Two weeks down in the IPL and the excitement is just so riveting. The tournament is still wide open and finally the indomitable Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils have been beaten. There is no undefeated side in the tournament now and the third week promises to bring in some new surprises and changes to the TOP 4.
Unless Delhi and Deccan play horribly and they each repeat a performance from last year like Delhi did in the semi-final and Deccan did for the whole tournament, I think they are sure to be in the semi-finals this year. This means that the tournament is going to have a different set of semi-finalists.
Last years champs Rajasthan Royals, will really have to play out of their skins to get one of those spots while Mumbai, Chennai & Bangalore fight hard amongst themselves for the other one. Punjab will be the dark horse while Kolkata (sigh) they're going to be up for sale soon.
They are the biggest disappointment of this year's tournament. Just like last year they have a strong side on paper, however, a poor one shows up on the field. With all due respect to Brendon McCullum, he has very limited experience captaining a side at the highest level and it is showing in the way he is performing with the bat. Even after giving up the wicket-keeping duties he is unable to get the job done for his team. The statement he made above resigning from captaincy if his team does not get to the semi-finals is also evidence of his inexperience.
Harsha Boghle who is back on the air-waves again after I guess a termination of contract with ESPN-Star Sports has been fantasizing about the over 35's versus the under 23's (which I totally endorse) and to me, the over 35's, currently, are winning the show. Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Sachin Tendulkar, Herschelle Gibbs & Sanath Jayasuriya have all proved their prowess with the bat.
Shane Warne should surely be their captain for his leadership and success with the ball, Gilchrist should be his deputy and if they schedule a match like that, Glenn McGrath might get a game (LOL). The bowling department would also be bolstered by Muralitharan, Kumble, Kallis and Boucher keeping wickets. Sourav Ganguly would make the cut while VVS Laxman would the dark horse.
Balls of the week:
Ball #1:
K P Appanna (Royal Challengers) bowling A B DeVilliers (Delhi Daredevils) with a beauty, drawing him out, beating him in flight and the ball clipping off-stump.
Ball #2:
Lasith Malinga's (Mumbai Indians) devastating yorker that got rid off Venugopal Rao (Deccan Chargers)
Innings' of the Week
Innings 1: Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians) v Kolkata Knight Riders
Innings 2: Yusuf Pathan (Rajasthan Royals) v Delhi Daredevils
Favourite Commentator - Jeremy Coney
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