Kuch Kuch NAHIN hota hai...........

Kolkata knight riders is trying hard to come up with a win initially and then to carry on the momentum into the following matches. First step in that is pretty hard to come by their way. Brendon Macullum has not clicked at all in this tournament. Gayle had to play a different role in all the matches since his support at the other end is absent. Dada always has the problem to focus on the game alone. He has been supported by Shahrukh Khan with all the multi captaincy theory, his peace talks with Dada to convince that Macullum would be leading the side. Somewhere deep down in his mind or rather on top of his mind, Dada would be thinking that his opening slot is deprived by the likes of Macullum and Gayle opening in all the matches.

Statements like "Dada is a dude" and "We love Dada! the whole country loves Dada", made by Shahrukh is not influencing Dada to come up with match winning knocks. Shahrukh is a success story always. Cricket is teaching some game to king Khan, how defeat should be handled. There are news spreading that SRK is planning to sell his franchise. One cannot even say that he gave his sincere effort to make this a winning combination.

Macullum is trying to bring the best out of everybody. He is a good captain, but he fails to get the winning combination striking for them. Ishant Sharma is much improved bowler. But he hardly has support from the other end. Ajit Agarkar has come to a state wherein, he does not have anything pushing him to come up with good performances. Some argue that Money involved in this IPL is pushing people to go the extra mile. Examples like Ajit Agarkar proves that Money may not be the moivating factor for beloved sport. Its just not happening for him. Ashish Nehra is another bowler, who tries his level best, but deep down he may think that his comeback is a mere impossibility. Ashok Dinda is not a major contributor.

Last IPL, Ricky ponting & Shoaib Akhtar were part of this side, who took the major chunk of responsibility in their respective departments. I feel Ricky Ponting would have cherished leading this side. Macullum is not leading by example and half the job of Captaincy is taken care effectively, once Captain leads by scoring the runs or picking the wickets (in few cases). Shoaib Akhtar can run through a side in any form of the game. Even in their presence, last time, KKR could not come to semi finals stage.

That makes me wonder whether IPL is a platform designed to show Shahrukh Khan a loser. Once he sells off KKR to somebody, they might find their luck turn towards winning ways. Hardcore Cricket lovers were actually getting frustrated with the involvement of Bollywood celebrities and their verbal spat with some of the cricketing legends. Sunil Gavaskar, for all his experience, would have seen varied set of administration and the way to run a team. Finally Shahrukh Khan learned things by actually undergoing it the tough way. I honestly believe Sunil Gavaskar won the argument finally.

Cricketing brain would still feel that there is an outside chance for KKR to crawl back into the semi finals. Sad news is that Chris Gayle is not available for the entire tournament and as of now, only he is the run scoring machine for KKR.

The time Dada spent for selecting the cheerleaders for the tournament, along with Shahrukh, if only he would have spent it for preparing himself for the tournament, he would have been a force to reckon with. But, all said and done, Dada has always been around with controversy surrounding him.

To summarise, I dont see KKR in semi finals in IPL season 2.

Prashy.

Is Kumble trying to turn the fortune ?

Three consecutive wins for Bangalore royal challengers. KP's sign off for this season opened the gates for some positive vibes within the team I guess.

Kumble is such a positive sportsman, he passes on those vibes to others in the team. He clearly knows his trump cards in all the departments. In Bowling department, he relies on himself first and Praveen kumar to deliver, when the chips are down. In Batting, he relies on Kallis and Boucher to finish the games on a winning note. Rest, who ever stands up on the respective day, he will use them to the fullest.

He definitely comes up with a plan for each and every player in the opposition team. Maybe, KP had plans. But I suppose Kumble puts it into practice more effectively. The match against Kings XI punjab was about holding the nerves and believing that match could turn any time around. Kumble's last but one over was exemplary. Praveen kumar bowled a fantastic last over. These 150 target matches are a real hit considering T-20, as the match heads to a nail biting finish in 95% cases.

Kings XI Punjab were off to a great start with 70 odd runs by not losing a wicket. To pull the match from that state to a 7 run win was good to watch. Kumble deserves applause for exhibiting his calmness under such tense situations. After all, he is an expert in that area. People cannot forget the Sydney test episode against Aussies. Atleast I remember that particular test match for the way Anil Kumble conducted himself after a cheap sportsmanship displayed by every single australian. Considering that, this would be have been a cake walk for Anil kumble and his men.

