After the recent blasts in Jaipur, the Shiv Sena party demanded that no Pakistan Player be allowed to play (in IPL matches) held in Mumbai.
Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray put a dampener on the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders by demanding that no Pakistani player should be permitted to play in the league. “We have been opposing their (Pakistani) players here for many years now,” Uddhav told reporters here on the sidelines of a campaign for the forthcoming by-election from Thane to the Lok Sabha.
In the last two decades, Shiv Sena has consistently opposed Pakistani cricket teams’ visits to India and has even dug up pitches at venues to foil the matches.
update: The Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match went on peacefully, with Mumbai Indians winning the match easily in the fastest ever win in 20Twenty Cricket.
Both the teams are on a high at the moment and would like to keep the momentum going. Kolkata would like to win to plant their foot firmly for top four while Mumbai would like to enter into contention big time.
Men at the Helm
Ganguly has been a total inspiration in the last few matches while Sachin’s first game was a cake walk. It would be exciting to see the two maestros planning in opposite directions.
We have the bat
Mumbai have slight edge in batting because they have more batsmen in form. Their batting has got a big boost with Tendulkar returning. Kolkata need Ganguly or Hussey to lay a long innings.
We have the ball
Kolkata have the slightest of edges in this department owing to the greater star power in the line up. Otherwise bowlers on both sides have been quite impressive.
Patrolling Party
Kolkata weren’t considered much of a fielding unit but they have been simply suerb in last few matches. Mumbai too have fielded pretty well up till now.
High on betting meter
Mumbai are sitting pretty and high on the betting meter courtesy Pollock, Jayasuriya, Uthappa and the return of Tendulkar. Mumbai give 8 on 13 while Kolkata a 6 on 5.
Who gets the tick?
Mumbai have had too many things in their minds on and off the field. With the return of Sachin, its this teams turn to strike gold.
New Zealand Spinner Daniel Vettori who played for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League spoke about the upcoming tour while nursing his injured spinning finger. Speaking to the Independant he said - “It’s an incredibly important tour for us, coming off a series defeat against England at home,”.
On test Cricket and 20Twenty Cricket his views were more candid.
“I still see Test cricket as the pinnacle,” he says. “But I’m a realist, and the New Zealand cricket team is not financially as secure as some other nations round the world.” His own value in the IPL auction was a cool US$625,000 (£321,000). “Which was hugely surprising,” he says, “but none of those guys was there just for the money. It was highly competitive, and it gave me a great insight into other cricketers from around the world. I’d played against Glenn McGrath for 11 years, but now I know what it’s like to sit in a dressing room with him.
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.
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
New Zealand Spinner Daniel Vettori who played for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League spoke about the upcoming tour while nursing his injured spinning finger. Speaking to the Independant he said - “It’s an incredibly important tour for us, coming off a series defeat against England at home,”.