Cricket news, analysis and gossip with a South Asian spin by Dileep Premachandran. Subscribe to a feed of this Times Online blog at http://timesonline.typepad.com/the_doosra/rss.xml
The day the ICC World T20 starts in England is a day of departure for the Doosra. We started more than 18 months ago with a series between India and Pakistan, and finished with the IPL's South African adventure. Along the way, there were great innings, matchwinning spells, racism controversies and the rapid growth of the game's most abbreviated format. Some of these topics provoked heated debate, and I'd like to thank everyone that took part. Many of you didn't see things as I did, and that definitely made for more lively threads. I'd like to thank all the regulars and I do hope many of you will follow my writing either on the new blog, or on twitter. Most of all, I'd like to thank James, Frank, Tim and everyone else that made this possible. It's been fun.
As a former generation of Indian cricketers could tell you, a modest total is often enough to win a major final. So it was at the Wanderers as the Deccan Chargers put up 143 on the board and then fielded magnificently to stop the Bangalore Royal Challengers six runs short. Spare a thought for Anil Kumble. Six years ago, he watched from the bench as India were annihilated in a World Cup final at this very venue. This time, he did all that could be asked of him, getting Adam Gilchrist for a duck on his way to sensational figures of 4 for 16. Sadly, some of his star batsmen lost their nerve when it mattered, and the Chargers' heroes held theirs.
Rahul Dravid won't look back with any pleasure at the attempted paddle that saw his leg stump knocked out, while Ross Taylor will wonder how he managed to pull one straight to the man in the deep. And what of Robin Uthappa, whose tactics in the final over could be called mindless at best? But this wasn't just about Bangalore's mistakes. Having made 33 with the bat, Andrew Symonds took out Taylor and Virat Kohli in the same over, changing the game decisively. There are few better impact players in the game and if Australia don't win the Ashes comfortably this summer, Andrew Hilditch and his colleagues should be dragged off to the loony bin.
And what about Gilchrist, who may have failed with the bat but marshalled his bowling resources so superbly? The one-in-a-generation-cricketer tag is often abused by writers and commentators, but in Gilchrist's case, he has been so much more than that. He's right up there with Bradman, Tendulkar, Richards and Warne.
The IPL was initially promoted as the marriage of cricket and Bollywood entertainment, and the Chargers are certainly a story scripted in Mumbai. Bottom of the pile with two wins last season, and now top of the heap. No praise too high for Gilchrist or Darren Lehmann, whose relaxed coaching style was just what some of his players needed.
My enduring memory though will be of Kumble walking off at the end with his head bowed. A sad sad reminder that Atlas can't shoulder the burden on his own all the time.
The form guide says Bangalore, but how can you ever discount a team led by the greatest big-match player in history? In three World Cup finals, Adam Gilchrist never scored less than 50. His breathtaking assault at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown stands apart from any one-day innings ever played. Even Viv Richards and Collis King at their most damaging in the 1979 couldn't match what he did to Sri Lanka's bowlers that day. The Chargers' problem though has been a reliance on Gilchrist in the key games. No doubt that Anil Kumble will look to bowl himself and get Gilchrist early. Herschelle Gibbs and Andrew Symonds are creatures of instinct, and far more mercurial, while Rohit Sharma doesn't always hold it together till the end. And what plan will Gilchrist and Darren Lehmann come up with for Manish Pandey, the new batting sensation of the tournament? Bangalore are unlikely to risk Dale Steyn after such a long absence, and that will mean another searching examination for Vinay Kumar, who certainly hasn't led the side down so far. The key man though might be the other Kumar, Praveen, whose ability to move the ball around makes him so dangerous in the Power Play. One of the most memorable passages of play I've seen came in a Test match in Chennai five years ago. That ended with Kumble bowling Gilchrist behind his legs. If he can manage something similar on Sunday evening, then Mr Final may yet leave one empty-handed.
