IPL – The Aftermath

               The Tournament which is touted as the major reason for the decreasing viwership for 50 over format and would have been the foremost reason if CWC 2011 would have failed (Thanks to Indai winning it ) interestingly ,was at the receiving end this time around .The very recently concluded IPL -IV were missing some elements right at the start of the season which most of the so called experts missed out rather emphasising on cricket over kill,quality,no.of teams,blah,blah,etc..,.  the major elements that IPL-IV lacked were

                i) The most unique feature about  IPL is  that , it is the only  tournament bringing in players from all around world together in a single tournament other than World Cup and as it followed CWC the uniquness is lost right at the start.

               ii)Then, IPL – IV lost  its sheen because of it is the first season were the profit calculations were almost overe even before a ball was bowled. so, the surprises in the commercial aspects were almost dried up.

               iii)USP’s of all the seasons

                              IPL-I    – India world T20 champs ,A venture which was the first of it’s kind (officially!!) ,shane warne & Rajasthan

                              IPL-II   – First Indian premier league in a foreign country (IPL in SA)

                              IPL-III – Back in India , parties ,bollywood,politics,Lalit modi,always in the news,conspiracies,scams………..and going on

                              IP-IV – India world 50 over champs,Two New teams, Lot of Player changes, n no. of matches, less close encounters, Malinga’s toe crushers, Gayle fireworks,Dhoni Wins.

         Further, we cannot say IPL-IV was a failure  certainly not. we can simply say it does not meet upto the expectations of the previous seasons. Further on this IPL was viewed by some people who according to me cannot be called as sports followers as though the matches are rigged or fixed. i have a question to ask them

“Can you explain  the emotions of those owners who are filthy rich but still sitting along the side lines in scorching heat and supporting their teams without considering their image (only a few of them are actors.)?”

This IPL also had controversies , but all sorrounding the outgoing Shane warne and all about the pitch and N. Srinivasan and his csk side which eventually won the trophy (retained to be specific!) . But one thing stays for sure –  the emotions of people always stays with their city or region to which they belong and they do not least care  about the venture which is largely Private and IPL in no time will reach high standards with each team already spend a whole lot on coaches and support staff and by in return the already proven result –

“INDIA THE CRICKETING SUPER POWER”

IPL this time glittered lightly. But Still,  it is an eternal star on it’s ascent . lets travel with it…………

Gilly & Marsh Forcibly Stops RCB wagon

So, this is how it feels! when i do the same

IPL – 63rd match,17 May 2011

Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore

The match between two teams of contrasting fortunes one team which has already made a startling comeback and qualified for the playoff’s , the other making a startling comeback after being written off to keep their slimmest hopes alive. The fortunes of both the teams rested upon their respective left handed openers and there ends the story. One fired big and one gone with the wind and the result reflected it.

The Start of the match was slightly delayed because of mild showers and that was the only point where KXIP would have been worried. In the Toss met the veteran great and a young & growing star of Indian cricket and Gilly won the toss and without any hesitation elected to bat. The start of the innings had no significance in the rest of the match until 4 overs when valthaty left when the score read 25/4 and nothing quite started and Gilly has scored just 2 runs of 8 balls until he started it all with his trademark pull over deep square leg for a six of Mithun and following that over both Marsh and Gilly found rhythm scoring a six and a four each and the in the next over  gilly gave gayle his own medicine scoring two consecutive biggies and came Langeveldt who was sent to the cleaners as gilly scored three consecutive biggies this time. KXIP,now have scored 99/1 in 10 overs . There were another 4 mediocre overs bowled  and KXIP were flowing freely then came Marsh should his wrath on van der Wath with 3 towering sixes and 3 classy fours in a single over (!30 runs!), this over gave the impetus and rain gods also got interested to the match and there was a small halt and when play resumed  it stayed the same as marsh  and gilly  were almost unstoppable until the 19.5 when gilly gave his wicket after scoring what can said as one of the most dominant centuries of this IPL that too from a veteran of his age and that too at a strike rate of  nearly 200 and one can say anything but vow!. Marsh out of no where holds the Orange cap to which he is no stranger at all. Before we could and even RCB could realize what was happening KXIP has set a towering total of 232 for RCB to breach and Much was expected of Gayle who is in murderous form.

RCB came into bat this time without Dilshan (do they miss him). Two Lefties in Gayle and S.Tiwary came in. praveen bowled the first over to gayle and to everybody’s shock bowled a maiden to Gayle(seriously!). Then to add another shock gayle was dismissed the next over by rhino for a 7ball duck(7ball duck? gayle?).then kohli the another ray of hope also knicked one to the slips leaving tiwary all the burden who also succumbed to the pressure pulling one to D.Huss in midwicket and  all was left for Ab.devillers , little known A.pathan and experienced  kaif but RR was touching the Himalayan peaks with every over and all succumbed to the scoreboard pressure and by 13 overs RCB were 89/7 with the required rate nearly 21 and there was nothing left to fight(even for pride). KXIP has shut out all doors and increased their net run rate which was their big worry and that to handsomely. RCB were eventually bowled out for 121 at the end of 17 overs and handsomely beaten by a margin of 111 runs and all the NRR that gayle gave took a big beating as it went  down to +0.283 from +.850 and KXIP are now 5th in the table and RCB retained their 1st position with only a match in their hand while others have two. KXIP is all smiles after the win and is expexting a fall by either KKR or MIand not likely CSK again because of NRR.

The tournament which did not live upto the expectations until now has a chance to live up now with three results going in the following manner

MI Vs RR- RR wins

KKR Vs PWI-PWI wins

KXIP Vs DC – KXIP wins

If these results happens as such then the final of the league matches would be most likely be going down as the most viewed match of the tournament as it will determine the final team to qualify for the playoffs and KXIP would already  be qualified upstaging a miracle and either KKR or MI would be facing down the barrel if it happens.