The match against Mumbai Indians was example of commanding performance. Three wickets from Dillon Du preez (another south african in BRC camp) hit hard on Mumbai indians' dream of piling up runs. I would like to stress on certain killer punch moves handled by Kumble.

1. Having an unorthodox slip position for Sachin tendulkar. It was a 2 and half slip(Not 2nd slip, nor 3rd slip). It worked for them and Rahul Dravid would have cherished taking catch off Sachin's bat in slips.

2. He did not bowl spinners at all before the strategic time out and MI's score read 53 for 3. Thats psychological hit, as Spinners are ruling roost in this tournament.

3. J P Duminy has a problem with short ball. There was an instance when Kallis bowled a short ball to Duminy, both Boucher (from behind the stumps) and Kallis were giving mouthful to J P Duminy about something. It definitely looked like they were knowing JP's weakness and were asking questions. Kumble would have discussed with the likes of Kallis and Boucher about J P Duminy's weakness, as they play together a lot.

4. Having picked Sachin and JP Duminy cheaply for low scores, Kumble ensured that Jayasuriya played a different innings, which helped BRC's cause a lot

5. Kumble is ready to bowl his best bowlers for the day, maximum overs allotted. When he gave away 18 runs from 2 overs, he took himself off the attack. He never bowled again.

All the above aspects mentioned make a good captain. Kumble is defintely one.

Kudos to Kallis and Uthappa to steer the team to a win. Good thing for Robin Uthappa was to come up with a match winning knock. But a day later, he would have felt that the effort did not fetch him a place in the T-20 squad for world cup. I truly believe, the place is taken away from him by none other than Suresh Raina. I mean, last T-20 world cup, Robin Uthappa was part of champions group. This time, Suresh Raina has pipped him out.

Lets see, how far Bangalore Royal challengers will keep us swayed in IPL season 2. I still could not see them in semi finals stage. They have got the momentum going with them. But Chennai, Deccan, Delhi and Rajasthan is my prediction for the semi finals clash. But I might be proved wrong...........

Thanks,

Prashy.

Bangalore Royal Challengers knows the art of losing

Last two matches, Bangalore Royal challengers are showing how to lose from a good winning position. Different players have different roles in ensuring a loss from very comfortable position.

Robin Uthappa, for starters is trying desparately to get a place for himself in India T-20 squad for the forthcoming world cup. Following are the focus areas for him.

1. At the end of 14 matches, overall 100 runs in his kitty
2. He is proving his quality as a wicket keeper too, when Dhoni, Captain of India T-20 could take care of that hands down
3. His worth as a fielder, wherein the captain is trying to hide him somewhere in the field, where the ball might not come. Apparently Kumble is giving some tips to Uthappa before the world cup

He is not helping Bangalore royal challengers a slightest with his presence in the squad.

Kevin Pietersen was looking awesome with his little innings, but this time, he forgot to SWITCH ON his SWITCH HIT. Vettori was too smart for him. KP does not come across a captain who can turn things on, in the field. He goes with the motion. After Kumble & Appanna bowled tight spells in the middle, ensuring required rate crossed ten run mark, KP should have been more active with his bowling mix. I believe he should have used less experienced bowlers during 13 to 16 and likes of Kallis for the end.

Fielding was pathetic, horrible, misplaced. There is no special fielder in Bangalore team. In T-20, a team can win match just because of the valliant fielding effort, as Rajasthan, Deccan chargers are proving match by match. Intensity could be seen to the naked eye. Bangalore Royal challengers' supporters knows which way the match is heading from the start. I bet nobody can disagree with me there.

Kallis and Boucher are real asset to this side. Fielding is not backing Kallis bowling effort. Boucher, in his first match this season knew his teammates' capabilities. His batting would be useful in future matches. Ross Taylor is capable of scoring individual hundred in T-20, but still he has not come good. Jesse ryder is on the wrong side of the tunnel.

Pankaj Kumar is no way a threat to any opposition. Both Sehwag and Gambhir got out in his bowlng trying to hit him out of the park. He does not beat the bat, atleast I do not recollect when he did that in the past. Akhil is a good fast bowler. But gives lot of width to the batsmen, who wait for that loose ball. Appanna seems to be a good prospect. There is another south african left arm spinner, Van der merwe waiting in the ranks.