So I got that prediction wrong, and I'm delighted I did. The Royal Challengers' resurgence has been the big story of the second IPL, and I wonder what Kevin Pietersen is thinking now back in England. Bought with so much fanfare at the auction in Goa, and with so little to show for it. Instead, it's been one old-stager, Kumble, and two young guns, Manish Pandey and Virat Kohli, that have really lit up the last few games. Through in typically committed displays from the likes of Jacques Kallis (with the ball), Dravid and Roelof van der Merwe, and it's not hard to see why Bangalore have brushed aside the Daredevils, the Chargers and the Super Kings (twice). After a poor start with the ball today, there were ruthless the rest of the game. Kallis led the way. Having conceded 13 in his opening over, he took 1 for 13 in the next three. Tidy spells from Kumble and van der Merwe piled on the pressure, and there were two more wickets for Vinay Kumar, who has strived hard to compensate for the loss of Dale Steyn. With the bat, it was the Pandey story again, though Dravid showed glimpses of genuine class as well. If anything, Pandey batted even better than he had at Centurion the other night. The other U-19 star, Kohli, finished things off, with a straight six off Murali thrown in for good measure. Bangalore have now won eight of their last 10, and despite the threat posed by Gilchrist, Gibbs and Symonds, they'll be quietly confident of going all the way now. Despite the excellent job that he did with India, Kumble won little as captain. How sweet it would be if he could lay his hands on this trophy. It may look an abomination, but then he was never a shallow guy.
After Friday's one-sided upset victory for the Deccan Chargers, it would be tempting to back another underdog. In some ways, the Royal Challengers have been THE story of the second half of the competition, winning seven of their last nine games en route to third place in the table. Anil Kumble's sheer strength of will has helped drag the team from the bottom to such heights, and much credit should also go to the senior players and Ray Jennings, who coaches with a passion not seen in too many. The Chennai Super Kings have been in patchy form of late, but if they have Matthew Hayden back from injury, they'll be a very different proposition. It will also be an interesting clash of captaincy styles, with Kumble's intense approach up against MS Dhoni's more laidback one. A Bangalore victory would make for a Cinderella final between last year's two bottom sides, but my head tells me that Chennai will just be too strong.
After the match, Adam Gilchrist took out a piece of paper from his pocket. It had his prediction for Friday's semi-final. A Deccan Chargers win by six wickets. Who needs Nostradamus? It was another matter that the Chargers probably shouldn't have lost four wickets, with Gilchrist in such rampant mood. Tillakaratne Dilshan would have been reminded of the carnage at the Kensington Oval in 2007 when Gilchrist started to tee off, with Dirk Nannes going for 21 in the first over and Pradeep Sangwan for 17 in the third. By the time he was out, to the last ball before the strategy break, the Chargers had 102 on the board. Gilchrist had made 85 of them, from just 35 balls, and unlike with the David Warners of this world, there was hardly a crude slog in there. Nannes, Ashish Nehra and Sangwan had been superb for Delhi right through the tournament, but they're very good bowlers and not great ones. Faced with one of the all-time-great batsmen, they had no answers. Predictably, Gilchrist was asked afterwards about Glenn McGrath, his old mucker who spent the whole tournament on the Delhi bench. "I thought it would come up," he said with a laugh. "I was honestly surprised that he didn't bowl a ball all tournament." McGrath probably won't be back next year, and Delhi now have 12 months to reflect on what might have been. Once again, they've been caught cold at the penultimate stage, while the Chargers, bottom of the pile, march on to the final and the lucrative Champions League. Take a bow, Gilly. And Darren Lehmann.
The Deccan Chargers have never beaten the Delhi Daredevils, and having lost half their league games, few would back them to change that fact at Centurion later today. I have a sneaking suspicion though that this will be the Chargers' day. All they need is for Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs or Andrew Symonds to fire, and for RP Singh to get a couple of wickets up front. Delhi's top six is formidable, but they've also been guilty of sloppiness right through the tournament. Delhi are prohibitive favourites, but I'm backing the upset. Watch this space.
So, after more than a month of criss-crossing this vast country, it's come down to this, the final day of league matches. Sadly, unlike last year, when there was uncertainty over the semi-final line-up till the very last game, Thursday's matches are more about jockeying for position. The Delhi Daredevils already know that they'll be playing a semi-final at Centurion on Friday, while the Chennai Super Kings will take the field at the Wanderers on Saturday evening. Who faces them will be decided later today when the Deccan Chargers take on the Royal Challengers. The winners will play Chennai, while the losers have to turn around immediately and take on the Daredevils. Mathematically, the Kings XI Punjab - on 14 points like the Chargers and the Royal Challengers - are not out of it, but it's hard to see Bangalore being thrashed to such an extent that they miss out on the last four. I'm backing the disappointing Mumbai Indians to sign off on a high against the Daredevils, who will no doubt rest key players, and for the Royal Challengers to edge out the Chargers in a close game.
