The IPL Watcher
Dhoni delivers, again
In a tricky situation with the bat? Is it a do-or-die limited-overs match? Just call MS Dhoni
Nikita Bastian
25-Feb-2013
In a tricky situation with the bat? Is it a do-or-die limited-overs match? Just call MS Dhoni. His cool, commanding innings for India in the World Cup final last year is one most Indian fans need no reminding about. He's done the same for his IPL team, Chennai Super Kings, quite a few times too: remember that must-win final league match for Super Kings against Kings XI Punjab in Dharamsala in 2010? Forty-four off 18 needed, Dhoni steps it up, Super Kings win with two balls to spare - that was the difference between not making the semi-finals and winning the title. In the low-scoring 2010 Champions League final, it was Dhoni who took Super Kings across the line, smacking two fours and a six in the 19th over on a slowish pitch, after Super Kings had lost two wickets in quick succession and needed 13 off 12.
Fast-forward two years, and Super Kings are in the IPL eliminator against Mumbai Indians. They've had a poor start (4 for 2 after three overs, to be exact). Ninety-four solid runs later, they've made a recovery, but are far from safe on the batsman-friendly Bangalore pitch. In walks Dhoni. During the season, he has already sealed a last-ball win for his team by knocking two off Rajasthan Royals' Stuart Binny at Chepauk, and then delivered in their crucial chase against Kolkata Knight Riders, taking 17 off Marchant de Lange in the penultimate over to put Super Kings on course.
And right on cue, he produces the innings his team needs. Playing in the destructive mode that typified the early part of his career, he deposits the largest six of the tournament, out of the Chinnaswamy Stadium and follows up with a signature helicopter shot off Lasith Malinga on his way to 51 off 20. End result: record for the IPL's fastest fifty almost broken, the format's premier fast bowler dispatched for over 10 an over, and Super Kings on top and halfway to a place in Friday's qualifier.
Full postNewsfile: May 23
'Captaincy has made me calmer' : Harbhajan Singh, the Mumbai Indians captain, has said captaincy has taught him to take things in his stride during difficult moments
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
'Captaincy has made me calmer': Harbhajan Singh, the Mumbai Indians captain, has said captaincy has taught him to take things in his stride during difficult moments. "From the last time, I have become calmer and more composed. I don't get angry when things don't go in our favour," Harbhajan told iplt20.com. "You should send positive vibes. There are times when you talk to your team-mates and suddenly you realise that you can pull off the game from the most difficult positions." When asked why he hadn't always bowled his quota of four overs, Harbhajan said such decisions were based on the match situation. "For the team's sake you have to take bold decisions of not bowling a bowler if he's not required, be it Harbhajan, Muralitharan or Warne," Harbhajan said. "It's not that I don't want to bowl - I always want to bowl as many overs that I can. But as a captain you have to stop thinking about yourself."
'Gambhir an outstanding leader': Kolkata Knight Riders wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum has credited the captain Gautam Gambhir for helping the team reach its first IPL final. "I think he is an outstanding leader. He is very soft spoken in the changing room and around the group and on the field he leads through performance and through actions," McCullum told iplt20.com. "Technically, he has been very good and has used Sunil Narine incredibly well and he has got a lot out of the other guys as well." McCullum, who opens the batting with Gambhir, said he has enjoyed watching him bat from the other end. Gambhir is also the leading run-scorer for Knight Riders so far, with 588 runs, including six fifties. "I, from the other end, try to give him strike that is probably the reverse of the roles what we thought of at the start of the tournament," McCullum said. "I can't take credit for the partnerships where he has played beautifully and made my work easy, and I just try to hang around and get him on strike."
