The franchise is incidentally named Pune Warriors India. However, they have been comprehensively defeated on the battlefield. A team which looked so promising at the start of the tournament, is now languishing at the bottom of the points table which leaves them to win five matches in a row to make it to the last four.
I believe that this Pune Warriors team is similar to what Kolkata Knight Riders was, in the inaugural season of the IPL. They managed to create all the hoopla in the media and started the season with a bang, winning two back-to-back matches. The team was hailed and said to have potential match-winners who could help win the IPL for the team.
But it all took a downward spiral as then Kolkata lost four matches
Deccan Chargers have to contend with another home game. But they would be hoping to atleast give their fans something to cheer about as the opposition is another relatively under-pressure team, Delhi Daredevils. Delhi is placed eight in the points table while Deccan is placed seventh. Deccan had beaten Delhi in the first leg in Delhi, but they are different team playing away. Both the teams have a lot in common, and this makes for a exciting match-up even though the result may not hold much significance.
The main reason for Deccan’s failures is the performances of their foreign players. Kumar Sangakkara may be a good captain, but his consistency with the bat is questionable. Today, he has a chance to fire with Delhi’s
The last time these two teams met, was at the Eden Gardens and Kochi won by a narrow 6-run margin. It might inspire them to a certain extent today but Kolkata have come a long way since then. They are now second on the points table, with six victories in nine games. Gautam Gambhir’s men make a formidable outfit now and would look to gain momentum by making it 1-1 in the head-to-head against Kochi, whose home record is worth mocking.
Kochi earned a much-needed win against Delhi in Delhi a few days back. Kochi’s strength is their bowling and it stepped up on a nippy Feroz Shah Kotla track. Prashant Parameswaran is their new find and has a bright future ahead of him. The pacer though has to produce a similar kind of
When he first sneaked into the Australian team, Cameron White was known to be the finisher who can lead Australia to big totals. It is because of his big-hitting reputation with his domestic side, Victoria that he was expected to do the very same for the national side.
Since the last two years, White has batted more often than not at No.5 for Australia and has actually been successful in helping the team retaining their World No.1 ranking till date. He has proved to be the difference between Australia and the rest of the world, atleast in the shorter formats of the game.
But White has had a poor string of scores since the ODI series against England in January. And not just that, White has forgotten how to slog the ball,
Deccan Chargers were on a high prior to the game, as they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore to pull off their first victory at home and of the tournament. However, now they are back to where they were at the beginning, on a low. And it is because of one man’s antics, Paul Valthaty.
Adam Gilchrist got it right from the toss, as he decided to field first on a pacy Hyderabad pitch. He knows the conditions inside out, having played here for two years. And he exploited his knowledge as captain and batsman. As captain, he bowled out Praveen Kumar early as he was not looking 100% fit, and Praveen proved to be economical as Deccan’s batsmen were not searching for the boundaries in that period of time. Gilly used Ryan Harris
This match was hyped to be as good as Manchester United vs. Chelsea or a New South Wales vs. Victoria. However, it did not live up to it as Chennai cruised past a hapless Bangalore side. Right from ball one, the match was always in favour of Chennai and they never looked back.
It is because of the return of ‘Mr.Cricket’, Michael Hussey. He hit a hundred in the last ODI in Bangladesh, and so was in good form coming into this game. The young Srikkanth Anirudha was dropped down the order to accommodate Hussey at the top alongside Murali Vijay. The plan was clear. Hussey was responsible to bat out the entire innings due to his risk-free batting while the others had to go for the big shots. And that is exactly what happened
In yet another double-header, Deccan Chargers play Kings XI Punjab at home come 8 pm primetime. Both the teams make look like mucks on paper, but their performances in the last games that they played, proved otherwise. Deccan beat a strong Bangalore team, while Punjab beat champions Chennai. So this makes it a contest worth to watch.
Ironically, the leaders of both the sides have some history, coming into this game. Adam Gilchrist will play in Hyderabad again, but this time as the captain of Kings XI Punjab and not Deccan Chargers. While Kumar Sangakkara takes charge of the Deccan Chargers, after leading Punjab the last season. It will be fascinating to see the reception Gilly gets tonight in his former den.
At 4 pm today, expect the MAC Stadium in Chennai to be packed. It is because Chennai Super Kings take on Royal Challengers Bangalore, in an high-octane match. What both the teams would be looking out for from a win, is to get things back on track after defeats in their previous matches.