Had some trouble with uploading the preview this morning. I was backing the Royals and the Super Kings to win today, though the first of those predictions appears to have been ruined by brilliant bowling from Charl Langeveldt. Perhaps now, John Buchanan will realise why half the country has worked itself into such a lather over the non-selection of a bowler who has few peers in the T20 game. I still fancy the Super Kings to knock out the Kings XI. They'll be smarting after failing to defend 189 against the Knight Riders, but if Matthew Hayden rests again, Yuvraj and his boys have a half-decent chance.
The Delhi Daredevils are now overwhelming favourites to go all the way and win the tournament but my gut feel tells me that they could come off second-best against the Bangalore Royal Challengers at the Wanderers this afternoon. The Bangalore team has been transformed since Anil Kumble took over the captaincy and I think their greater desperation - they have to win both remaining games - will be the key factor in today's clash.
On paper, this should be a no-contest. The Knight Riders have lost their last five, while the Chennai Super Kings have moved into second place after stringing together some consistent results. What it doesn't tell you though is just how often the Knight Riders have slipped up at the last, losing games that they seemingly had in the bag. The Knight Riders have nothing at stake but pride, but they still find themselves in a position where they can play party-poopers. I don't think they will today though. Chennai's batting remains formidable, with Matthew Hayden the best Twenty20 batsman in the world. Suresh Raina adds hustle and flair, and we have yet to see the best of Albie Morkel and even MS Dhoni. This could be a rout.
If he can kept to the straight and narrow, Mohammad Asif might have been heading to the Twenty20 World Cup acclaimed as the best pace bowler in the world. Instead, he's confined to the wilderness, a cautionary tale of what too-much-too-soon can do to young talents. Asif is targetting the Champions Trophy in September as his comeback vehicle, and during a coaching stint in London, he spoke to the Pakpassion website. Fingers crossed that he doesn't fall off the rails again.
Spare a thought for the Deccan Chargers. Less than 24 hours after the thrilling win against the Knight Riders - Rohit Sharma taking 26 off Mashrafe Mortaza's final over - they're back in the fray at the Wanderers, against one of the teams desperate to keep them out of the semi-final picture. Kings XI Punjab won their last match against Delhi Daredevils, but despite fatigue and mental exhaustion being mitigating factors, I'm backing the Chargers to seal their last-four place here. Down in Bloemfontein, the Daredevils, with one foot already into the knockout stages, take on the Rajasthan Royals, who ruined the Mumbai Indians' campaign with that sensational two-run victory in Durban two nights ago. Delhi were poor against Kings XI and I expect that to be the wake-up call they need to best Rajasthan. The Royals may still make the semi-finals, but I think they'll be on tenterhooks a while longer.
Nothing less than victory will do for the Mumbai Indians at St. George's Park. After their astonishing choke against the Rajasthan Royals at Kingsmead, they must now win both their remaining games and hope that other results go their way. It doesn't help that the first of them is against the Chennai Super Kings, second in the table but so listless while losing to the Bangalore Royal Challengers in Durban. I expect the Super Kings to bounce back today to seal a semi-final slot and consign Mumbai to also-ran status. The Indians' only hope is to get Matthew Hayden early. The Bat has close to 486 runs in the competition and is looking as intimidating as ever. It would help Mumbai too if Tendulkar and Jayasuriya could find similar form. In the evening game at the Wanderers, the Deccan Chargers should be too strong for the Knight Riders. They will be smarting after losing a game they should have won easily against the Delhi Daredevils and if Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds are in the mood, the Knight Riders have no chance.
As things stand, six teams harbour hopes of joining the Delhi Daredevils in the semi-finals. The Mumbai Indians are skating on thin ice after last-over nerves and an inspired Rajasthan side thwarted them in Durban last night, and Kings XI Punjab are on the verge of elimination after losing six games. If they don't win against Delhi in Bloemfontein today, their quest will be over. For a side that finished second in the table before being eliminated by the Chennai Super Kings in the final four last year, it would be a serious fall from grace. Punjab need the victory far more, but I expect Delhi to prevail again. They've developed a happy knack of winning games they should lose and, like the Royals last year, are building up serious momentum for the business end of the tournament.