Full postMumbai and Chennai's powerplay blues
The IPL eliminator match in Bangalore will be between two teams which have struggled in the first six overs - one with the bat, the other with the ball
S Rajesh
25-Feb-2013
The IPL eliminator match in Bangalore will be between two teams which have struggled in the first six overs - one with the bat, the other with the ball. Before the last game of their round-robin fixtures, when Sachin Tendulkar and Dwayne Smith added 163 unbeaten runs, Mumbai Indians' openers had put together 311 runs in 15 innings, at a run rate of 5.92 per over. Most of the time their batsmen haven't scored too many runs in the Powerplay overs, which is reflected in their stats in the table below: Mumbai Indians have scored at a rate of 6.34 in the first six overs, which is more than one run lower than the corresponding run rate for Chennai Super Kings.
However, Super Kings have struggled with the ball in the first six overs, taking only 17 wickets, the least among all teams in the round-robin stage of the IPL. They've conceded almost 40 runs per wicket, which is about ten runs poorer than Mumbai Indians' average. Ben Hilfenhaus has been an invaluable addition to their side because of the difference he has made with the new ball, taking six wickets during the Powerplay overs at an average of 13.33 and an economy rate of 5.00, but the others have struggled to take wickets in the first six: Doug Bollinger has one wicket at an average of 114, while Albie Morkel and R Ashwin have three each at averages of 60 and 49.
As a batting unit, Mumbai Indians' strength has been their display in the middle overs (7th to 15th overs), an aspect which has been Super Kings' weakness. Rohit Sharma (203 runs in 167 balls) and Ambati Rayudu (189 in 154) have been mainstays for Mumbai Indians during the middle overs. Suresh Raina has scored more runs than either of those two batsmen in the middle overs (217 in 171), but he has been dismissed ten times in the process. On the other hand, Rohit and Rayudu have together been dismissed ten times while scoring 392 runs in the middle overs.
| Team | Powerplay - ave, RR | 6.1-15 - Ave, RR | 15.1-20 - Ave, RR | Overall - Ave, RR |
| Mumbai Indians | 29.00, 6.34 | 34.15, 7.59 | 13.88, 8.60 | 23.84, 7.43 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 44.33, 7.38 | 25.55, 6.81 | 17.48, 9.46 | 25.36, 7.60 |
The prospect of Sehwag v Narine
The surprise package of IPL 2012 has undoubtedly been West Indies spinner Sunil Narine
Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan
25-Feb-2013
The surprise package of IPL 2012 has undoubtedly been West Indies spinner Sunil Narine. With a number of variations, he has confounded most top batsmen, including Sachin Tendulkar. Narine, the second-highest wicket-taker in this IPL season with 22 wickets, has an outstanding economy rate of 5.14. Delhi Daredevils won the first match against Kolkata Knight Riders comfortably but Knight Riders hit back in the return fixture winning by six wickets. However, Narine has not bowled a single ball to Virender Sehwag, who has been Delhi Daredevils' leading run-getter in IPL 2012. Sehwag, one of the most aggressive players of spin bowling, has the highest strike rate among batsmen with 300-plus runs. Given that Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders have finished in the top two, there is a significant possibility of Sehwag and Narine facing off twice in the remaining matches.
Narine has picked up a majority of his wickets in the final six-over period of the innings. His economy rate in the end overs (5.91) is exceptional given the high scoring rates. Against right-handers, he has been more successful overall. Not only has he dismissed them more often (14 wickets out of 22), he also has a better average (9.57) and economy rate (4.90) against right-handers. He has failed to dismiss a right-hander in the first six-over period of the innings but has a better record against left-handers in the same period. In the middle-over period (overs 7-14), Narine has been highly economical (economy rate of 3.76) and has tasted success against both right and left-handers. Eleven of his 14 wickets against right-handers have come in the final six-over period. In this phase of the innings, he has stunning numbers against right-handers (average 6.09 and economy rate 5.22). His corresponding numbers against left-handers in the same phase are slightly higher (12.66 and 6.70 respectively).
