IPL 3.0 Behold the Knights

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS

Undoubtedly the team of the masses and classes. There is no team too HOT and too COOL at the same time! Everyone from 8 to 80 simply love the team... rather let me put it as the team's co-owner Mr. Shahrukh Khan. He is their leading Knight. But off the field. And off the field the team has not been behind in any aspect. They have had their share of controversies nevertheless. But, its the on-field performances that the fans have not been able to digest. Supposed to be the team having their Dada Ganguly, #1 Ponting, Carribean calypso Gayle, Baz Mc Kill'em and to be coached by multiple world cup winning coach, John Buchanan just no one thought they would STINK! I mean everything fell in its place, strong team, shrewd coach, dreamy international players, people's fav but it was not to be. In the first season they ended 6th in the league table(with a win percentage of 45%). It was acceptable and they came close only to lose the semis spot. But, the second edition right at the bottom of the table!(win percentage of 21%) something had gone wrong terribly. Perhaps, the coach's idea of multiple captaincy had back-fired, and the team's unity was questioned far too often. The team was much involved in matters other than cricket and nothing of that helped.

This time the team has entered with an all-new look. Yes, new coach, new staff, new(back to old)captain, new jerseys, new owners oops.. my bad! Good for them, they bought Shane Bond in the auctions winning the secret bid but, no idea why his name is not in the final squad. That's as weird as KKR can get. Perhaps, some new strategy! This time from Dav Whatmore. :P They have finally got hold of local lad Manoj Tiwari from the Delhi Daredevils and also got Owais Shah but have had to trade Moises Henriques to them.

SQUAD:Cheteshwar Pujara, Owais Shah, Chris Gayle, Manoj Tiwary, Charl Langeveldt, Harshad Khadiwale, Chirag Pathak, Varun Aaron, Eklakh Ahmed, Ganapathi Vignesh, Iqbal Abdulla, Murali Kartik, Ishant Sharma, Brendon McCullum, Brad Hodge, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Sourav Ganguly, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Wriddhiman Saha, Ashoke Dinda, Ajit Agarkar, Rohan Gavaskar.

STRENGTHS: umm... yea, no no that cant be told here ummmm... how about.. never mind.!! carry on..

WEAKNESS: Dada, Gayle, Baz, Hodge(in T20) all are openers, at least 2 have to sacrifice that spot. No Bond means money invested but no one to repay it with performance. DJ is missing from the squad as well, no idea why! Crowned losers in South Africa have to perform or perish.

WATCH OUT FOR: Pujara was injured last season just before the IPL started this time hopefully, we see him in action. ICL hero Ganapathi Vignesh has been roped in and has a reputation to dismantle attacks. Charl Langeveldt form in India-SAF series was impressive, has the sensible head on shoulders with good variation.

Wah's xi:

• Gayle
• Mc Kill'em*
• Dada©
• Hodge
• Che Pujara
• Manoj Tiwari
• vignesh
• Saha*/Shukla
• Charl Langeveldt/Mathews
• Ishant Sharma
• Murali Kartik

Wah say: KKR will want to repeat what Chargers have done in SAF last season. Rising from the ashes to claim the league championship. It's very tough indeed(I'd say impossible but..) Team looks good to better the performance from last season's crash course. Most likely to miss the bus the semis other teams look superior as a team rather than individual strengths. They are ready to upset others chances though so, watch out for the Knights!

Quick Updates: Oz Vs Kiwis T20 #1

After beating Windies ruthlessly, the Ozzies landed in Kiwi-land. There weren't any changes in both the teams. NZ won the toss and elected to bat(LOL!).
Things didn't start the way the Kiwis expected. Tait spit fire again. Nannes's bowling was tight . Mitchell 'Notch'Johnson was the hero with the ball as he picked up 3 wickets and giving away just 19 runs of his 4 overs. Twatto picked up 2 as well. James'I-am-not-a-bowler-anymore'Franklin top-scored with 43 runs.Kiwis succumbed to the raw pace and were bowled out for 118. It was never a tough ask for the OZ. Warner and Watto continued to belt the bowling . They got off to a flier, scoring 38 of 3 overs. 81 runs were required of 17 overs. DJ and Pup steered the team to an easy victory. DJ top-scored with a quick-fire 46(36), missed on a well deserved half-ton. Ithchy-Mitchell Johnson was the obvious choice for the M.O.M.
It was a one sided affair. Aussies continue their unbeaten streak this summer. I hope Kiwis bounce back in the next game(If they turn up that is)

W.W.W.S. – AGAIN

• Once again Pakistan respectfully turned up at the Adelaide Oval and let Australia resume business as usual. This time Shaun Marsh got the opportunity to hit 83, Pup Clarke also fired 80 off 90 and later Mike Huss blasted a quick-fire 49 off just 28 resulting in Aus posting 286 in their 50 overs. Ryan Harris who got a chance in this game, dint miss the opportunity to send a note to the selectors with luv. In just his
  2nd ODI he took a 5fer. Pakistan’s top order faired miserably again. But, a lot of middle order batters got starts. None of them though continued to make an impact. This resulted in Pak getting all out for 246 in 47.4 overs. So, the series is now over at 3-0 Aussies looking for another clean sweep. But, you and I both know how they fair in dead rubbers!!



• The Aussie colts too meant business in the semi-final match of the u-19 WC against islanders Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka batting 1st were bundled out for 205. Josh Hazlewood taking 4 wickets, Alister McDermott, Luke Doran and Nick Buchanan picked up 2 each. Australia too started very tentatively losing early wickets. But, skipper Mitchell Marsh and keeper Tom Triffitt took the game away from the islanders. Marsh got out on 97(110) and Triffitt scored 50(70). Australia now faces Pakistan in the finals of the u-19 world cup. But, this time Pakistan seemed to be having the upper hand.



• Brad Hodge’s 139(136), David Hussey’s 93(85), Andrew McDonald’s 41(30) helped Victoria put up 326 in 50 ovrs in the Ford Ranger Cup. Victoria Bushrangers beat Tasmanian Tigers by just 20 runs. Travis Birt scored 97(77) for the Tigers. Nice Bryce gave away just 45 in his 10 overs. Most economical bowler of the day.
  
  
• Elsewhere, New South Wales Blues put up 294 in their 50 overs courtesy David Warner, Thornely and Smith’s efforts. It wasn’t enough as South Australia chased it down with Klinger scoring a superb 124(133) and helped by Christian for his 90(73).



• In Duleep trophy semi-finals West zone help their strong grip pver North zone. West zone ended the 1st innings on 769. Abhishek Nayar with a brilliant 259. Romesh Powar scored 109. Munaf Patel and Irfan Pathan left North zone struggling at 36/3 at stumps.



• The other semi-finals saw Central zone take on South zone. Central zone’s 1st innings ended on 333 with fine contributions from Kaif and Piyush Chawla scoring 112 and 90 respectively. Vinay Kumar taking 5 wickets for the South zone. The South zone batsmen struggled throughout despite getting starts now at 254/8. Praveen Kumar earning 5 scalps.