 The time for mistakes is now past. The Chennai Super Kings apart, none of the other teams playing at Kingsmead on Thursday can afford to lose. If they do, it will leave them depending on mathematical improbabilities to progress to the semi-final. The Royal Challengers have revived their campaign in the past fortnight with some strong performances under Anil Kumble's leadership, but they might just reach the end of the road today against an intimidating Chennai Super Kings batting line-up. Chennai's fielding has been dismal at times, but as long as Hayden, Raina and Dhoni continue to pound out the runs, no team will be able to live with them. Add in Murali and Shadab Jakati, the unknown X-factor, and you can see why so many expect Chennai to last the distance.
In the evening game, there's no margin for error for either the Mumbai Indians or the Rajasthan Royals. Without Warne, I sense the Royals will struggle. Mumbai lost a couple of games that they should have won at a canter, but the romp against Kings XI in the last game could be just the spur they need to surge up the table.
Tips: Super Kings and Indians.
The team that wins this is pretty much certain of a semi-final place. Delhi have been the form side in the competition, but the return of Andrew Symonds from Australia duty has certainly beefed up the Deccan Chargers line-up. Delhi have been sloppy at times in this competition, and I think they may suffer a blip here. For Deccan, selection is a bit of a conundrum, with Chaminda Vaas and Dwayne Smith both justifying their inclusion. But how much longer can Herschelle Gibbs be kept out? The toss could be vital since it's Durban and batting first may be the way to go.
Prediction: Chargers
 For three teams still hoping to make the semi-finals, Tuesday at Centurion represents a massive fork in the road. A loss here for either the Bangalore Royal Challengers, the Mumbai Indians or the Kings XI Punjab will be a huge setback, as they look to overhaul the Rajasthan Royals for the last semi-final place. While it's true that no team is assured of a place just yet, it's safe to say that the Delhi Daredevils, the Chennai Super Kings and the Deccan Chargers have one foot in the last four. That leaves four teams scrapping for a place, and the Royals look especially vulnerable after Warne's hamstring injury leaves them without their inspirational leader.
The Kolkata Knight Riders beat Bangalore twice last season, but this year's unending tale of woe should continue under gorgeous blue skies at Centurion. John Buchanan, the coach, seems so out of it that he was left asking the media questions after the last game. You have to feel for poor Brendon McCullum, handed the ultimate poisoned chalice. The Knight Riders have shown some signs of improvement, but I still expect Bangalore to win, especially if Dale Steyn gets a game.
Brett Lee's return has lent the Kings XI bowling some teeth, but I think the Mumbai Indians will prevail under lights. JP Duminy is in exceptional form, and Tendulkar, at some stage, is going to reprise the sparkling batting of the opening week. The sight of Lee at the top of his run-up could be just the spur he needs.
Two teams with legitimate semi-final aspirations, but journeying in opposite directions. The Deccan Chargers, after their last-place finish last season, have been the upwardly mobile side of IPL 2, while the Rajasthan Royals have slipped a little after their romp to the title last year. Cricket Australia's decision to cotton-wool Shane Watson is a big blow to their hopes of retaining the title, with Dimitri Mascarenhas and Tyron Henderson having made nothing like the same impact. Just a point separates the two sides in the table, but the Chargers have come back down to Earth after winning their first four. I still think their bowling's vulnerable, and if Graeme Smith and Yusuf Pathan can get going, I fancy the Royals to pull this one off. Their bowling has always been exceptional, but there are question marks over the batting line-up. The clash between Warne and Gilchrist will also be intriguing. With Kings XI Punjab and the Mumbai Indians also jostling for a semi-final place, neither side will want to slip up. Prediction: The Royals in a close game.
For the Mumbai Indians, Sunday could mark the end of the IPL road. Failure to beat the Royal Challengers at St. George's Park will almost certainly mean that they miss out on the last four. They fiddled around with the order with disastrous results in the last game against Delhi, and fans won't be cheered by the thought that Bangalore thumped them by nine wickets at the first time of asking. But I do expect Mumbai to win today, just as I expect Delhi to hammer one final conclusive nail into the Knight Rider coffin. On paper, that game at the Wanderers should be the biggest mismatch of all. But can Sourav Ganguly, who revived his Test career at that very venue, salvage some pride for the most dismal outfit in the competition?