| Batsman type | Overs (1-6) | Overs (7-14) | Overs (15-20) | Overall |
| Right-hander | 0/-, 5.33 | 3/9.00, 3.85 | 11/6.09, 5.22 | 14/9.57, 4.90 |
| Left-hander | 2/8.33, 3.84 | 1/22.00, 3.66 | 5/12.66, 6.70 | 8/12.30, 5.16 |
| Overall | 2/32.50, 4.64 | 4/12.25, 3.76 | 16/8.93, 5.91 | 22/11.68, 5.14 |
The benchwarmer XI
Is much of the foreign talent in the IPL going to waste? That's a hot topic for debate, every time the IPL comes around
Nikita Bastian
25-Feb-2013
Is much of the foreign talent in the IPL going to waste? That's a hot topic for debate, every time the IPL comes around. If a team has a settled XI and no availability issues, that would mean that seven of the 11 overseas signings in the squad might not do much more than give the occasional interview from the dugout through the season. Should the number of foreigners allowed in the team be increased from four, or the number in the squad reduced from 11? After all, it does seem rather wasteful allowing this list of players to go 16 matches without getting a single game:
Tamim Iqbal, batsman, Pune Warriors:After a decent start to the tournament, Warriors fell away rapidly in main due to their repeated batting failures, yet the big-hitting Tamim, who was coming off a fine Asia Cup showing (think scores of 64, 70, 59 and 60) and is someone used to the slow-low subcontinent conditions, missed out.
Eoin Morgan, batsman, Kolkata Knight Riders: Arguably England's best limited-overs player - only Kevin Pietersen has more Twenty20 International runs - Morgan has lost out in a Knight Riders side that has had their best IPL season so far.
Full postNewsfile: May 22
'Criticism about Pathan, Tiwary unwarranted' - Akram: Wasim Akram, the Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach, has defended Yusuf Pathan and Manoj Tiwary despite their struggles with the bat this season, saying picking them was a gamble worth taking
Carlyle Laurie
25-Feb-2013
'Criticism about Pathan, Tiwary unwarranted' - Akram: Wasim Akram, the Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach, has defended Yusuf Pathan and Manoj Tiwary despite their struggles with the bat this season, saying picking them was a gamble worth taking. In the IPL this season, Pathan scored 153 from 14 innings at an average of 17.00 and Tiwary scored 251 at 25.10. “I have heard a lot of criticism about Yusuf, but I feel that it is unwarranted. Yusuf and Manoj are a different breed. They are game-changers but they will also have their off days. It is difficult to expect consistency from a number six or seven batsman in a T20 game,” Akram wrote in his column for ESPNStar.com. “We will be playing Delhi on a “neutral” ground on Tuesday. The Pune wicket is not ideal for free-flowing batting. The track looks a bit dodgy but whatever the conditions, it will be a level-playing field.”
'Sehwag, Taylor will be fit' - Simons: Delhi Daredevils coach Eric Simons has said Virender Sehwag and Ross Taylor have recovered from bouts of flu and will play in the qualifier against Kolkata Knight Riders today. "We didn't have an extended practice session for them. They had light practice as both were recovering from flu. We are confident that they will be fine," Simons said. “We have to be aware about where exactly we are emotionally and mentally. We have to do the basics correctly as it is important to end on the right side of the contest."
'IPL has given me confidence to succeed' - Dhawan: The Deccan Chargers opener Shikhar Dhawan, who scored 569 from 15 matches in the IPL, has said the tournament has given him the confidence to play against the best teams in the world. “It is easily one of the best IPL seasons. The confidence is back and I’m happy that I could score runs against some of the best bowlers of the world. I’m hungry for success,” Dhawan told Indian Express. “The West Indies tour with the India `A’ will be a big one (for me) and I’m determined to make it count.”
