The IPL Watcher
Adopted-home advantage for CSK and Royals?
A look at how Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings might be impacted by not having any games at their primary home venues
Bishen Jeswant
13-May-2014
'Home advantage' is a term that is well understood in almost every sport. For a person who is not a sports buff, the hoo-haa around the home advantage may sometimes be difficult to comprehend, especially in relation to sports such as football that are played on largely the same-sized field across the world, with minimal variables, apart from the crowds. In cricket the home advantage is further exaggerated on account of the multiple variables that are involved. Home captains benefit from knowledge of the nature of the pitch, the angles on the ground (for field placements), the slopes and winds (to decide which end would suit a certain bowler), the speed of the outfield etc.
In the IPL, over the seasons, we have seen certain tracks often being in line with the character of the home teams - for example, Eden Gardens' slow tracks to support their spinners and Mohali's pitches sporting a green tinge to aid their pacers. This despite the fact that conditions don't vary greatly because, unlike in international cricket, all IPL matches are played in one country, usually India. Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings have the best home records in the IPL. Royals win 72% of their matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur while Super Kings win 67% of their matches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This year, though, Royals have been deprived of their home advantage because of the inability of the Rajasthan Cricket Association to acquire requisite state government clearances. Chepauk's exclusion is on similar lines, with the Tamil Nadu Municipal Corporation not giving a no-objection certificate to three new stands at the stadium, which the corporation argues are unlawfully constructed.
Below is a table setting out the IPL records of the eight franchises at their primary home venues. While Chennai and Rajasthan have the best home records, Delhi are by far the worst. Delhi Daredevils are the only team to have a win percentage of less than 50 at home. Chennai's highest score at Chepauk - 246 - is the best for any team at its home venue.
Full postAuction strategy to blame for Mumbai's decline?
The muddled thought process at the auction resulted in Mumbai Indians left with not enough cash to buy solid domestic players
Gaurav Kalra
12-May-2014
With three wins from nine matches, defending champions Mumbai Indians have the proverbial mountain to climb for a place in this year's knockouts. Their play has been patchy but were the seeds of this torrid summer sown earlier in the year by the retention and auction strategy adopted by the franchise?
Owned by one of the world's richest families, this team has historically thrived in their profligacy. This year though, flummoxed by revised auction rules, the franchise found itself in an unusual situation - of being one among eight equals.
In a carefully considered decision, the IPL allowed each franchise to retain up to five of its players but if you did so, your purse of 60 crore rupees was reduced by 39 crores, i.e. nearly two-thirds.
Full postThe all-round doubles
A look back on the players who have scored 40+ runs and taken four wickets or more in the same game, in the IPL
Bishen Jeswant
12-May-2014
There have been a total of five instances in the IPL where a player has scored more than 40 runs and picked up four wickets or more in the same game. Only one player has done this twice - Yuvraj Singh. However, his heroics went in vain on both occasions with his teams, Pune Warriors and Royal Challengers Bangalore, ending up on the losing side. All three other instances in which players achieved this feat came in victories. Scoring 40 runs or taking four wickets in a 120 ball innings is a feat in itself, let alone doing both in the same match. In the aftermath of the brutal assault by Steven Smith and James Faulker to nullify the Yuvraj show, here's a look at such all-round performances.
Yuvraj Singh, 83 & 4 for 35
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Rajasthan Royals, 11 May 2014
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Rajasthan Royals, 11 May 2014
Coming into the match low on confidence after a poor start to IPL 2014, Yuvraj is likely to have been very determined to shake off that figurative albatross (his price tag of Rs 14 crore) hanging around his neck. Hitting three fours in his first eight balls, Yuvraj got off to a brisk start, something that he has been having trouble doing off late. Audiences got to see the Yuvraj of old as he blitzed his way to 83 (off 38 balls), his highest T20 score. He came to back to send down four very efficient overs of left-arm spin, picking up the important wickets of Shane Watson and the well set Karun Nair (56) in his spell of 4 for 35. However, the fickle nature of T20 cricket is such that Steven Smith and James Faulkner's belligerence at the fag end of the match, scoring an astounding 65 runs 17 balls, meant that Yuvraj Singh would finish up on the losing side. This was the only time that such a performance was not rewarded with a Man-of-the-Match award.
Full postNo shaking off the albatross for Yuvraj
Yuvraj Singh, the 2014 IPL auction's most expensive buy, has made for terrible viewing so far in the tournament. Maybe it's time, for the sake of the player as well as his franchise, to bench him
Karthik Krishnaswamy
11-May-2014
On Friday, Shivam Sharma came on as Kings XI Punjab's third-change bowler to deliver his first over in senior cricket. After conceding a single to AB de Villiers off his first ball, he bowled five successive deliveries to Yuvraj Singh.