It's astonishing that a team that started the tournament so well should find themselves in such a dire situation, and that too of their own making. The Mumbai Indians are running out of time and chances in the tussle for a semi-final place, and this evening's clash with the Delhi Daredevils, far happier with five wins out of seven, now assumes the air of a must-win game. I think they will too, with big performances from Tendulkar, Jayasuriya and Malinga. Delhi have a superb side, but they've shown worrying signs of switching off at times in all their games so far. I think their greater desperation will see Mumbai through.
Some coaches want more foreign players in the side, but the Rajasthan Royals continue to show everyone how it should be done. More than anyone else, Shane Warne and the management team of Darren Berry and Jeremy Snape have understood the importance of the Indian contingent. On Wednesday, they were at the forefront again, with Amit Singh winning match of the man honours for a brilliant spell of 4 for 19 that include clever changes of pace, yorkers and probing deliveries from just short of a length. A superb spell from Ravindra Jadeja too, who scalped 3 for 15. And just to emphasise the futility of the more-foreigner argument, Naman Ojha came out and smacked a wonderful unbeaten 52 to take the team home with five overs to spare. Are you watching, Knight Riders?
Another beautiful morning at Centurion, and the music's blaring as the teams prepare for the first game of a double-header. Two of the in-form teams go head to head first, with the Bangalore Royal Challengers taking on the Rajasthan Royals. Both have had convincing wins against other fancied sides, but I just expect Bangalore to be too strong today. Anil Kumble was a surprise pick to succeed Kevin Pietersen has captain, but he's done little wrong since. Credit too to Ray Jennings for trying to sort out some of the youngsters with a little too much attitude. The man would be the perfect Under-19/development side coach. Expect Chennai's irresistible momentum to carry them through in the evening game. Kings XI Punjab need a bit more bowling teeth, and right now the Chennai batsman are scoring for fun. If Yuvraj Singh's team are to stand any chance, they need to get Matthew Hayden and Suresh Raina out pretty early. But that still leaves MS Dhoni and Albie Morkel. Predictions: A southern double, Bangalore and Chennai.
Both these teams started the tournament in fine fashion before going through significant blips. How they recover will determine which team makes the last four and which one misses out. The Chargers have lost three on the trot, and Mumbai blew a winnable game against Kings XI Punjab before being thrashed by the Royal Challengers. With Fidel Edwards now tormenting English batsmen at Lord's, the Chargers' bowling lacks teeth, and there could be a run riot if Tendulkar and Jayasuriya get going. On the batting side of things, the Chargers badly need Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs to fire. If they do, they have a chance, even though a bowling attack with Lasith Malinga will certainly pose problems. Prediction: Indians to prevail.
Didn't have the Internet sorted out in Johannesburg till after the game, but the Chennai Super Kings won as I expected them to. Still very tight at the top, with just two points separating seven teams. Two teams that won in PE last weekend clash in Durban today. Both Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab have revived their season, but with such a logjam at the top of the table, neither can afford a slip-up. I still have my doubts about the Kings XI bowling and I fancy the Royals to win this. The second game should be straightforward. The Knight Riders are awful, and the Delhi Daredevils surely won't slip up too many times. Under lights though, the toss will be crucial. Even with their formidable top order, Delhi might struggle if they have to chase under lights. Good thing then that they're playing a team that hasn't won a full-length game, whether batting first or second. Tips: The Royals and Daredevils.
Anotehr gorgeous day at St. George's Park. Sadly, the game involves the one team that have been anything but pretty to watch this IPL. Logic tells you that the Knight Riders stand no chance against a rejuvenated Kings XI but who knows what might happen if Brendon McCullum suddenly finds his batting feet. My gut tells me Kolkata might pull off a shock, but I'll go with logic and back Yuvraj's men. The evening game is far trickier to call. The Royal Challengers have stitched two wins together, with Anil Kumble in magnificent form with the ball, while the Mumbai Indians have looked less than awesome in their last two outings. I'm still back my pre-tournament favourites to prevail though. That said, the toss could play a much greater role under lights at the Wanderers than it will on this lovely, sunny day in PE.
