma... good...
when he could not do with bat did it with his fielding and bowling in this ipl... developing into an all-round player... and a good finisher... seems to have taken his batting more seriously and also seems aware of the competition he is facing from his peers... i have this feeling that he will come out from this world cup with credit to his reputation...
yuvraj singh... poor...
from being the most agile fielder, his knee injury notwithstanding, he is fast becoming another player who needed to be hidden in the field... showing glimpses of his destructive powers here and there without looking threatening... the biggest challenge for team management will be to keep him motivated and focused as 'ghar ka khana' will not be available there...
dhoni... average...
despite him taking csk to semifinals with his sensational hitting... he has been average at best... he seems to have taken the burden of self-imposed responsibilities upon himself... i wish he just unleash himself and play with gay abandon he used to play... we might be in for a surprise...
yusuf pathan... hopeless...
its time he should be left alone and allowed to do what he does best... play nice cameos for rajashtan royals and when ipl is not happening... for baroda...
dinesh karthik... pass...
selectors are knocking the wrong door... its time they should move on and look at other budding good wicket keeping batsman talent... the guy just cannot see beyond his nose...
harbhajan singh... good...
apart from his ugly send off to some of india's upcoming talent... i must say... his bowling has been good... seems to have struck nice balance between wicket taking and run containing as per the demand of situation and when stars align perfectly in sky... can play blinder of an innings... explosive package i would say... will keep his team as well as opponent on its guard...
piyush chawla... lucky...
he has neither kept runs in check nor taken enough crucial wickets... he managed to have kept batting skills, on which he seems to edge out ojha and mishra, hidden to a place where even he can't fetch it when he wants... perhaps his selection can be best explained by the statement of dhoni when he said... "rather than best side the challenge is to select best balanced side..."
zaheer khan... good...
with experience he has understood his body dynamics... knows when to go full throttle and when to bowl within himself... but as i have been saying... will be under tremendous pressure as he is not given adequate support in seam bowling department... this will keep dhoni and team management praying for his fitness...
praveen kumar... average...
though he started well but fizzled out as the tournament progressed... could not make his presence count... praveen comes across as very impatient bowler... if he let go his experimentation itch with line and length can be a difficult bowler coz he can swing ball both ways from the same spot... there was one over to ganguly that explains (my stance)... after bowling three good dot deliveries that beat ganguly fair and square... he decided to come round the wicket and went for runs...
ashish nehra... good...
could not play most of ipl coz if his injury and when he looked fit and raring to go... his team ensured that his outing curtailed to few matches... but whenever nehra played he made his presence felt... looks in good rhythm and bowling with good pace... his fitness will be crucial too... coz he along with zaheer will be key bowlers who will share each other's load...
vinay lumar... average...
despite pitches suiting his bowling in the ipl... he failed to justify his selection for the caribbean party... i don't think that he will be playing in final xi anyways... barring injuries...
ravindra jadeja...
unfortunately we could not see him in ipl this season... but of what i saw before that he was bowling in good rhythm and in right areas... seems to have improved his batting... the pitches in caribbean will suit his kind of bowling and if he bowls the way he was bowling lately will turn out to be an attacking option for team india... jadeja should be the preferred all rounder...
to conclude... my preferred eleven will be in following order...
rohit, gambhir, raina, yuvraj, sehwag, dhoni, jadeja, harbhajan, praveen, zaheer, nehra...
update:
sehwag is out of t20 worldcup and murali vijay is going instead... though i adore viru... but i think this is blessing in disguise...
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After seeing Dhoni perform and perform in tight situations has made " Calling Dhoni confident" a useless activity. India knows he's confident, the opposition teams know he's confident so why say the same thing again and again.
But after seeing Dhoni hit two massive (mile long long) sixes in yesterday's crucial match against King's Eleven Punjab: I want to say Dhoni is "Super confident".
Why I want to call him so and on what basis?
i think it's the nature of the shots which justifies the "Super confident tag".
As one sees, Dhoni chose to hit the two shots in a manner as if he was going for an assault towards the ball. The shots were not some trickery or any "in t20 any runs would matter; no matter how"; but were sheer resolve and hence pure brute force.
What do you say: Does Dhoni justify the "Super confident" tag? And does Dhoni's yesterday's performance point to something more important?
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it came as no surprise when gambhir came down heavily on top order after yesterday's match against chennai super kings...
