IPL 3.0 Zinta's Kings arrive

Kings XI Punjab

The last of 3 teams that have a direct Bollywood link, made it to the semis in the 1st edition but came no where close in their own standards in the 2nd season. This time their experimentation conitnues, Sangakkara will now lead the team so no more swearing in cool Punjabi! But the Zitans are still the most lovable team with the jhappis(hugs) and pappis(kisses) u know! :P

Recruits wise KxiP look solid than ever, Sodhi coming from ICL, Vikramjeet Malik, Love Ablish doing well in domestic season and buying Md. Kaif has clearly boosted the domestic strength which was seen clearly in the previous two seasons of the league.

SQUAD:Shaun Marsh, Mahela Jayawardene, Adrian Barath, Karan Goel, Tanmay Srivastava, Mohammad Kaif, Bipul Sharma, Piyush Chawla, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Ravinder Bopara, James Hopes, Ramesh Powar, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Kumar Sangakkara, M.S.Bisla, Yusuf Abdulla, Sreesanth, Brett Lee, Vikramjeet Malik, Love Ablish, Amanpreet Singh, Shalabh Srivastava.

STRENGTHS:They tend to handle pressure situations better than most teams. Be it season 1 or 2, they have won some really close encounters! Batting finally looking good. Young and dynamic side!

WEAKNESS: Injury prone team. Marsh still not confirmed. Lee has his history. Sreesanth you know why!

WATCH OUT FOR:Sodhi's return. New seam attack, Ravi Bopara would like to send ECB some direct messages from the ground.

WAH'S XI:

• Bopara
• Goel/Hopes
• Yuvi
• Sangakkara©
• Kaif
• Sodhi
• IrfanPathan
• Brett Lee/Yusuf Abdulla
• Piyush Chawla
• Love Ablish
• Vikramjeet Malik

WAH SAY: This team has finally come to the party! They dont even need 4 intl players to make a strong xi. They are gonna be the dark horses this season i reckon. Not a very strong bench strength though. They have to keep Sree on the bench if Ablish and Malik deliver the goods. Feeling super reviewing them. Go Zintans! Chak de phatte..

IPL 3.0 Royal Spirit

RAJASTHAN ROYALS

Introducing this team is like showing light to the sun(LOL), from being the under-dog champions to now being over-rated chimps they have done it all in just 2 seasons of IPL. The big news last year was Shilpa Shetty and her beau who had bought stakes in the champion side. From there on everything seemed to go down-hill literally! Warne the chief-in-charge could not re-create the magic the Royals put up in the debut season. Partly due to missing key players like Watson and Tanvir who were very effective in the inaugural season. Even Graeme Smith dint look in touch even at home conditions. So, they ended up missing the cut to the semis but, entertained us with a few fiercely fought games. Thus, keeping us interested in the Royals.

This year they have done Warne some favour and made him feel at home by bringing in some of his mates from down under and his county side Hampshire. Michael Lumb currently making news is also one to look out for. Damien Martyn was probably the steal for them in the auctions it has to be seen whether he stands to that. Otherwise losing Kaif and Jadeja has made their domestic rooster even more brittle. Apart from that Royals planning to expand their franchise even outside India is a bold and great move.

SQUAD: Shane Warne, Johan Botha, Damien Martyn, Michael Lumb,Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Shrikant Wagh, Abhishek Raut, Sumit Narwal, Faiz Fazal, Syed Ahmed Quadri, Amit Paunikar, Kamran Khan, Amit Singh, Graeme Smith, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Morne Morkel, Shaun Tait, Munaf Patel, Yusuf Pathan, Sidharth Trivedi, Swapnil Asnodkar, Mahesh Rawat, Naman Ojha, Amit Paunikar.

STRENGTHS: Warne's captaincy, his ability to make heroes out of unknowns.

WEAKNESS: Domestic players aren't top-class or even half of that. Sticking to just 4 foreign players will be tough.