For four of those five deliveries, Yuvraj failed to put bat on ball. Twice he was beaten by turn while trying to defend. Once he missed a sweep and survived a loud lbw shout. The one ball he did manage to connect with popped into the off side off the leading edge of his bat.
It was a troubling innings from a troubled player. It came to an end in Shivam's next over, with an edge to slip off an attempted slog over the leg side. After that 11-ball torment, Yuvraj's stats for the IPL season looked like this: 144 runs in eight innings at an average of 20.57 and a strike rate of 102.12.
Full postCan Pollard do a Maxwell against Ashwin?
An analysis of R Ashwin's performances against big-hitting batsmen in the IPL
Bishen Jeswant
10-May-2014
After receiving a clattering at the hands of Glenn Maxwell, R Ashwin's confidence is unlikely to be at its highest. After that match - and even before, from some quarters - Ashwin has been receiving some flak for his bowling antics and impetuous witticisms. His round-the-stumps line and/or pause-and-deliver tactics have not found favour with all. Regardless, Ashwin has always been self-assured, but nothing worked last Wednesday when Glenn Maxwell took him apart - Maxwell scored 34 runs of 9 balls against Ashwin at a strike rate of 377.77. Kieron Pollard, the next big hitter whom Ashwin is up against, has been averaging 50+ in the tournament so far and would be anticipating the encounter.
Let's take a look at whether Ashwin's meltdown was a mere aberration or whether big-hitters have usually come up trumps against him. It cannot be without reason that MS Dhoni has often turned to Ashwin in the Powerplay. Also, according to Dhoni, Ashwin does put his hand up when required to bowl in pressure situations. As the below table shows, Ashwin is among the most economical bowlers in the Powerplay. Ashwin's economy rate in the Powerplay is 5.83, better than both Lasith Malinga and Dale Steyn. Also, he averages 19.44, making him a genuine wicket-taker in the Powerplay. This is also evidenced by the fact that he has taken 27 wickets during the Powerplay overs in the IPL. Ashwin is the only spinner amongst the top 24 wicket-takers in the Powerplay. Clearly, despite being a spinner, Ashwin has been both economical and wicket-taking in the Powerplay - no captain can ask for more.
Full postDaredevils' blunt bowling
Daredevils' bowling average of 46.28 isn't just the worst for any team this season; it's the worst by any team in any IPL season, and by quite a distance
S Rajesh
10-May-2014
The leading wicket-taker for Delhi Daredevils is Jaydev Unadkat, with six; the leading wicket-takers in the tournament are Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohit Sharma, with 14. Between the table toppers and Unadkat, there are 19 other bowlers who've taken more than six wickets, which is a good indicator of how the Daredevils have struggled with the ball this season.
In eight matches in IPL 2014, Daredevils have taken 28 wickets, which is an average of 3.5 wickets per match. In five of their eight matches, they've failed to take more than three wickets: in Daredevils' first game, Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 146 for 2 in a successful run-chase; a couple of games later, Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 184 for 1 against them batting first; and since the tournament returned to India, they've had the following totals scored against them - 156 for 3 by Rajasthan Royals, 181 for 2 by Chennai Super Kings, and 161 for 2 by Kolkata Knight Riders.
In the entire tournament, Daredevils have conceded 46.28 runs per wicket for their 28 scalps; Kings XI have taken more than twice as many wickets - 57, at an average of 22.33 - while Super Kings and Royals have taken 53 each. The next-highest bowling average in the tournament is 31.96 runs per wicket, for Mumbai Indians. For Daredevils, apart from Unadkat's six wickets at 35.33, Wayne Parnell has five wickets at 31, but most of the other bowlers have struggled for wickets: Mohammad Shami's four wickets have cost 66.75 each, while Shahbaz Nadeem, the left-arm spinner, has five at an average of 44.80. Rahul Sharma, Jimmy Neesham, Laxmi Ratan Shukla and JP Duminy have combined figures of 3 for 335 from 39 overs.
Full postThe unknowns
A list of Indian players who made their debut in the IPL before playing domestic cricket
Alagappan Muthu and Rachna Shetty
09-May-2014
Kings XI Punjab's Shivam Sharma was the latest player to make his IPL debut before playing any other cricket at the first-class, List A or Twenty20 level. On a day when he had an impressive outing against a strong Royal Challengers Bangalore side, we look at the six other players who were introduced by the IPL
Kamran Khan
was plucked from a T20 tournament in Mumbai and handed a $24,000 contract with Rajasthan Royals when he was 18 years old. Though small and wiry, the left-arm quick possessed ample promise, exemplified by his defence of seven runs in a Super Over against Knight Riders in 2009. Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and Sourav Ganguly are among his 12 T20 wickets in 11 matches but questions over the legality of his action stalled his career in senior cricket. He has two first-class matches to his credit, both for Colts Cricket Club in Sri Lanka.
was plucked from a T20 tournament in Mumbai and handed a $24,000 contract with Rajasthan Royals when he was 18 years old. Though small and wiry, the left-arm quick possessed ample promise, exemplified by his defence of seven runs in a Super Over against Knight Riders in 2009. Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and Sourav Ganguly are among his 12 T20 wickets in 11 matches but questions over the legality of his action stalled his career in senior cricket. He has two first-class matches to his credit, both for Colts Cricket Club in Sri Lanka.