Well, well. Two weeks in, and it really is anyone's tournament to win. Well, count out the hapless Knight Riders. Even the Bangalore Royal Challengers have put together a two-match winning run, and you've also had Kings XI Punjab climb their way up the table. Deccan and Delhi have experienced a wobble each, and Mumbai, despite looking the most accomplished outfit in the competition, have lost twice. Last year's finalists, Rajasthan and Chennai, don't look so hot, and there's no breakaway leader at the top of the standing as we near halfway. I'll be at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth this afternoon to see the Chargers take on the Royals. The Chargers' bubble has burst, and I fancy the Royals to edge them out in this game as well, despite the controversy over Kamran Khan's action. Elsewhere, Delhi take on Chennai in a repeat of one of the more exciting matches we've seen so far. Still no game for Glenn McGrath, kept out by the outstanding form of Dirk Nannes, but I do fancy them to see off a Chennai side that have been overly reliant on Matthew Hayden and Suresh Raina for runs so far.
Two intriguing match-ups. Delhi, many people's pick to take the title, up against Deccan Chargers, as exceptional this season as they were hapless last year. Deccan boast the tournament's only unbeaten record, but I fancy the Daredevils to end that. The reverse against Rajasthan should have jolted them out of any sense of complacency, and they certainly won't run into a roadblock like Yusuf Pathan again. With Deccan, you still get the feeling that it comes down largely to Gilchrist and Gibbs. Also, how effective will the bowling be once Fidel Edwards leaves? In the repeat of last year's final, Chennai Super Kings have no option but to win. They lost three times to the Royals last season, and while the momentum seems to be with Shane Warne's men, I'm picking Dhoni's side to buck the losing trend. The desperation alone could get them over the line. Lose this, and their chances of making the last four are exceedingly bleak.
Less than a fortnight into the tournament, and two of the most hyped teams face what has now become almost a must-win encounter. The Royal Challengers started off by upsetting the Royals, but have sank like a stone since. As for the Knight Riders, anonymous blogs apart, they have made next to no impact. It's a big game in more ways than one. It will be Kevin Pietersen's last appearance before he heads off to England, while Chris Gayle will soon be following suit, leaving the Kolkata side even more precariously placed. Dale Steyn has been off-colour and hasn't played the last two games, but you sense that he must for Bangalore to have any chance. The top-order batting also needs tweaking. Robin Uthappa is no opener in these conditions, and they could do worse than use Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor at the top. Perhaps the confident Virat Kohli can come in earlier too. Kolkata were decimated by Tendulkar and Jayasuriya in their last game, and Sourav Ganguly has looked their best player so far. They need far more from Gayle and Ajantha Mendis, and must hope that Brendon McCullum's slump is not a permanent one. I still fancy Bangalore to edge this one. Ray Jennings has been making noises, and some of the players must know that they're on final orders at Last Chance Saloon. The evening game is an interesting match-up, between a rejuvenated Kings XI Punjab side and the rampant Mumbai Indians. I still feel the Kings XI bowling is too raw, and if Mumbai's old boys play like they did on Monday, they'll have no chance. Not with Malinga to spear in his yorkers as well. Tips: Royal Challengers and Indians.
Only one match today. And as well as Shane Warne has led the Royals in the field, it's hard to see how their ultra-brittle batting will stand up to the Delhi Daredevils. That said, this is the first game at Centurion and no one's really sure how the pitch will play. The defending champs will be desperate to get back on track, but I just can't see it happening against a Daredevils side that has most bases covered. It says a lot when you can afford to leave Glenn McGrath on the bench!
Just over a week in, and there's been no pattern to the results in the IPL. Some of last year's powerful sides look decidedly vulnerable, while the Deccan Chargers, so utterly inept last time, top the table. Having seen off Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians in their last game, they now take on MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings. I fancy their winning run will end here, though they remain an excellent bet to reach the last four. Elsewhere, Kolkata must pick themselves up from the disappointment of the Super-Over loss to Rajasthan as they take on the Mumbai Indians in Port Elizabeth. I'd have the Indians as strong favourites, though all it takes is 10 overs of Chris Gayle mayhem for predictions to look stupid. After Irfan dominated the tussle of the Pathan brothers yesterday, it will be interesting to see how Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly square up against each other. Oh, and congratulations to Rahul Dravid and his wife, Vijeeta. Samit now has a little brother. The misfiring Royal Challengers, so dependent on him for runs so far, will be hoping that he doesn't get too used to home comforts. My prediction score so far: 6/13 (good thing I don't have an account with Ladbrokes!)
