Top bowlers for Daredevils

S.No	Player	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	NB	Wd	RPO
1	Glenn McGrath	24	2	148	7	0	1	6.2
2	R Bhatia	13	0	96	6	0	2	7.4
3	Yo Mahesh	10	0	150	6	4	0	7.5
4	Mohammad Asif	20	0	180	6	1	4	9.0
5	Fervez Maharoof	11	0	78	4	0	2	7.1
6	Daniel Vettori	8	0	54	2	0	0	6.8
7	Shoaib Malik	6.3	0	57	2	1	3	9.0
8	Virendra Sehwag	5	0	53	2	0	0	10.6
9	P Sangwan	8	0	61	1	1	2	7.6
10	B Geeves	4	0	41	0	0	0	10.3

 

 

Gambhir finally gets the orange cap

I thought Mathew Hayden took the orange cap with him when he left for Australia. I guess he left it behind for someone to take over from his team. But, his team is too far behind to claim the orange cap. Gautam Gambhir the Delhi lad playing for Delhi Daredevils almost took the cap in his match against Kings XI Punjab and fell short by  16 runs. On the same day Kumar Sangakkara had the chance to claim the orange cap but he fell short too. It came a full circle for Gambhir in his match against Super Kings to play a controlled innings of 50 runs and claim the cap from the very team which has it right now, Super Kings. It is only appropriate for Gambhir to take the cap from Mathew Hayden and the Super Kings. His performances so far in this tournament are amazing. He is the only consistent player along with Rohit Sharma who are continuing their form from the 20-20 world championship in South Africa.

Gambhir’s spirited performances so far :

1. 58 against Rajastan Royals
2. 12 against Deccan Chargers
3. 18 against Kings XI Punjab
4. 86 against Royal Challengers
5. 50 against Super Kings

Possible players who can take the orange cap away from Gambhir tomorrow :

1. Rohit Sharma needs 47 runs to claim the orange cap from Gambhir tomorrow.
2. Adam Gilchrist needs 66 runs to claim the cap.
3. Yuvraj Singh needs 73 runs.
4. Kumar Sangakkara needs 50 runs

My money is on Rohit Sharma.

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Super Kings dethroned by Daredevils

In what has been a clinical and professional performance, Daredevils dethrone Super Kings at their home. Helped by some good bowling and explosive batting, Daredevils reached to the top of the heap, leaving Super Kings at the second spot and maybe to the start of an end. Super Kings missing the australian superstars Hayden and Hussey never looked in control of the game. Their batsmen fell short of their usual magic and they really never gained the momentum and managed to score 169.

That total can only be defended, if they get Sehwag out early, very early. He is the only devastating batsmen in the world cricket who can take the game away from you in minutes and probably the only one left in IPL. He is a match winner. The sixers and fours he hit are just great to watch. It really doesn’t matter how they come when Sehwag is batting. All you purists can watch the re-runs of your favorite test match saying that 20-20 is bad for cricket. But, only 20-20 has the reach to make cricket a truly global sport. Only, batsmen like Sehwag can take it to the masses. He is assisted (for the lack of a better word) by his deputy Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir is one batsman who continues to impress me with his consistency. He knows how to time his innings and how to play with Sehwag. With his innings of 50 he became the highest run scorer of the tournament with 224 runs followed by Sehwag with 207 runs.

I cannot really blame Dhoni or the Super Kings team as they were found wanting. When Hayden, Hussey and Oram leave they leave a gaping hole, which is very hard to fill. Dhoni found that out in this match. It is a tough road ahead for the Super Kings and this is where the tournament is wide open. There is no clear favorite right now, although Daredevils look like they can go all the way. Only problem with Daredevils is their batting is too brittle. If you can get Sehwag and Gambhir out there is no one to win the game for you. Shikar Dhawan might fancy his chance but it is really hard.

Daredevils won by 8 wickets.

People of Chennai and people in MA Chidambaram stadium has witnessed a chanceless innings which can only be played by Sehwag. Gosh, are they lucky. I wish this match was in Bangalore. I wish Rohit Sharma plays an innings like this tomorrow at Bangalore. I wish Rohit Sharma gets the orange cap tomorrow.

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Clash of the titans : Kings vs Devils

I have to use that for the lack of a better cliche. Today’s match between Daredevils and Super Kings should be an exciting encounter. We fall into this trap of thinking the top teams clash and will provide an exciting encounter. But, that did not happen so far in the tournament. We have seen 19 matches of which only 4 matches went to the final over. Dew and toss played a major role in deciding the winner. It is like win the toss and win the match. Only Super Kings broke this jinx and won while defending a modest target fighting the dew.

After today’s match, every team have played 5 matches each and the trend should be clear for the rest of the tournament and maybe the semi-finalists will emerge.

Super Kings team selection is very easy. They had seven international players at the start of the tournament. The lost Mathew Hayden, Jacob Oram, Mikey Hussey to their national tours. They are left with Albie Morkel, Muttaih Muralitharan, Stephen Fleming, Makhaya Ntini. It would be interesting to see if Dhoni makes an international spot available to the local players.

A lot depends on Suresh Raina for Super Kings prospects.