"Chasing 113 was not an easy job and you can't just bat irresponsibly," he said at the post-match presentation. "The top order needed to bat with some responsibility. You can't bat just like that and leave the job for the lower order"
top order is consistently letting the team down with zero commitment towards team cause... everybody seems to shrug his responsibility by saying
"that's the way i play..." and it is nothing short of a minor miracle that delhi is still in the hunt of semi final place...
from now on... gambhir should read the situation as the question of how he can win three matches on trot (to win ipl3) and he should channelise his energy... his resources towards this goal...
the time has come when merely issuing statement in disgust will not do... gambhir will have to take some tough calls and if it means he will have some sore egos in dug-out then so be it...
my team from now on, barring injuries, will be in following order...
karthik, warner, gambhir, dilshan, sehwag, collingwood, manhas, mishra, nehara, nannes, ladda/yadav
sehwag's role should be of a finisher in the team which should be conveyed to him in no uncertain terms... though both can take the game away on their own but gambhir and collingwood should look to tie the one end down and let players like karthik, warner, dilshan, sehwag dominate from another...
i still believe that delhi is the strongest team and if some of our players can bend their back for team cause... we can not only take the best of other teams in ipl... but even beyond...
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i know you take it to the level of obsession when you are captain...
so rather than i coming hard at you at times... the truth is... it is not as hard as you are on yourself...
mumbai indians are more or less in the semifinals... and so are delhi daredevils...
you won the battle last time but the war is far from over...
however much i would cherish delhi defeating mumbai in your own den... it will not be same without you...
so till then... take care... take it easy...
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The last post here took Sehwag’s 'take it easy' attitude in this IPL.
The post asserts Sehwag’s casual attitude to his elevated status in his IPL team.
And if some casualness has indeed seeped in some established players; then they should mend their ways before it's too late.
So not only Sehwag but none should take their positions too casually. And instead, try their best. If they perform below their potentials then contemplate on the deficiencies; so that next time no one points a finger at them.
Why I can say so, and how this extends the debate SP started in the last article?
My notion behind the assertion is simple: It is their cities fans cheer for
And any shouting support for individual player emanates from the same.
But on the opposite the criticism for a bad shot or a directionless ball goes to the individual player.
Players should keep in mind that in IPL, basically it's their cities that people love, and players come second. Fans affiliation for players emanates from their affiliation for their cities. So if a player changes the team the next season, people will stop cheering for him.
On a casual glance this seems very small observation, as most spectators are aware of this, but unfortunately players with weight either don't know or don't want to know. Keep aside Sehwag, even Yuvraj doesn't seem to acknowledge or is ignorant of this simple fact. And a rumour in this context proves this. Renowned blogger Soulberry recently said that if sources more informed are to believed then Yuvraj may be contemplating to move on to Kochi, the new IPL team for IPL’s next season.
If the rumour proves out to be true, then I think Yuvraj unfortunately is taking his position too casually or; mistaking the roaring support of the fans to his individual popularity.
So rather than sulk non-performing players should start contributing to their teams’ win, in whatever way they can; and should always remember, if they sulk and make it a reason for their departure from their current teams; then fans will pray for their bad form to continue and cheer for someone who either lives 1000 kms away or has to cross seven seas to play for their cities.
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when ipl begins every delhite wears a delhi daredevils' cap and that is what matter to delhi fans like me...
i make fun of yuvi's plight... i whistle podu at dhoni's dismissals... i ask for more when ishant gets whacked around the park... i cheer sixes scored off kumble... and what otherwise would be called a blasphemy... i pray for sachin's early dismissal... without feeling guilty about it...
so, when ipl starts, i do not care what you have done for india in tests and sometimes in one days... what only matter to me is what you do (or do not) for delhi daredevils...
do not hide behind the strike rate of 200... it comes with 'blink and miss' stay at crease... do not pull your weight around... make it count for yourself and for my team... and though you could be the cause of sabotaging english cricket... i see your daft batting as a sabotage of DD's chances...
its a war and we have to win it... so do not take it easy sehwag... even for a second...
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sachin's captaincy in ipl for mumbai indians reminds me of his captaincy stints in 90s...
even yesterday he was over the top... animated... expressive... and so volatile... that he was putting his colleagues under undue pressure... goes to show even if the time changes... some things never change...
often his stifling method of captaincy is mistaken for passion... coz i have seen captains leading teams with equal passion but less histrionics in the middle...
its good that mumbai indians are winning so nobody is talking about his captaincy otherwise there would have been many questions raised by now about the way he handles team in the middle...
take it easy sachin... let the boys relax a bit... that does not mean they will do job with less zest and focus... in fact they would do it better if given space to enjoy the challenge at hand...
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Going by the stats that you have mentioned in your statistical celebration of IPL3 ... i think IPL3 is indeed affecting the TV industry.
