IPL-8 - Qualifier-II - CSK beat RCB once again

For the third time this season, CSK defeated RCB, this time by a narrow margin, to go through to the finals.

IPL-8 - Eliminator - RCB crush Rajasthan

Setting a huge target, RCB put enough runs to crush Rajasthan on their way to the second Qualifier.

IPL-8 - Match-46 - ABD storm hits Mumbai

AB De Viliers and his massive stand with Kohli meant that Mumbai had to scale a large mountain in vain.

IPL-8 - Match-40 - Gayle storm hits Punjab

Chris Gayle finally hit form to smash Punjab out of the game.

IPL-8 - Match-37 - CSK continue their stint at top

CSK defended their low score to come out on top against RCB.

IPL-8 - Match-26 - RCB crush Delhi

RCB crushed Delhi at their own backyard so much so that the R-B chart crashed! First time ever.

The Delhi team was bowled out before 20th over and the target was chased down in 11th!

IPL-8 - Match-22 - RCB beat Royals with ease

Backed by Mitchell Starc, RCB defeated Rajasthan Royals with ease.

IPL-8 - Match-20 - CSK ease past RCB

Ashish Nehra's continued impressive performance with the ball meant that CSK eased past RCB.

IPL-8 - Match-16 - Mumbai open their account

Mumbai needed a large score against RCB to open their account in the IPL.

IPL-8 Match-8 - Sunrisers thrash RCB

Warner and Dhawan combined well to take Sunrisers past RCB with ease.

IPL8 - Match-5 - Gayle leads RCB to victory

Despite not staying till the end, Gayle's continued assault meant that RCB went past KKR eventually in a comfortable manner.

IPL4 - Best of the rest

The IPL4 is over and CSK defended their crown successfully. RCB were not good enough in the final but which team would have been? Let me come up with a team of eleven consisting of players from the other teams who

• have done well in the latest tournament
• have 4 overseas players (just like the tournament guidelines)
• have players who are not veterans or injured or rested

What did the team look like? See below

1. Chris Gayle - any doubts on this gentleman, even though his national selectors are not interested in him.
2. Paul Valthaty - stand-out performance in the IPL that helped Punjab defeat CSK
3. Jacques Kallis - the best all-rounder in today's age
4. Virat Kohli - I would make him the captain of this team as well
5. Shaun Marsh - The best opening batsman that Australia never chooses
6. Ambati Rayudu - Wicket-keeper for the team as well as last-over specialist (a la Javed Miandad)
7. Shikhar Dhawan - 400 runs in the tournament without anyone noticing it!
8. Iqbal Abdulla - Best performance by a youngster
9. Lasith Malinga - again, no more arguments
10. Rahul Sharma - A definite future Indian spinner maybe not in test matches to start but definitely in the shorter version.
11. Sreenath Aravind - Left-arm opening bowler in contrast to Malinga's pace.

What do you think of this team? Any thoughts? Will they beat CSK? 

IPL4 - CSK defend their crown easily

MS Dhoni added another trophy today to his crowded cabinet - second one this year after the 50-over World Cup. Chennai Superkings are somewhat similar to how Australia were in the international cricket till late. The CSK team came prepared for the finals, knowing exactly what to do. Each member of the team were pumped up and having experienced a victory last year, they knew what needed to be done. RCB, on the other hand, had been runners-up once and seemed destined to repeat the performance once again.

When the first innings started, it was very evident how the two teams differed on the nerve-count. CSK were stealing extra runs while RCB were giving away over-throws - a reflection of the dominance of the match from very beginning. Murali Vijay and Michael Hussey have been doing a decent job as openers in this edition of IPL but today they rose to the occasion with a sterling performance. Vijay's confidence must have been boosted by his selection to the Windies tour - his booming sixes came out of the closet enabling CSK to run away from their opponents. Hussey, as his wont, rotated the strike and hit the big shots equally well. Though the batting fell away after the dismissal of the openers, the team ensured that they passed 200.

Nothing went according to plan for the RCB's bowlers. Their fielders also let them down in this crucial match by giving away runs when they were not present - Two tough chances were dropped off Vijay as well. Zaheer Khan bowled reasonably well but none of the other bowlers could make any impact. Aravind and Gayle took wickets in their last over to reduce their scoring but by then the horse had bolted.

After 205 was scored, RCB had their hopes on Chris Gayle to fire. Ashwin produced his magic to get rid of the dangerous Gayle in his first over - two balls that turned followed by one that went on with the line. This meant that the pair of Kohli and AB De Viliers had to do all the running. They hit the big shots and rotated the strike, keeping the match in interest, till Raina and Jakati produced their bits of brilliance. Even though wickets fell around him, Sourabh Tiwary did not make any effort to increase the run-scoring. He does not seem to be cut out for the big stage at this time.

Overall, CSK retained their core players which meant that they had a settled combination. No tinkering of the team was done - evidence was the fact that the same team played for six consecutive matches. Players like Southee and Aniruddha Srikkanth contributed in the earlier matches while not staying in the eleven later. The local Chennai players contributed as well - Badrinath was exceptional whenever the team was in trouble while Ashwin was the spearhead in the spin department. RCB came into the final becase of the heroics of Gayle and when the Caribbean failed, their hopes went up in a smoke. As far as Dhoni is concerned, it was a regular day at office for the cpatain.