Daredevils’s Sehwag might have a tougher decision for team selection. While, he cannot leave Glenn McGrath and Mohammad Asif which strengthens their bowling, their batting looks brittle. If both Sehwag and Gambhir fail they do not have enough fire-power to keep the run rate going. Sehwag might be inclined to take both Shoaib Malik and AB Devillers to strengthen the batting. They might leave the bowling to Sehwag, Yo Mahesh and Shoaib Malik.

Shikhar Dhawan will be player to watch out for Daredevils.

Whoever wins this match might just find themselves in the semi-final.

Pidge is getting younger by the day

Glenn McGrath, and his uncanny resemblance with a bowling machine is rewarded in a big way. In a game format which is heavily dominated by batsmen and being a bowler is a cardinal sin, Pidge survived and triumphed. He took the fight to the opposition. He also proved the critics wrong who argued that bowlers are mere puppets to glamourize the batsmen. If you bowl wicket to wicket when batsmen are trying to score quick runs you always have a chance. He picked up four important wickets in 4 overs. When he finished his spell, his figures read 4-0-29-4. He was not happy after he bowled the last ball. Why? Because there was a misfield and the last ball went to a four. It should have been a single. Any other bowler would have been happy. But not McGrath. That is how much this aussie values the runs he gives away. In addition to that he has dived desperately to stop a boundary and touched the rope during the process. The video evidence was inconclusive to decide anything and they gave it in favor of the fielder. He saved 2 runs for his team.

This efforts have earned him the man of the match. Quite rightly so. I think Gautam Gambhir might be disappointed after his blistering knock of 86 runs which placed him in the top 10 run scorers. But, he wouldn’t complain. As we have seen 17 matches and not even a single time was a bowler rewarded. This is the first time in the tournament. I hope there will be many more to come.

If any younster has to learn any one thing from the tournament, I want them to learn this : discipline. No, sledging is not as glamorous as you think it is.  Staring at the opponent might be fine for one time but not bad mouthing. It is the utter discipline and healthy respect for learning the naunces of the game is what a youngster should learn. If you want a role model emulate McGrath, not Sreesanth. Sreesanth is like monkey whose tail is caught on fire and doesn’t know how to douse it. He is a lousy bowler, pathetic fielder above all a crying wuss. I repeat, please emulate McGrath, not Sreesanth. 

Rahul Dravid has this to say at the end of the match : “McGrath made the difference” — Indeed.

Daredevils won the match by 9 runs and move up a notch on the points table to second spot.

Kings XI Punjab pip Daredevils

Daredevils has won their past 2 matches with 9 wickets in hand. They were chasing. When they had to bat first they lost quick wickets and the middle order was found wanting. They really do not have anyone to fall back on once the opening pair of Sehwag and Gambhir departs. They scored a paltry 159 for the loss of 8 wickets. Manoj Tiwaray scored 39 runs.

Kings XI Punjab started their chase well with Simon Katich and Goel. They lost couple of wickets but Katich was not bothered with the happenings around him. He scored at will. He and Yuvraj had a healthy partnership to steer Punjab out of danger and closer to the victory. Yuvraj Singh did well to score 40 of 29 balls to take his side to victory.

Simon Katich who scored 75 of 52 balls was declared man of the match.

I cannot avoid my spiel about another aussie coming to the party, but cannot help it. Maybe, from tomorrow I will not be doing it that much. Australians are leaving for carribean tour tomorrow.

Video : Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians ad

Interesting dentist ad of IPL.

Daredevils won the toss and elect to bat against Punjab

It would be a face-off between Virendra Sehwag and Brett Lee. Lee playing his last IPL match would be raring to go and to leave an impression on the tournament. Sure, he would be missed so will the australians. Sehwag fresh from some clean hitting in Hyderabad with an unbeaten 94 would be ready to take on Brett Lee and company.

Gautam Gambhir, the in form batsman and the best T20 player in Indian circuit would like to play a big innings. Daredevils is one of the few teams which will not be affected by the australian tour. They have Glenn McGrath in their ranks who is retired and the resemblance between him and a bowling machcine is still uncanny.  Then there is the doppleganger of McGrath, Mohammad Asif.  What more can you ask for in a T20 competition where the bowler only gets 4 overs to make an impact and win the match for his side. Overall, a very balanced side and one of the favorites.

Kings XI Punjab fresh from a win and a controversy are ready to register one more win. Their chances against a victorious and balanced Daredevils are limited but If Yuvraj and Sangakkara can fire they have good chance. If they are batting first they need a good total for their bowlers to defend.

Daredevils start as favorites for this match. Maybe for the tournament.

Daredevils win comfortably

Two straight wins for Daredevils and two straight losses for Deccan Chargers. Dardevils won this with an overwhelming 7 overs to spare. This will come and haunt Chargers in the final net run rate calculations.

Man of the match : Virendra Sehwag

DLF Sixers :  Virendra Sehwag (6 Sixers)

Symonds bowls the costliest over of IPL

Those are the only numbers Sehwag can count. 4 and a 6. That’s a total of 30 from one over. It gets interesting. The bowler is our very own Andrew Symonds. This is entertaining stuff from the Daredevil of all. Sehwag is on 94 and the scores are tied and Vaas bowls a wide. Game’s up. Over.

Daredevils win the match. Deccan Chargers no match at all.

For a change its our home grown Sehwag who entertained agains a overseas player like the earlier matches.

With 94 from 41 balls, Sehwag rocks.