Full postNewsfile: May 21
‘Controversies won't affect IPL' - Clarke : Pune Warriors batsman Michael Clarke has said the IPL will remain popular despite several controversies coming to the fore recently
Carlyle Laurie
25-Feb-2013
‘Controversies won't affect IPL' - Clarke: Pune Warriors batsman Michael Clarke has said the IPL will remain popular despite several controversies coming to the fore recently. "While what is happening isn't very good for the tournament, I don't think these things will have any lasting impact on the well-being of the tournament,” Clarke told ESPNstar.com. “As long as the standard of cricket played is of the highest standard, we will see the tournament gaining in strength in the years to come."
'Call for a ban on IPL is ridiculous' - Shilpa Shetty: Shilpa Shetty, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, has said Indian politicians’ demand to ban the IPL over a spate of recent controversies is "ridiculous". "It is upsetting to see TV channels running down the IPL, for any silly reason, citing reasons of it giving a bad image to India! How one sided," Shetty tweeted. “It’s a league that has opened up opportunities and a platform for so many young cricketers from all over. Bringing pride, revenue and entertainment to India. While corruption and some politicians have caused so much embarrassment to our country, those instances are forgotten so easily! Strange."
'Not sure about my role in the future' - Dravid : Rahul Dravid, the Rajasthan Royals captain, has said he is unsure about his role in the side in the next IPL and will take a break before deciding on his future. Speaking after Royals’ 10-wicket defeat against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, Dravid said: “It was a pleasure to lead the side. I really don't know (about my future). I will have to think it over. I would take a break and decide about my role. I will talk to my family and also the management of the Rajasthan Royals about my role and then I would decide. My goal is to develop young players."
Full postSuper Kings' path to the playoffs
Chennai Super Kings have made it to the playoffs, with a little help from their friends
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Chennai Super Kings have made it to the playoffs, with a little help from their friends. Since their 16th and final league game on Thursday, a defeat to Kings XI Punjab, Super Kings’ fate depended on three other results. Here’s what happened to allow Super Kings to make it with 17 points:
Deccan Chargers v Rajasthan Royals, Hyderabad - Chargers won by five wickets
Royals, with 14 points, needed to win both their remaining games to qualify, but limped out of the tournament following a meek batting performance. Super Kings had their first lifeline.
Royals, with 14 points, needed to win both their remaining games to qualify, but limped out of the tournament following a meek batting performance. Super Kings had their first lifeline.
Kings XI Punjab v Delhi Daredevils, Dharamsala – Daredevils won by six wickets
Kings XI had 16 points going into their final league game. A win would have taken them past Super Kings. Kings XI couldn’t post a challenging score against the table-toppers and stumbled out. Super Kings had two out of three.
Kings XI had 16 points going into their final league game. A win would have taken them past Super Kings. Kings XI couldn’t post a challenging score against the table-toppers and stumbled out. Super Kings had two out of three.
Deccan Chargers v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Hyderabad – Chargers won by nine runs
Super Kings’ campaign looked all but over when Royal Challengers were set to chase a middling 133. Royal Challengers’ batsmen, however, imploded against the fiery Dale Steyn, and Super Kings were through in fourth place, edging out Royal Challengers on net run-rate.
Full postSuper Kings’ campaign looked all but over when Royal Challengers were set to chase a middling 133. Royal Challengers’ batsmen, however, imploded against the fiery Dale Steyn, and Super Kings were through in fourth place, edging out Royal Challengers on net run-rate.
Newsfile: May 19
‘I’ve never been mobbed before’ : Kings XI Punjab fast bowler, Parvinder Awana, has been one of the leading performers in IPL 2012 among uncapped Indian players, bowling quick and taking 17 wickets
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
‘I’ve never been mobbed before’: Kings XI Punjab fast bowler, Parvinder Awana, has been one of the leading performers in IPL 2012 among uncapped Indian players, bowling quick and taking 17 wickets. His success has not gone unnoticed. “I stepped out of the car [in McLeodganj, after the win against Chennai Super Kings] and was immediately surrounded by people. They told me I was bowling great and they loved watching me in action,” Awana said. “I’ve never been mobbed before. I promised to keep bowling quick.” He said he was a last minute signing for Kings XI this season after being spotted by former India batsman Vikram Rathore, who is the coach of Punjab’s Ranji Trophy side. “I had just 48 hours to go for signing up. Every year, teams would call me for nets without taking me, but this year even that didn’t look like happening. Initially I thought it was joke but the contract letter was in my email. I decided quickly, for I wanted to prove myself. And now, I want the purple cap.”