Pravin Tambe
He added a hat-trick, this past Monday, to his burgeoning reputation as one of the most memorable rookies the IPL has unearthed. At 41, the canny legspinner was splitting his time between a day job and club cricket when he was surprisingly named in Mumbai's squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy last year. He didn't get to play any matches, but he fell into the Royals' radar. A stellar Champions League followed, in which he pipped Sunil Narine among others to become the leading wicket-taker. Called up to the Mumbai Ranji Trophy side for the first time, his first two matches in long-form cricket proved a difficult initiation. He currently averages 115 in first-class cricket, but he has shown he can excel in the shortest form, conceding 6.11 per over and striking every 15.7 balls.
Full postHe added a hat-trick, this past Monday, to his burgeoning reputation as one of the most memorable rookies the IPL has unearthed. At 41, the canny legspinner was splitting his time between a day job and club cricket when he was surprisingly named in Mumbai's squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy last year. He didn't get to play any matches, but he fell into the Royals' radar. A stellar Champions League followed, in which he pipped Sunil Narine among others to become the leading wicket-taker. Called up to the Mumbai Ranji Trophy side for the first time, his first two matches in long-form cricket proved a difficult initiation. He currently averages 115 in first-class cricket, but he has shown he can excel in the shortest form, conceding 6.11 per over and striking every 15.7 balls.
Big names on the bench
The IPL's auction system leaves overseas players such as Shaun Marsh, Thisara Perera and Samuel Badree entirely at their franchises' mercy
Karthik Krishnaswamy
09-May-2014
Shaun Marsh has an IPL average of 44.25, a strike-rate of 133.26, and he's sustained those numbers over 50 matches. He's easily been one of the most consistent batsmen in the history of the tournament. He hasn't played a single game this season, though, and that situation seems unlikely to change anytime. The situation, moreover, has nothing to do with his skills and everything to do with his nationality.
The same can be said of his Kings XI Punjab team-mate Thisara Perera. Last season, he was Sunrisers Hyderabad's joint second-highest wicket-taker and made 233 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 142.94, batting in the lower order.
As they have done all season, Marsh and Perera will most likely sit out their team's match against Royal Challengers Bangalore later tonight. Sitting in the dugout, watching their team-mates enjoy themselves in perfect batting conditions at Chinnaswamy Stadium, they might fight back dark thoughts of wishing injury upon them.
Full postA rare Narine flop
Sunil Narine was taken for more than nine runs an over for only the third time in his IPL career in the match against Delhi Daredevils
S Rajesh and Shiva Jayaraman
07-May-2014
Kolkata Knight Riders managed a rare victory against Delhi Daredevils, but an ever rarer event occurred during the match: Sunil Narine went at more than nine an over - the 38 runs he conceded are his most expensive figures in an IPL game. His previous-worst, in terms of runs conceded, was 37 in four in the 2012 final against Chennai Super Kings. Those are the only instances, in the 39 IPL games that Narine has played, when he has gone at more than nine an over. As it turned out, Kolkata Knight Riders won both those games - by five wickets in 2012 final, and by eight wickets against Delhi. While JP Duminy (18 off 7 balls) and Kedar Jadhav (13 off 7) were the two batsmen who scored heavily off Narine in Delhi, Suresh Raina took him apart in the 2012 final, scoring 28 from just 12 balls.
While Narine going for so many runs was unusual, what was also unusual was Narine's economy rate (9.50) being higher than the overall innings run rate of the opposition team (8.00). It's only the third such instance in Narine's IPL history - this had happened once each in the last two seasons.
One of them was against Kings XI Punjab in 2013, when he also went at more than eight an over: he conceded 33 in four,while Kings XI scored 157, a run rate of 7.85. In that game Narine had figures of 3 for 10 after three overs, but his fourth went for 23 - his most expensive IPL over - as Manpreet Gony struck him for 16 runs in three balls. Against Daredevils today, his third over - the 18th of the innings - went for 17, which equals his second-most expensive over in the IPL. In the 2012 IPL final, his most expensive over went for 14.
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