But just to add to the wonderful debate that you initiated, I think there're reasons, other than those you mentioned, behind this surge in IPL3 popularity; and statistics that you shared, point to something beyond the face value.
In simple, I think, there's is more to the IPL3's success than what meets the eye.
One among these is the shrewd marketing brain of Mr Lalit Modi. Mr Modi, knows discreetly when and what to say. He also knows what not to say, and if he can't say something through his own own mouth; he knows how to arrange someone else's.
So auctioning the two new teams during IPL3, has added to the IPL buzz. If a new team manages to get a price tag three times the whole sales money of the first auction, some short term interest is bound to arrive.So it can't be said for sure that, IPL4 will break all records or it's the cricket which as a game is winning.
That apart, the ever unsettled points tally has also contributed to the IPL3. What would have happened if the teams which have won at the beginning, had continued their winning spree. then I'm sure, 30 percent of IPL fans would have started contributing to non-sport TV channel ratings.
I agree, with you Sachin, is indeed one of the main contributing factors to IPL3.
But I still suspect, the stat which says, soap audience may have surrendered their ground to IPL3. Mind you they (the soap audience) knows all tactics to remain in game.
Thanks Ankit for giving me an opportunity to respond. It's your painstaking research that made the response possible.
[A Bisht makes simple cricket cartoons at cricketua]
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kallis is doing very well with bat... and before his yesterday's dismissal... he remained not out in all previous outings at ipl this season...
kallis has impeccable technique is the fact known to many... the only question was whether his style of batting is suited to t20 cricket... perhaps coz of which he suffered the ignominy of not being selected for inaugural t20 world cup that too at home...
but in this season of ipl he has come with all guns blazing... he is not only making runs at brisk pace without compromising on technique... but also seeing bangalore royal challengers through...
but tell me, as the opening line of wisden article by alex bowden suggests, exactly how kallis doing good at ipl is a stinging slap on its face...?
ipl is not only providing platform to players like kallis to show the non-beleivers that one can still score quickly without compromising on technique front but it is also providing them a spring board to launch their t20 careers in their respective national teams...
isn't the slap is on CSA's face who did not believe in his abilities...?
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call it a blogger's jinx if you want... but a day after me posting about sarabjit ladda... he is dropped from delhi daredevil's team today for their match against chennai super kings...
though no official reason is given but it is understood, as endorsed by many, that since CSK's line-up is filled with left handed batsmen, playing two leg spinners would have been a luxury 3D could ill-afford...
i just don't understand this logic at all...
has anybody said that with 3D's batting line-up filled with right-handed batsmen, CSK should not play murali and ashwin together...?
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this is what sums up the delhi daredevils vs mumbai indians game for me...
if any of the eight teams in the ipl has the best name that defines the team... its delhi daredevils'... for they will always be in pursuit of doing the things in dare devil's ways even if that can be done normally... sensibly...
however well mumbai indians played... and kudos to them for outplaying 3Ds in all departments of game... but i was pissed of at the toss itself... gautam won the toss and handed over the advantage to MIs on platter...
we know that t20 game is too abbreviated a game to let go any advantage that you have over your opponent...
we also know mumbai indians do not have a good record chasing... in fact they have choked to defeat from winning position on many occasions... but no... our devil's will take none of that...
they wanted thrill and they got it... by chasing the leather... and i do not even expect them to learn the lesson...
– title inspiration: homer
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ipl is coming back to india in its third season and the fan in me wants to see sound and safe ipl...
its very crucial season for ipl... not only from the commercial point of view but also to show to the world that cricket in india is as safe as anywhere around in the world...
while security men will be doing their bit but i appeal to all fans and country men that we should treat ourselves as the invisible arm supporting them and should not think that its not our job... we all should be aware and alert to the possibilities of threats and inform the concerning authorities in case of any suspicious person or activity around us... lets have fun but at the same time... be responsible...
so my mantra for IPL3 will be – fun with responsibility...
on fun part... i wish to see this year final between delhi daredevils and mumbai indians purely from the existing rivalry point of view... i tell you if this happens the intensity of the contest will be just unbelievable...
though i will be keeping an eye on our domestic player's performances as well but i can already see manish pandey and yousuf pathan making it really big this season... and i won't be surprised if pandey boards the flight to the caribbean t20 world cup adventure due to happen next...
on bowling front... although some of the most prized caps were fast bowlers in the ipl auction this time... but i believe spinners will again be the key... the summer season has started so i don't think the dew factor will count that much... they will make their presence felt with batsmen hell bent on making most of them...
how i wish that boundary rope stay back to where it belong and not come up (unlike fielders) to kill the fun...
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