Chennai will go in as slight favourites due to an envious home record. And if they bat first, it could spell disaster for Bangalore as the pitch traditionally slows down as the game progresses. The batting, though will be much powerful now that ‘Mr. Cricket’, Michael Hussey has joined the outfit. Hussey is likely to open with Murali Vijay, which could implying axing Scott Styris and dropping Srikkanth Anirudha down the order. Suresh
Today’s game at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur was expected to be in the hands of Rajasthan, as it is afterall their fortress. 9 wins out of 11 on this ground had to take some beating. And Kolkata somehow achieved the incredible, defeating Warney and co. at their own backyard, and that too comprehensively.
Gautam Gambhir was bold enough to field first after winning the toss, on a sluggish wicket. Rajasthan were batting first for the first time in the tournament and they looked nervous. What was surprising is that Watson was not sent in to open the batting with Dravid, and Kolkata’s bowlers took full advantage of it. Brett Lee made an excellent debut for the Knight Riders, and it inspired the other bowlers to
It was two weeks ago, when the Wankhede Stadium erupted in joy to see India lift the World Cup after 28 years. Come the IPL, and their favourite son Sachin Tendulkar will once again grace the field as the skipper of the Mumbai Indians. The team will be up against a demoralized Kochi, led by none other than Mahela Jayawardene, who hit a century in that final which eventually ended in a heartbreak for Sri Lanka. Jayawardene would look to make amends tonight, atleast in this IPL match.
Mumbai is on a roll. To beat Delhi and Bangalore in consecutive away games shows the strength of this team. The bowling in particular has been outstanding, and it has made the life of the batsmen far easier. Lasith Malinga will once again be
So, Rajasthan Royals play another home game on the trot and this time the opponents who might face stick would be Kolkata Knight Riders. Warney’s boys would look to make it three out of three whereas Kolkata would look to build a winning momentum, following the victory against Deccan Chargers at home.
Rajasthan have everything going right for them so far. The strategy this time around is simple. The seniors will lead from the front and inspire the youngsters to perform. Shane Warne looks evergreen and the skipper will be key to the Royals’ fortunes this evening with the ball and as a master tactician. Johan Botha has impressed with his all-round performance and he is Warne’s trump card, in case the team is in
Hyderabad will be enveloped in the mood of happiness atleast temporarily. Deccan Chargers have drawn first blood in the competition, defeating neighbours Royal Challengers Bangalore at home. And incidentally, Deccan fans have a lot more to cheer about as it is the team’s first home victory in three years. All the Telangana riots and political drama can be put to the backseat after long.
It can be called an ‘upset’ since Deccan were expected to be thrashed by a much powerful Bangalore side. However, Bangalore seemed to have got it tactically wrong right from the toss, when Dan Vettori decided to field first on a sluggish track. And then Sanga’s men could do nothing wrong.
The two players were the captains of their respective national sides at the World Cup 2011. Sri Lanka played New Zealand twice throughout the tournament, and the Lankans won both the times. Sangakkara would only be hoping that the same happens, as he leads the Deccan Chargers in tonight’s match against Vettori’s Royal Challengers Bangalore at home.
It is an important encounter for Deccan due to several reasons. The first being the obvious that the team has won a single match so far in the competition, and would be looking to scrap for two points. Secondly, Deccan Chargers have never won a match at home and a victory today would remove this mindset amongst all the players that they cannot live up to the expectations of
This is perhaps the most awaited match of the season. Pune Warriors take on Kochi Tuskers in Mumbai. The two newbies have a point to prove, and tomorrow’s match might just determine the teams’ path in the rest of the IPL.
Pune Warriors have several factors in their favour. Firstly, they are playing at home so crowds will come out in numbers to support them and that spurred them to victory against Kings XI Punjab in the first game. Secondly, a victory always boosts the morale of the team and they would look to carry forward their form against Kochi.
And then ofcourse comes the team. Yuvraj Singh appears to be relaxed as captain, and has returned to 100% fitness with his fielding being exceptional. He will have a key
It is a difficult question to answer, considering the nature of T-20 cricket which is described best in one word. Unpredictable. Yet, looking at the two teams at the moment, it could be the first mismatch of the IPL even before the game starts.
Firstly, lets have a look at Kings XI Punjab. The hosts seem to be the weakest in the IPL with the players they possess in their squad. There is no Yuvraj, Sangakkara or Jayawardene gracing the ‘Fly Emirates’ logo this time. Instead, Adam Gilchrist has been given the responsibility to almost single-handedly lead his team to the victory post in a match with his captaincy, wicket-keeping and of course batting.
If Punjab has to win tomorrow, it is Gilchrist who will have to take