Overall, I feel the rule posed by IPL Commiittee that only four foreigners should play in the playing eleven, seems to be a bit harsh on Bangalore royal challengers. If its other way around, they might pull off certain wins in the remaining matches to come. Oh, Rahul Dravid was missing from the playing eleven. His expertise would have been missed.

9 more matches to go.

• They could disturb some body else from entering semi finals
• A Consolation win against top seeds/teams
• Making sure that Bangalore does not end up as last team in the pool
• Fair play award

are the options avialble for the team.

Thanks,

Prashy.

Shane Warne - Icon of a different league

Rajasthan Royals match against Kolkata night ryders in IPL Season 2 could only be known for Shane Warne's Captaincy. His ability to make this happen, pushes him to be the best all rounder in business ever. For a change, I enjoyed a cricket match for the way a team was led. I am in search of adjectives to describe this Australian. There were lots of instances during the match, wherein Shane warne guided his men around like a true leader would.



Let me put it differently. This match could be considered as a separate case study for the topic "Leadership".



Instance 1

Believing that 150 is a winning target and making his team believe that he is not joking about his belief.

Instance 2

Starting their second innings with a Spinner, against the likes of Mcullum and Chris gayle. It clicked real good for them. I could notice a forward short leg fielder and a slip in second over bowled by Masceranhus. Why should that be done?. Is it because the ball will hit the inside edge of the bat in a 20-20 game and pop onto forward short leg's hands. Probably its done so that Batsmen will think, "What if that happens ?". Shane Warne instills the batsmen's mind to have negative thoughts, which hinders normal stroke play.



In lieu of that, the so called ordinary bowlers in the side becomes effective. Still, Gayle was taking the attack to these moves posed by Shane Warne. Two sixes in one over from Masceranhus was not helping the team's cause.

Instance 3

When he came into bowl, he had the task of picking Chris Gayle's wicket. His first over went for 5 runs and Yusuf at the other end gave away 17 runs. Shane Warne picked up Chris Gayle in his 2nd over. That left a slight hope in favour of Warne's men. When he accomplished his task of picking Gayle's wicket, he removed himself from the attack.



Genuine fast bowlers in his side, Kamran and Munaf started bowling from 9th over onwards. Its really easy for Shane Warne to switch his bowlers. But for Warne, New ball bowlers could be spinners also.

Instance 4

Almost every ball, he was making some adjustment to the field and asking bowlers to bowl according to it. He makes the changes in a way that the batsmen cannot miss it. Literally he stands right in front of batsmen and makes the moves. Psychological effect is created when each ball a batsmen have to think of his scoring shots. Amazing to watch Shane warne in action !

Instance 5

The action packed moment was the last ball, when Shane Warne dived to his left like a Viper attacking a prey and stopped the ball effecting a run out when they tried to go in for a second run. At this moment, I felt I had watched a true leader in action, showing different colours whatever situation demanded.

The match was pushed to Super over, a new concept in T-20 and he gives the confidence to a young bowler in the side. Kamran, who bowled a fantastic last over taking Dada's wicket, was handed over even precious task to give away minimal runs in one over. Gayle and Mcullum scored 15 runs and it was not at all enough for Yusuf Pathan's onslaught.

Shane Warne shows tremendous confidence in this young team, where there are no big names. He makes all this youngsters a warriors by his sheer leadership.

I bet, many would have missed a true leader in action, had they missed the match.

I hope by reading this, atleast you could catch on some cricketing moments which you missed by not seeing it Live.

Prashy.

Twenty - Twenty cricket is also a bowler friendly game

This particular blog is an effort to highlight key factors of 20-20 version, which might skip an viewer's eye. "The importance of Slow bowlers in 20-20". Cricket is a game with different angles to it and 20-20 is more of an entertainment part. A viewer gets really disappointed if he does not see the ball going over boundary lines at ease. But slow bowlers's job is to avoid such strokes being played and they want their boundary liners to jump, fly, skid, do whatever to make the batsmen earn every run.

IPL Season 2, so far, has shown to viewers how Bowlers can rule the game. Especially the slow bowlers, who takes the pace off the ball. The batsmen have to use all his muscle power to hit a ball which is not coming at the pace expected. Harbhajan, Kumble, Warne, vettori, Muralidharan all are cherishing south african wickets and through their spells, they are turning the match on their heads.