Given their recent blips, it's hard to see Bangalore turning over Delhi. Will Kevin Pietersen leave the IPL with a captaincy record ever bit as depressing as his trip to India last winter? And having inspired a dramatic victory [albeit in the Super Over] against the Knight Riders, Shane Warne and Rajasthan will be in no mood to surrender the initiative. Punjab's bowlers could struggle again, though most people would just be happy if we got a game in Cape Town, where the advent of the IPL has resulted in a deluge.
The Chargers have been red-hot so far, but the Indians are my pick to go all the way, while Kolkata's woes should continue even against a Chennai side now deprived of Flintoff's services for the rest of the tournament. Given how he bowled in two of the games, that might not be such a bad thing.
Early in the season, and already it's nearing crunch time for a couple of teams. The Bangalore Royal Challengers started off thrashing the Rajasthan Royal, but have since lost two on the bounce. The Kings XI Punjab have seen both their games affected by rain, and been trumped in both. Neither side wants to be bringing up the bottom of the table come Friday night, and I fancy Kevin Pietersen's Royal Challengers to win this one. Punjab's lack of pace-bowling resources will continue to cost them dear.
According to an article in the New Indian Express, the Fake IPL Player, whose blog caused such a stir over the past week, has been caught, thought it's uncertain whether the authorities will reveal who it is. What the article does say is that our man is a former Kolkata Knight Rider who was on the verge of national selection in 2007. He now plays for another IPL franchise. Not exactly rocket science to work it out. The most controversial part of the article though is the suggestion that Sourav Ganguly [Lordie in the blog] might have been the source. Let's see what happens now. If rumours are to be believed, it's the stars rather than the players who are most cut up about what's been written. Apparently, some of the scandalous details hit really close to home. Postscript: The player that the New Indian Express alluded to has vehemently denied any involvement and is now threatening legal action. Curiouser and curiouser.
First, a thriller in Durban, with the Chennai Super Kings nearly pulling off the most improbable of run chases against the Delhi Daredevils, and then the drama at Newlands where 18-year-old Kamran Khan's final over gave the Rajasthan Royals a Super-Over life that had appeared very unlikely when Sourav Ganguly was batting so beautifully. And it didn't end there. Chris Gayle came out and smacked three consecutive fours off Kamran to set the Royals 16 to win. Tough ask? Not if you have Yusuf Pathan batting for you. A monstrous smite over extra-cover, a miscue for two straight down the ground, a big wallop over the rope at midwicket and a precise sweep for four. Business done, with two balls to spare. And all this against Ajantha Mendis, not the easiest spinner to pick or hit. Expect the crowds to throng through the turnstiles this weekend.
A clash of two of two of the favourites first up, as the Delhi Daredevils take on the Chennai Super Kings. Impossible to predict given the quality on each side, but I'll stick my neck out and go for Chennai. If Hayden's imposing form continues, they will be hard to contain. On the other side, you have Sehwag though. Tough call. I expect Rajasthan Royals to bounce back against Kolkata Knight Riders. Their batting needs to fire though, otherwise Messrs Gayle and McCullum could script another victory for the IPL's most colourful side.
Another clash of southern spices as Bangalore Royal Challengers take on the Deccan Chargers. Both teams have a win apiece, though Bangalore were thrashed out of sight by Chennai in their second game.
Watch for another blistering spell from Fidel Edwards, but I expect the Royal Challengers to prevail. Dale Steyn is due a searing spell and when it happens, the batsmen will have no answers.
Kings XI Punjab and the Mumbai Indians to prevail today in Durban. The Rajasthan Royals could still surprise me though.
Want to know what happens behind the scenes during the Indian Premier League? If Watergate had its Deep Throat, IPL season 2 has Fake IPL Player, whose blog entries are incendiary to put it mildly. Warning: Some of the posts would be rated NC-17. Also not recommended reading if you're a Shah Rukh Khan fan.
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Dileep Premachandran,
has been writing on Indian cricket for nearly a decade. An associate editor with Cricinfo, he’s also Asian cricket correspondent for the Sunday Times and Inside Sport. He fell in love with the game in the winter of 1982, watching the elegant batsmanship of Greg Chappell. King Viv, though, remains first among equals.
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