WATCH OUT FOR: Michael Lumb as said earlier, Shaun SLOON Tait who's been in impressive form for Australia in T20s.

WAH's xi:

• Smith
• Naman Ojha
• Abhishek Jhunjhunwala
• Damien Martyn/Michael Lumb
• Dimitri Mascarenhas/Shane Watson
• Yusuf Pathan
• Shane Warne©
• Abhishek Raut
• Kamran Khan
• Sidharth Trivedi
• Munaf Patel

WAH Say: The team looks mighty weak, if they need Tait/Morkel they would have to either drop a foreign player who can bat. The pinch of losing Jadeja, Kaif is gonna feel like a sledge hammer slammed on to your face! Sure to end at the bottom of the league table. Expect very few wins this time. Ex-champions will have to remain "ex".

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.
  

First-Aid

Due to some unpredictable circumstances the forthcoming test championship battle between the top two test playing nations South Africa and India (read in order) now seems more like a battle of chimps. Yes, first the saffers monkey around sack the coach and then the entire selection committee. Mean while self appreciating team India go to Bangladesh for a two test series, the toughest there could ever be and result in injuries. It started with captain MS Dhoni, Bhajji, and then spread like wild fire to Sreesanth, VVS, Dravid, Yuvraj and some bits of Sachin to add. Although MSD and Bhajji have recovered since and Sachin looks okay it raises the basic question whether the two teams are ready to play for the top position. The Proteas don’t seem to be bothered with Mickey and the rest of the Disney gang changing but, India need some serious replacements if they are to retain the no.1 spot in the ICC (mindless morons inc.) test ratings. So, who are capable to replace the likes of Dravid, VVS and Yuvi in such short notice let us see.

Mock’s pick:
Well, with Dravid out with the jaw fracture, I just can’t see a better replacement than S Badrinath. He has got what it takes to be a 1 down batsman. Skill, technique, good hand eye coordination etc. He has been the backbone for Tamilnadu in the Ranji Trophy for years now.
Vijay is sure to hang on to his place since Laxman isn’t playing against the Chokers... Oops Saffers. Though Vijay did not score much in this test, his technique did stand out. Confident and elegant.
An aggressor replacing another aggressor, a lefty replacing another lefty. Yes, it’s none other than the one who sends the ball screaming to the cow corner, Suresh Raina. Though he hasn’t played an Intl test yet, he has proved himself time and again in the county circuit. He has come of age and has proved he’s matured enough to play at the test level. Can be a handy part time bowler too and about his fielding…you know it .

Quite a coincidence that all the 3 replacement players are from Chennai Super Kings… HAIL CSK!

Steam’s angle:
There’s no point in pondering about who will when it’s the matter of who can. There is no question in the ability of Murali Vijay so, regardless whether Gauti plays at the crucial no.3 or opens with Sehwag, Vijay can play either ways. Considering Sachin is fully fit he bats at no.4, otherwise a whole new slot opens another debate. No.5 spot presently belongs to VVS playing his twilight years of cricket. Now that he is injured he should be replaced by Badrinath who has been in and out of the side for quite some time. But going on current form and the Pied Pipers tune I am tempted to opt the not so forgotten and lucky monkey of 2010 Md. Kaif. Kaif has the experience and the caliber to play the long game. His high bid in the IPL auctions and recent burst in the zonals have only helped him appear once again in the selector’s radar. Whether or not he is chosen is another case. (Remember he dint attract a single bid in the 1st round of auctions. But, what happened last lasts longer.) So, good for the chap. MSD will have to now bat at no.6 in place of Yuvi and someone can take his place batting with the lower order tail. Raina would be one contender but, recent form again points towards Virat Kohli. The boy is now a man so why not test him. Raina is in good form himself but, honestly Kohli looks more solid (tried and tested down under) and Raina’s history with the short pitched stuff will only bring smiles to Saffers. So, Badri and Raina could make the squad but not the playing eleven.