What a captain, What a team!

Related articles

• IPL4 - the final lines are drawn (myhistoryisinteresting.blogspot.com)
• IPL4 - Raina takes CSK to the finals (myhistoryisinteresting.blogspot.com)
• IPL4 - Top 4 teams identified. (myhistoryisinteresting.blogspot.com)

IPL4 - the final lines are drawn

RCB made Mumbai rue their indifferent matches over their last week by thrashing them in Chennai. Chris Gayle started off with a powerful display against hapless Abu Ahmed (why did SRT do this mistake?). He was joined by his partner Mayank Agarwal, who took on Harbhajan Singh - yet another evidence that the Punjabi is losing his plot. Though the latter batsmen could not convert the start into a 200+ score, the target was much more than Mumbai could handle. Look at the worm below - the (R-B) difference was always over 40 at any point of time - signs that Mumbai Indians were never in the hunt during the chase.

Today, it will be the match between the South-Indian teams once again. The charismatic MSD against the cool Dan Vettori. There will be others who will contribute to the match but how the captains think out their strategy will be key. There are many mini-plots in the match - Gayle against Ashwin, Kohli vs Badrinath (for the Indian middle-order slot), Hussey vs Vettori, Morkel vs Mayank and so on. My favorites - CSK.

IPL4 - Raina takes CSK to the finals

Chennai Superkings came from behind to score a wonderful win over RCB (the same team that they lost to, in Bangalore few days back). Suresh Raina scored a quick-fire knock and overcame cramps at the end to guide his team to victory in the company of Albie Morkel. MS Dhoni had given the impetus after Badrinath steadied the ship with Raina. Altogether, a brilliant team effort by CSK to win in the last over.

The confidence the team has to chase down any score from any position is their biggest asset. The trust they show on players like Morkel or Raina was repaid at a very opportune moment. CSK scored 50 runs in the last 3 overs to win the match despite Gayle's heroics with the ball. The Caribbean failed with the bat but made up with the ball to increase his teams chances but to no avail.

Earlier, in the match, the bowlers led by Bollinger had done their bit to restrict RCB to a score that was eventually chased down. Though Virat Kohli helped RCB accelerate at the end, it proved to be less in the final analysis. The early dismissal of Chris Gayle made it easier for CSK. RCB, though, have another chance to make to the final in the next match while CSK are through to the finals at home.

IPL4 Match 50 - Gayle strikes twice at same place

Chris Gayle repeated his histrionics in Bangalore once again to take RCB to yet another convincing victory. Scary thought for the RCB Management that what will happen when law of averages catch up with Gayle but as of now, they are enjoying. Dilshan came to the party as well today and that spelt more trouble for Kochi.

IPL4 Match 47 - Gayle force sinks Punjab

In what was the most lop-sided contest in this IPL season, Chris Gayle led the way for his team by his scorching century and followed it up with a 3-wicket haul. The ground in Bangalore is relatively smaller compared to others around the country and Gayle made it look smaller with his large hits. Punjab was shocked by the impact shown by Gayle and collapsed against the huge target when it was their turn to bat.

IPL4 Match 24 - Gayle force hits KKR

An ex-KKR player and now an import for RCB, Chris Gayle smashed a century to help his team defeat KKR at Kolkata. The target was a stiff one but Gayle and Dilshan (and later Virat Kohli) reached the required score in a canter.

Related articles

• Bangalore confirm Gayle signing (espncricinfo.com)

IPL4 Match 8 - Mumbai thrash Bangalore

Mumbai showed how much they were ahead of the others by a power-packed performance against Bangalore. Restricting RCB to a score that they could chase without any issues, Mumbai Indians have showed that they are the team to beat in this IPL. Sachin Tendulkar and Ambati Rayudu orchestrated the chase so perfectly that they hardly broke a sweat in the process.

IPL4 - IPL becomes Indian again

It must have one hell of a weekend for all team owners that ended last night. The amount of money (even notionally) that they had to spend must have exhausted them physically and mentally. The team analysis has been done by various websites - Cricinfo has their analysis as well.

An interactive chart of the list of players selected can be accessed here. Google provides a good way to help users create their own analysis.

The chart shows the split of players selected by the franchises in the different specialities (batsmen, bowler, wicket-keeper, all-rounder, etc). Very surprising points come up here:

• Deccan Chargers and RCB dont have any all-rounders selected so far
• Rajasthan Royals dont have a designated wicket-keeper !!
• CSK and Kings XI are the ones who have spent a considerable amount on wicket-keepers (Dhoni and Sangakkara being the ones involved - no wonder)
• KKR, Pune and RCB have stacked their teams with batsmen
• Deccan Chargers have spent the most on bowlers
• Indian players are in demand...finally

The remaining players to be picked become crucial now - no wonder Dr.Mallya is all worried about them.