Deccan Chargers ran out of charge

This is the first time I have witnessed a match in the stadium and I was not disappointed. Match went down till the last ball and I was expecting a bowl out. It all started when Ramiz Raja said “namaskara Benguluru“. Laxman won the toss and elected to field. Quite rightly so. Chargers did a good job of restricting Challengers to  156 runs. Nobody really excelled from the Challengers. There were very few hits and the crowd were getting edgy when Dravid was batting. Only exception to this is the mexican wave started by the audience. There was nothing exciting happening when Challengers were batting.

Chargers started their innings needing 157 to win and it looked like a easy task. Gilchrist started well with couple of boundaries but he could not carry on. Gibbs, still finding his feet in IPL never looked in control and holed out to Kumble. That brought our Mr. Cool Rohit Sharma to the crease. Laxman and Sharma batted with style and class. Bangalore witnessed some fine batting from the duo. They were totally in control of the match. Laxman brought up his 50 with a single and Sharma followed suit. He also became the highest run scorer of IPL surpassing Gambhir. What happened next is the turning point. That shot to long on was not really called for and Rohit has only himself to blame. Jaffer took a fine catch and that is the starting of the end for Chargers. They still got Afridi but you know him. He is a maverick. Dale Steyn pulled off a stunner to get rid off Afridi. Wickets fell within the next 2 overs and Chargers needed 19 runs of the last 6 balls. Sanjay Bangar came to the rescue. He sent two sixers to bring Chargers home to an ever elusive victory. Then he blundered by not taking a 2 when it was on offer. That was it for Chargers and home team emerged victorious.

Chargers were so close yet so far. They reach the bottom of the table yet again. It is almost certain that they are out of the tournament. They might be playing for pride now on. Some might argue that they still have a chance and they just have to win the next 8 games. That, to me is a miracle. I believe in miracles but not this miracle.

Royal Challengers might fancy their chances to the last semi-final birth along with Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians.

The boundaries are really short. If you look at the number of 2′s in the whole innings you get a sense of what the ground looks like. I think they should get back to where the boundaries usually were. I understand the rationale behind pulling the ropes forward but it gives a false sense of satisfaction for the batsmen and makes the fielders look like jokers.

Royal Challengers win by a measly 3 runs.

Related Posts:

Gambhir finally gets the orange cap

Top 10 run scorers of IPL

Deccan Chargers find their elusive win

It was a comprehensive victory for Deccan Chargers against Mumbai Indians. They won the match with 10 wickets to hand and 7.2 overs to spare. Adam Gilchrist hits fastest IPL century beating Symonds 48 ball knock. Gilchrist completed his century in 42 balls. He brought up his century with a six. He remained unbeaten on 109 runs. Gilchrist’s innings is punctuated with 10 sixers and 9 fours. VVS Laxman played a nice little supporting role to Gilchrist and remained unbeaten on 36 runs. This is a much needed victory for Chargers.

Earlier Mumbai Indians, started their inning with a flurry on wickets only to be consolidated by Abhishek Nayar, Shaun Pollock and Dwayne Bravo. They scored 154 by losing 7 wickets. This was never enough. And, quite rightly so. Bowling attach of Indians was found wanting many a time. Ashish Nehra was never a match to stem the runs from Gilly’s willow.

Overall, disappointing performance from Mumbai Indians and a comprehensive win (barring 2 dropped catches) from Chargers. They still need to improve their fielding but a good win to start their journey.

Mumbai Indians need Sachin Tendulkar back as soon as possible. This is really hurting them and looks like Sachin is their only hope.

The next phase of the tournament would be interesting to see as the australians, who for the most part dominated  will be leaving for their carribean tour.

Deccan Chargers too much dependence on Symonds

This might be costing them the matches and maybe the tournament. When compared with other teams dependence on a particular player is minimal in other teams. Mumbai Indians did not have Sachin Tendulkar, yet gave a good fight in their two games. Royal Challengers do not have any stars to start with but they are winning it. Rajastan Royals are doing exceedingly well and once again broadcasting to the world that cricket is a team game. Knight Riders and Super Kings have won all their matches so far. So it is hard to say if they are depending on stars. But, one thing is certain it is not  a single player who has featured in their wins.

Coming to Chargers, they are heavily depending on Symonds for both bowling and batting. Remember, he is a batting all-rounder or as some would call a bits and pieces player. The other question is, why isnt the same trust being shown on Afridi. Why wasnt he opening the batting. As I have said earlier he can be devastating in the first six overs. His bowling adds a different dimension to the monotonous left-arm seamers of Vaas and RP Singh.

Also, If you are watching the matches, VVS Laxman is not that strong a captain. He is being sandwitched between Gilchrist and Symonds who have their own opinions. Laxman to me, is not able to make his own decisions and coming under the peer pressure or groupthink.

