This match is the turning point for IPL and here is one performance by both teams where batsman and bowlers equally flourished - earlier we saw a good batting side and opening strikes really made a winning difference - but in this match the score and the total was virtually immaterial. Bowlers can make a big difference in a 20Twenty match - provided they are utilised appropiately and strategically.
Also, hats off to Ganguly for pulling off another stunner and to SRK for providing the needed boost to the team.
As we have mentioned earlier, every match from now on will require strategy and planning apart from skill and power. And once again the two shrewd planners - Shane and Ganguly are proving us correct. Also the fact that Shoiab Akhter is more of a test player than a 20Twenty guy but he was successful with 4 wickets in a row and that too plucking of the best batsmen and rendering the opponents powerless.
Also, Delhi middle order require serious attention and maybe a re-shuffle as this team has all the fire power but fails to deliver against pressure.
BCCI-appointed Commissioner Sudhir Nanavati has not recommended any further punishment for Harbhajan Singh in his report. “I will not recommend any sort of punishment to the players as I have been appointed to inquire about the incident under rule 32 of the BCCI,” Nanavati said.
Harbhajan’s 11 match IPL ban was good enough punishment, the report said. Sreesanth has also been let off as his involvement in the controversial incident was found to be non-provocative.Nanavati also mentioned in his report has also said that the incident was not pre-meditated.
“This is a level four offence and if a player is found guilty the quantum of sentence is ban on playing large number of matches or even for life time. Mohammad Azharauddin and Ajay Jadeja are facing life time ban,” said Nanavati in a reply to a question on what punishment a player can get if he is found guilty.
Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils at Kolkata
Delhi who got off to a rollicking start in the league have now lost four of their eight matches. Kolkata are too on same points and there’s not much difference in net run rates too.
Men at the Helm
Both the captains have led from the front to win games for their teams. Other thing both have in common is that, both have persuaded on field umpires to refer decisions to the third umpire. Issues apart, both have been doing fairly good jobs and have been aggressive and intensive.
We have the bat
If Delhi have had Sehwag and Gambhir performing, Kolkata have had Ganguly and Hussey performing. Other batsmen haven’t yet come to the party. De Villiers and Karthik for Delhi and Butt and Hafeez for Kolkata have pressure on them to perform well now.
We have the ball
Both the teams are pretty well matched in the bowling department too. If Delhi have Mc Grath and Asif, Kolkata have Ishant and Gul. While Kolkata have Murali Kartik, Delhi may just miss a quality spinner like Vettori.
Patrolling Party
Kolkata have fielded brilliantly in the last two matches. Delhi as its is, is the best fielding unit in the league. Watch out for some boundaries saved, couple of sharp catches and half chances for run out being converted.
High on betting meter
Why Delhi fans are disappointed? Because this team has much more potential. And that is why they are convincingly high on most betting meters. Kolkata give a return of well over hundred percent while Delhi a shade under eighty percent.
Who gets the tick?
Delhi are pretty good team to be at the fifth position in the table, but Kolkata have shown that they have the class. Watch out for Mc Grath v Ganguly, Asif v Butt, Ishant v Sehwag and Gul v Gambhir.
© IPL Cricket Forum
Yesterday was another disaster day for Bangalore - Yes they do need a bit of luck also like Dravid said at the end of the match.
“They outclassed us. They played some good cricket. Came out
and chased beautifully. We kept losing momentum and we probably needed
around 175-180. We fell well short of that. We needed a bit of luck
too. We need to raise our game and hope for better results”
- said Rahul David at the end of the match. Its pointless to try and put the blame on a particular person or persons. But of course defeat will always lead to such mud slinging. Its also obvious that only four team will make it to the final. So there will be four teams which will remain in the bottom rank of the table.
But Cricket does not end there. Nearly everyone felt sorry for Rahul - after all he is a nice human being and a good player. Its not the fact that he has many test players or players not suitable for 20Twenty - its a game of cricket and a 20Twenty situation even happens in one day cricket and also in test matches - so many balls and so many runs is a common feature in cricket.
Also one can do little with the like of Brandon McCullum and Shaun Marsh batting at their all time best.
What this team lacks is a team-spirit - loyalty to the team - and a zeal to win and perform. Lets hope Rahul and his boys cover it up with some good performance in the remaining matches.
TOI reported today that an IPL cricket betting racket was busted at Mumbai by the MIDC police with the arrest of 10 persons from an Andheri hotel room recently. Bets were accepted on phone for all the IPL 20-20 matches. The accused are shop owners and businessmen from across Mumbai. The kingpin, Yogesh alias Sadi from Gujarat, is wanted, police said.
Amongst the arrested persons, Harilal Nisar (43) was identified as the main bookie. Kanti Chheda (34), who has also been arrested, arranged for all the money. Nisar works at his brother’s sari shop while Chheda runs Sakhi Sarees at Malad’s Natraj market.
A team of officers carried out a raid and found nine men placing bets on the match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab XI. A notepad containing details of transactions of that day alone was recovered, apart from Rs 2.10 lakh in cash, 12 cellphones as well as other equipment used for gambling and stationery,” said zonal DCP K M M Prasanna.
Based on leads provided by the men, Chheda was picked up from his Malad home. The police will be checking the cellphone records of all the accused.
Incidentally, the hotel charges Rs 2,000 per day for a room. But the accused had a paid a sum of Rs 4,500 per day. They have been accepting bets from customers on phone and used to place the bets at the hotel room, ever since the IPL tournament began. “We will also question the hotel management,” a police officer said.
The other accused include Raoji Savla (59) who owns Arihant mobile store, M Vora (52) who owns Jyoti Agarbattis at Vashi, Paramshi Nandu (49) who runs Om Medical Store at Santacruz, Khimji Rabia (54) who runs Mahavir Electrical and Hardware at Ghatkopar (E), R Gala (48) who owns an art gallery in Santacruz - TOI added