Kings XI Punjab were scoring at 10 runs per over in their rain reduced 12 over match against Delhi daredevils. Vettori, in this three over spell took 3 wickets for 15 runs and made sure, he not only slowed the run rate, but picked up crucial wickets to weaken the opponents. Its always tough for a new batsmen to step in and start belting the bowlers. Openers are exception to this, as new ball comes and hit their bat at a faster pace. Middle order batsmen have to judge the pace of wicket and slow bowlers will be in action during that time. Shorter version of the game will prove even tougher for middle order batsmen to excel as they do not have enough overs in their hands to decide on a target or chase down one. Thats the reason Opening bowlers try to pick up early wickets and dent the opposition in these shorter version very early.

Kumble's five wickets was an exhibition of Maestro reading the slowness of the wickets. He made sure that batsmen were desparately trying to hit him hard, ensuring false strokes from many. In this 20-20 versions, one will not find batsmen getting beaten and losing their wickets. Rather, it would be kind of wickets, where a batsmen gets hold out in the deep off a lofted shots. Shane Warne is a Ripper. He turns the ball in any goddamn wicket. He is a different class altogether. Harbhajan is more focussed towards containing runs and fools the batsmen with his odd Doosraas.

Muthaiah Muralidharan is another spinner, who ensured that Bangalore Royal challengers never came good in the middle overs, where there would have been an outside chance for them to stay alive. Wickets of Pietersen, Uthappa and Bishnoi were classy from him. His spell read 4 overs, 11 runs and 3 wickets. Its a great spell in any version of the game. Pietersen could purchase some wickets in his kitty.

As this tournament proceeds along, we will see more and more of this happening, as there are few grounds in South africa which is being used for this tournament. Same wickets will be used over and over. That explains the wear and tear of these pitches, which only benefits the slow bowlers more. Innings like the one Hayden played against Bangalore Royal challengers are expected more often. But I do want to capture in my blog, certain things which avoids so many similar innings like Hayden's.

I do hope, you enjoyed reading this.

See you again, with some other interesting topic.

Prashy.

Who better than Rahul and Kumble to save Bangalore's Fate ?

"Bangalore Royal challengers Team is not test team any more" - With the inclusion of Kevin Pietersen & Jesse Ryder and with the return of Robin Uthappa, Bangalore Royal challengers is a new look team. This is what the headlines of various newspaper read before the start of their first match.

With due credit to players like Kevin pietersen and Jesse Ryder for their achievement in International circuit, players who ensured a win out of no-where situation for Bangalore was Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble. The two old warhorse of Indian team, who values test cricket more than their life brought all their experience and kept the twenty twenty format interesting, I should say. But, going into the next game, again People would still doubt about their abilities for 20-20 game, questioning whether they are an asset to any team ? I want to bring to the forefront of readers how Indian Cricket board has conveyed wrong message about these 2 players to the world (ofcourse considering 20-20 format). Nobody would have told Rahul Dravid how to play under any circumstance. Rahul Dravid's innnings turned Bangalore Royal challenger's fate and made sure IPL season 2 started off well for Bangalore.

I strongly believe that any form of Cricket requires strategies. Rahul Dravid could easily provide the option for a team and its captain, wherin all the batsmen could play around him to build a winning score. Look at what Sachin Tendulkar could provide to Mumbai indians by adopting a similar strategy. He played the role of a Rahul Dravid for Mumbai. Both Mumbai and Bangalore ended up as winners. This is the strategy part I was mentioning earlier. Rahul Dravid's innings was even better in comparison with Sachin's innings. To come up with run a ball innings or even better at a stage, where all doors were shut for Bangalore requires such confidence in self. Rahul Dravid showed what a class act he is!

First part is setting a competitive score and next is to make sure you complete the formalities in other department. Credit to Kevin Pietersen for mixing his bowling options really smart, which ensured a comprehensive win. He knew Bangalore could pull the match only by picking all the ten wickets of Rajasthan Royals. Who better than Anil Kumble could provide that. I never knew Anil Kumble as run containing bowler. He is always a wicket taker and a five-for in 20-20 should shuss all the mouths who doubt his ability in T20 format. Do not forget! this is coming from a man, who has retired from all forms of the game 3 months back. But Kumble and Dravid is deprived more of their contributions for Indian cricket by our cricket board.

There were talks in the prelim shows, whether Rahul Dravid or ANil Kumble should play in the eleven. They proved their worth and as a fan of these two cricketing legends, I am happy that they were instrumental for Bangalore royal challenger's success in defeating Rajasthan royals (Winners of IPL Seaon 1).

Thanks for reading,

Prashy.