Ganguly insists he isn’t finished yet: Sourav Ganguly, the Pune Warriors captain, has said his team’s final league match, against Kolkata Knight Riders, will not be his farewell IPL game. The team owner, Subroto Roy, said earlier this month that Ganguly would be stepping down as captain and player and instead be taking on a mentoring role from next season. Ganguly, it appears, hasn’t been on the same page as his team owner. “I don’t know what Mr Roy has said, what he has been quoted as saying and whether they had shown the full interview or just part of it,” Ganguly told Mid-Day. “Don’t forget, the IPL contract is for three years.” Since Roy made those comments, Ganguly sat out the next game but returned to lead the side for their most recent match against Rajasthan Royals.
Royals have the best team spirit – Botha: Rajasthan Royals may have been eliminated from the tournament after their loss to Deccan Chargers, but the offspinner Johan Botha said there were many positives from their campaign, one of which was building a healthy team spirit. “I still think that we’ve got the best team spirit in the tournament and that’s what takes us through tight games,” Botha told IPLT20.com. “Our opening partnerships have been brilliant. Rahul and Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane) have given us great starts all the way through. Our bowling unit – we still haven’t lost a game when we got more than 160. That’s credit to the guys.”
Not thought about next season – Dravid Rajasthan Royals were eliminated from IPL 2012 after losing to Deccan Chargers on Friday and Rahul Dravid, the Royals captain, said he had not thought about 2013 yet. “I have not given a thought about my plans on the next edition of IPL,” he said. “Still a long way to go … I think overall we surprised quite a lot of people with our performance this season. There have been many positives for our team. Maybe, after the last game once I go back home and then experience what it means to be a retired cricketer, then realise that I have no job to do.”
Full postNewsfile: May 18
Virat Kohli fined : Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has been fined US$ 20,000 for his team's slow over-rate during the IPL match against Delhi Daredevils on Thursday
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Virat Kohli fined: Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has been fined US$ 20,000 for his team's slow over-rate during the IPL match against Delhi Daredevils on Thursday. At the end of the match, Royal Challengers Bangalore were assessed to be two overs behind the required rate after allowances were taken into consideration."Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has been fined after the team maintained a slow over rate during last night's DLF IPL match against Delhi Daredevils in Delhi," IPL said in a statement. Royal Challengers beat Daredevils by 21 runs in that game.
Good balance the secret – Gayle: Chris Gayle, who hit 13 sixes and seven fours in his 62-ball 128 in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s win over Delhi Daredevils, has said that body balance played a key role in hitting sixes. "The secret behind those sixes was good balance and it helps to have a pitch where the ball comes up to the bat,” Gayle said, after the win. “Hope I continue like this in the tournament.” He said he had focussed on not “moving around” too much while batting.
We are underdogs – Mahmood: Kings XI Punjab allrounder Azhar Mahmood has said that despite his team being underdogs, they have managed to beat the IPL’s big teams. Kings XI are sixth on the points table and face Delhi Daredevils in a must-win game on Saturday and Mahmood was confident of his team’s chances. “They [Daredevils] have got a good fast bowling side as well. So anything can happen,” Mahmood told iplt20.com. “We are confident and we will have to fight hard and play smart cricket.” Mahmood said the six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings on Thursday was a big boost for his team. “We are playing good cricket and credit goes to all the bowlers. [Parvinder] Awana, PK [Praveen Kumar], [Ryan] Harris and I bowled well. Gilly [Adam Gilchrist] batted brilliantly, and it was a great team performance.”
Full post