Indian Premier League and Cricket News by IPL Cricket Forum

Mumbai: Partho Mitra

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.

Tags: indian premier league, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, shiv sena

Editorial: Mohit Goyal

Indian Premier League Match Preview

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

Tags: asif, butt, Delhi Daredevils, gambhir, Ganguly, gul, Hussey, indian premier league, ishant, Kolkata Knight Riders, match preview, shoiab Akhtar, umar, Virender Sehwag

In the other game yesterday night which got reduced to 16 overs due to rain, Kolkata Knight Riders ended a run of four consecutive defeats to edge out Bangalore by five runs in a low-scoring and rain-affected match.

The Knight Riders batted first at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and compiled just 7 for 129 off 16 overs but it proved to be enough, with the Royal Challengers mustering only 4 for 124 from their 16.

David Hussey’s 26 off 12 balls was the top score for the Knight Riders while captain Sourav Ganguly chipped in with 20 before getting run out.Brad Hodge opened the innings while Dale Steyn took 3 for 27 for Bangalore.

It was with the ball that Ganguly was the unlikely hero, conceding just seven runs from his three overs while taking a wicket for the Knight Riders.

Mark Boucher smashed an unbeaten 50 and Cameron White managed 30 for the Royal Challengers, but it was not enough to meet the target.

Bangalore has now lost six of its eight matches in the tournament and its a mater of concern for the owner also. With the CEO Charu Sharma sacked swiftly and very little co-ordination or team work its a doubt if this team can make it to the first four.

Tags: bangalore, camaron white, charu sharma, dale steyn, Ganguly, indian premier league, Kolkata Knight Riders, mark Boucher, royal challengers

Ediitorial - Mohit Goyal 

Indian Premier League Match Preview

Kolkata Knight Riders v Bangalore Royal Challengers at Kolkata

Bangalore have been facing a lot of flack and being termed a test eleven while Kolkata who had been tagged favorites after the first two matches have lost four on the trot. Both will be out to prove their points.

Men at the Helm

They might say anything but the men at helm Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid have a lot to prove in the shortest version of the game. There is no doubt over their abilities but they need to put a stamp on this version by innovation, improvisation and adaptation.

We have the bat

None of the two teams has been batting well but Kolkata had a good game in terms of batting against Kings XI Punjab and that gives them an edge in this department. Ganguly needs to fire for them and so does Kallis for Bangalore.

We have the ball

Ishant has been a sensation with the ball for Kolkata but his costly last over against Punjab probably cost Kolkata the match. Other bowlers need to come good too. On the other hand, Bangalore are a superb bowling unit. Their bowlers have been doing well consistently. It’s their batting which has let them down. Watch out for Steyn and Zaheer.

Patrolling Party

Kolkata are not a great fielding unit but Hussey and Hafeez are live wires on the field. Bangalore took some sensational catches in the previous games but the last game was a fielding disaster for them. Kohli, Dravid and White are likely to come good.

High on betting meter

Kolkata are high on betting meter owing to their batters and home advantage. But a slow pitch could favour the visitors heavily.

Who gets the tick?

This may be dubbed as the clash of the minnows but it’s going to be a very exciting match. Probably its Bangalore’s turn to make the March

 

Tags: brandon, Ganguly, IPL - Bangalore Royal Challengers, IPL Match Preview, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rahul Dravid, Shoaib Akhtar

Shane Warne leads his team again to another victory defeating the Knight Riders by a decent margin of 45 Runs. Shane won the toss and decided to bat first in the scorching heat of 40 deg probably with a thought that the visitors will be worn out after fielding below the sun.

Rajasthan Royals just seem to be getting better with every match. For the Knight Riders, Ganguly and Hussey put on a good partnership but they couldn’t score at a brisk pace. It seemed he was mostly there to protect his wicket more than scoring.

While Shane Warne is coming into every match with specific strategies and with team fully charged up, Knight Riders seemed to be disoriented and a team lacking proper strategy. Its only a hope that each team realizes the true spirit of 20Twenty Cricket and work out specific plans before a match.

After Ganguly and Hussey the team fell like a heap of cards with a total of 151. Swapnil Asnodkar picked up the Man of the Match Award with 60 runs off 34 balls in which he scored 10 boundaries and one over boundary.

Rajasthan Royals: 196/7 (20.0 Ovs)
Kolkata Knight Riders: 151-all out (19.1 Ovs)

Tags: DLF IPL league, Ganguly, Hussey, Kolkata Knight Riders, loss, Rajasthan Royals, Rajatshna Royals, Shane Warne, win