April 26, 2010
So the IPL 3 is finally over and CSK have won. But the cat-fight between Lalith Modi and BCCI has just begun. Throw in a few cabinet ministers and a intelligent, good looking, foreign educated ousted one with an attractive friend and you’ve got something that’ll do more to ad revenue than perhaps even the IPL final.
Honestly I’m quite ambivalent about the whole saga surrounding the IPL. Modi is perhaps getting more than his due for the heavy handedness that he’s personified, the BCCI may escape without getting it’s due of rotten tomatoes and worse.
On the other hand, it is sad that India and Indian cricket’s image is taking a hit; its face is now marred again with the soot of corruption and match fixing. Whether people admit it or not (for fear of BCCI’s financial clout), the skepticism surround match-fixing that was almost buried after the Sharjah era is in all fairness back. It is now almost ok to ask if the final was fixed and whether that was part of the reason for sending Pollard in down the order. But it is also baffling. Perhaps that is why I fell asleep half way through Mumbai’s innings maybe it was too lacklustre to be true (but I made up by watching the entire post match ceremony till 2 am).
This time it will take longer to douse the suspicions. But life will go on. With the T20 World Cup only days away, even before the withdrawal syndrome sets in, we’ll be discussing why Dale Steyn isn’t overrated.
6 Comments |
BCCI, Chennai, Cricket, ICC Twenty-Twenty World Cup, India, IPL, T-20 Cricket, T-20 Final | Tagged: BCCI, Chennai Super Kings, Chennai Super Kings vs. Mumbai India, CSK, Dale Steyn, IPL3, IPLGate, Lalith Modi, match fixing, Modi, Mumbai, Mumbai Indians, Shashi Tharoor, Steyn, T20, T20 cricket |
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Posted by vmminerva
April 14, 2010
One must feel for Sourav Ganguly. First there was the outburst after the loss to RCB, then this is the response. As a die-hard Sourav fan, I honestly felt for this loss of KKR, and switched off the TV midway thru the match, knowing its direction. It was like going down the memory lane thru the many defeats India suffered to a world class Australian team in the late 90s under Ganguly, the difference being that was Aus and this was merely Chennai (further, they were 50 over matches, which offers more hope for even in hopeless situations, but I will not go there now). So much for city-support, I live in Chennai and I don’t recall myself ever having supported them :), and proudly so. For more on the city support phenomenon, fellow blogger SP has a full fledged post here.
Feelings apart, KKR need to perform a lot better than this to deserve a place in the semis. The top order almost never fire; if they do, the middle order flops. Despite all odds, if they happen to put up a decent total, the bowlers find a way to mess it up royally. The team management seriously need to think about Ajit Agarkar’s place in team. It was shocking that he managed to get several games.
It will be interesting to see who all will qualify for the semis. Only Mumbai have a confirmed spot. KKR will now have to beat Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai with a very good run rate and hope the other results go their way.
4 Comments |
Chennai, Cricket, Ganguly, India, India-Aus series, Indian cricket, IPL, Sourav Ganguly, T-20 Cricket | Tagged: Agarkar, Ajit Agarkar, Chennai, Chennai Super Kings, Cricket, CSK, Ganguly, Ind-Aus series, India, Indian Premier League, IPL, IPL semi final, IPL3, KKR, Kolkata, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Rajastan Royals, Sourav Ganguly, T20, T20 cricket |
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Posted by vmminerva
April 8, 2010
Sourav Ganguly never fails to inspire, at least for me. Delhi started the 180-plus chase fairly well, even after the early departure of David Warner. Viru and Sehwag chased in a way that is charesteristic only to them. But Gambhir’s wicket was key. After that, though there was Sehwag at one end, the others seemed jittery.
Some excellent fielding from Dada and and inspired bowling changes help turn KKR’s fortunes. After Sehwag, it was all downhill. Good to see KKR win.
Woo hoo! Rock it, Dada.
3 Comments |
Cricket, Ganguly, India, Indian cricket, IPL, Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, T-20 Cricket | Tagged: Cricket, Dada, David Warner, DD, Delhi, Delhi Daredevils, Eden Gardens, Gambhir, Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, India, Indian cricket, Indian Premier League, IPL, IPL3, KKR, Kolkata, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, T20, Virender Sehwag, Viru |
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Posted by vmminerva
April 6, 2010
Kumble’s gamble of making three changes to the winning combination against Punjab, cost the Royal Challengers Bangalore dearly in their encounter against Delhi Daredevils. Dropping Steyn was not something I would have done, but Mithun compensated by getting Sehwag. Ross Taylor was not good enough on the day and neither has been Pietersen. There has been much hype about Pietersen being in the RCB camp. While KP is a great batsmen, he ins’t that much better than Dravid. Such being the case, RCB would have done better going with in-form Pandey. Furthermore Cameron White is best used as a substitute fielder. 🙂
RCB will have to get their socks up to maintain momentum and stop hoping Uthappa with hit a n 8 ball 22 when required.
1 Comment |
Anil Kumble, Bangalore, Cricket, Dravid, India, Indian cricket, IPL, Kumble, Pietersen, Rahul Dravid, Robin Uthappa, Sehwag, T-20 Cricket | Tagged: Anil Kumble, Bangalore, Bangalore Royal Challengers, Cameron White, Cricket, Dale Steyn, Dravid, India, Indian cricket, Indian Premier League, IPL, IPL3, Kevin Pietersen, Kumble, Mithun, Pietersen, Rahul Dravid, RCB, Robin Uthappa, Ross Taylor, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sehwag, Steyn, T20, T20 cricket, Taylor, Uthappa, White |
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Posted by vmminerva
March 20, 2010
Bottom two on the table are having a rough time. Rajasthan’s position is understandable – they are missing their Pak stars and Shane Watson. Punjab’s story is different – the talent is there. But the team spirit seams missing. They are looking like BRC from season 1. One wonders if it has anything to do with Sangakkara and his ways.
2 Comments |
Cricket, India, IPL, T-20 Cricket | Tagged: Cricket, India, Indian cricket, Indian Premier League, IPL, IPL 3, Kings XI Punjab, Kumar Sangakkara, Punjab, Rajastan Royals, Rajasthan, Sangakkara, Shane Watson, T20 |
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Posted by vmminerva