One’s who closely missed out: Pujara – he’s still got time till there are permanent openings. One opportunity and you don’t want to end up ruining your chances forever. Manish Pandey – good season of domestic cricket, still have time. Probably play some ‘A’ tours abroad. Rahane – all izz well! But not tested against international attacks. Rohit Sharma – no.

SOLD OUT!!!

The last time we spoke of the IPL auctions, we got them spot on! There were a few questions on Brad Haddin but, we told you it would be a definite “NO”! Besides the Pakistani’s a.k.a. World champs in T20 we got almost everything right. The lack of interest in the Pakistani players was mutual among all the franchisee owners. Almost as though they had agreed upon before hand or Lalit pie face Modi had including it in the rules sheet. So, minus the Pakistani’s from the list the franchises had only 1 maximum 2 slots to fill in their respective teams. Some had the slots but had run out of “money”!

Kings xi Punjab acquired Adrian Barath for 75,000$ outside of the auctions. This meant they were starting with a balance of 650,000$. First player to go under the hammer was Shahid boom boom Afridi also the captain of the world champions. He failed to get any response. All wondered it must be the high base price of 250,000$. Next was Kieron Pollard, and suddenly every franchise wanted him on their side, like Ramesses had found Moses. It wasn’t surprising as 4 teams locked their maximum bids of 750,000$ for Pollard. This meant the tie-breaker was on now. Any team with the highest bid now will get the services of Pollard and the difference amount was reaped by the IPL (read B.C.C.I.) Mumbai Indians out bid everyone and thus Pollard now joins the Indians. News is that M.I. side bid a whooping 2.75 million $ tats nearly twice the amount KP & Freddie were bought for last season, breaking all records. One by one, every Pakistani player who came onto question was shown the middle finger in a polite way. Shane Bond, drew the next big interest again resulting in a tie-breaker and finally joining the Kolkata Knight Riders. Again the sum is said to be 1.3 million $.

If you thought these were easy picks for anyone to predict, we also managed to get Damien Martyn spot on. Martyn joins the Warne led Aussie Royals oops Rajasthan Royals team for a steal away price of 100,000$. Adam Vogues, the only other Australian picked up today, once again by the Rajasthan Royals side for 50,000$. Eoin Morgan was chosen by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for 220,000$ but, it was the cockroach, Kemar Roach who went for 720,000$ picked up by the defending champions, Deccan Chargers. The other fast bowler who gained interest was Wayne Parnell had stiff bidding finally ended up at the Daredevils camp for 610,000$ further strengthening the Delhi side.

The Chennai Super Kings outfit, who were outbid in every attempt ended up choosing Justin Kemp for 100,000$ and continued their love-affair for Sri Lankan cricketers picking Thissara Perera for 50,000$. Again, predicted by us. When there are players like Pomersbach and Noffke available at cheaper rates we can only say CSK only wasted their money this time around. Whether they are going to use the money from Freddie’s withdrawal and buy players outside the auctions is still unknown.

Kings xi Punjab also picked up Yusuf Abdulla after some sweet success in the previous edition of the IPL. Coming at 50,000$ I would say it’s a rather smart pick. Douggie Bollinger was left out with no buyers. 3 u-19 players joined the RCB, DC and MI sides. But, the final shocker came when Md. Kaif was re-called for bidding. From 100,000$ his value went upto 250,000$ joining his bum-chum pal Yuvraj at KxiP. Truly, a citi moment of success I should say. :-)

Which leaves us with just the cricket to play, the trophy to be won. Daredevils look mighty strong with the addition of Parnell into their attack, Mum Indians look well balanced as always, Rajasthan Royals have their Aussie flavor, Deccan Chargers look to hurt a few, break a few, KxiP were smart during the auctions, KKR the lesser spoken the better, RCB were fairly quiet and CSK were plain yellow, to say the least. Looking forward to an exciting IPL, “Wah!”