Chargers need a captain who can stand tall and deliver and take decisions. Someone like Dhoni or Ganguly. Since they are not available Gilchrist is your next best option.

Video : Deccan Chargers promotional video

Deccan Chargers promotional video.

Race to the bottom : Mumbai Indians vs Deccan Chargers

Its a race to the bottom of the points table. Both teams did not win any match so far and are looking to register their first ever win in IPL. Mumbai Indians will be  a depleted side without Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh. But, they will be happy that the right person is at the helm. Shaun Pollock will lead Mumbai Indians against Deccan Chargers. If Sanath Jayasuriya and Robin Uthappa come good there is no stopping the Mumbai Indians.

Deccan Chargers, started the tournament as one of the favorites and only two weeks into the tournament they are looking down the barrel for an early elimination. They do boast marquee players who can change the match in a matter of few overs. That did not happen yet. After three matches they are yet to register a win. Chargers need some radical if not lateral thinking to change the course of their destiny and make the tournament more intersting. Right now the tournament is dominated by Super Kings and Knight Riders. If Chargers want to look for inspiration they do not have to look too far. Check out Rajastan Royals. The way they turned things around and giving tough competion to the best of teams. That does tell us a story. Its not stars who win the matches but players who play as a team win the match.

Chargers have to play as a team to come back and register their first ever win in this tournament. They also have to keep that momentum going to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

The costliest team, Mumbai Indians are in the same category as Deccan Chargers. But, to their solace their matches were close except for the last one against Kings XI Punjab.

Whoever wins, may not create history but they will not end at the bottom. Whoever loses will find themselves at the bottom of the table. If Mumbai Indians lose, it would be an irony because that would make them the costliest team and the worst performing team at the same time.

Shahid Afridi brings Chargers back into the game

In what have been a quick turn of events, Shahid Afridi picks up two wickets in 3 balls. First it was Mohammad Kaif and then it was Greame Smith. They coulnt ask for more. But looked like the couldn’t take more. 4th ball of the over was hit high and deep by Jadeja and Doddapaneni Kalyan was under it for a long time. He couldn’t hold on to the catch. This is really disappointing. Chargers really need to take their catches.

Shane Warne walks to the crease and Afridi fires one down and Shane doesnt make contact. Afridi walks down and has as animated chat with Shane Warne. This really charged up Shane Warne and the whoile atmosphere.

We got a match on our hands.

Another aussie comes to party

It is time for Andrew Symonds to justify his $1.35 million price tag. He did it with ease. With 117 runs from 53 balls which includes 11 fours and 7 sixers has helped Deccan Chargers to post a total of 214. Incidentally it is also the fastest hundred of IPL.

There was an incident in the match where a ball hit by Symonds in the bowling of Munaf Patel is mis-fielded by Yousuf Pathan. This is a common occurence. What is not common is the bowler complaining about it and having a word with the fielder. Why is that not common because the bowler is Munaf Patel. Munaf you cannot crib or complain about anyone’s fielding unless you know what it means to field.

This looks like a good target but with Greame Smith joining Rajastan Royals also the dew factor coming in it should be a tough match.

Tennis starlet Sania Mirza graces the occasion.

Why is there no icon player for Deccan Chargers?

The answer is two-fold:
One version of the story is Deccan Chronicle owner of Deccan Chargers requested BCCI to grant icon status but they have declined.

Other version is, VVS Laxman has denied icon status as that would give the company more budget to work with. Remember icon player would recieve 15% more than the highest bid player. In this case its Andrew Symonds for $1.35 million. That would translate to $1.5525 million making VVS Laxman the richest player in IPL.

I would like to believe the second version of Laxman declining the icon status and getting the right team in place with the right bids. What he has to do now is deliver. He has do that right and fast. The time is now.

 

Related Post :

Top 10 money makers of IPL

 

Deccan Chargers quest for victory continues

Having lost their first two encounters Deccan Chargers might fancy their chances against Rajastan Royals.
Royals are riding high after their comeback win against Kings XI Punjab. Greame Smith availability bolsters their batting lineup. Royals start as favorites but Chargers can upset them.

Having the advantage of playing at home Chargers might re-think their strategy. A few changes in the batting order can work wonders for them.

Here is my 2 cents :

1. They should open with Gilchrist and Afridi. Afridi is extremely effective in the opening overs. There is no point in keeping him till the end.
2. Stop persisting with VenuGopal Rao.
3. Bring in a younster in place of Venugopal Rao.
4. Laxman should bat at number 4.
5. Ask Symonds to bowl his off-spinners against pacers.
6. Use Chaminda Vaas’s full quota of overs.
7. Take your catches.

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)