The Indian Premier League - A Preview
The tournament that will undoubtedly change the face of cricket is almost here. The Indian Premier League has a lot going for it – the largest prize money next to the Cricket World Cup, the presence of international stars, and franchises owned by celebrities and corporate giants.
Will the IPL work? Will it better the game, or just bring more crass commercialism into a poorly governed sport? Will it spell the beginning of the death of One Day Internationals? These questions can only be answered well after the inaugural competition draws to a close; we may see the true impact of the IPL only a few years down the line.
One thing that the IPL does guarantee is entertainment.With all the teams having unveiled their players, mascots and (poorly chosen) official names, it seems like a good time to sit down and analyze how they match up. If you are from India , make sure you know how your favorite city’s team is doing.
Bangalore Royal Challengers: India ’s Information Technology hub will be captained by legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid. With a strong bowling line-up comprising Nathan Bracken (Aus), Anil Kumble (Ind), and Dale Steyn(SA), the Royal Challengers can prove to be a handful for any batting order on their day. The presence of Mibah-ul-Haq (Pak) adds a much needed thrust to an otherwise sedate batting order.
Chennai Super Kings: The Super Kings pulled off a masterstroke with their purchase of Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. This assures them a full stadium in all contests, especially since they do not have any other established Indian player. However, Chennai does have some great foreign players, including Stephen Fleming (NZ), Michael Hussey (Aus), Makhaya Ntini (SA), and Muttiah Muralitharan (SL). With a very well-balanced mix of bowlers and batsmen, the Super Kings are a team to watch out for.
Deccan Chargers: Hyderabad has one of the best teams in the tournament. Afridi (Pak), Symonds (Aus), Gilchrist (Aus), Gibbs(SA) and Laxman (Ind) crowd a powerful batting line-up. Vaas (SL) and RP Singh (IND) are not bowlers who give away easy runs. The Chargers are one of the favorites to clinch the trophy.
Delhi Daredevils: Captain Virender Sehwag is one of the biggest hitters of the cricket ball, and Delhi would rely on him for a good start. The presence of bowlers like McGrath (Aus), Vettori (NZ) and Asif (Pak) means their opponents will have a tough time raking up big scores against them.
Punjab Kings: The Kings have a good squad with a fine mixture of youth and experience. Captain Yuvraj Singh would depend on Sreesanth (IND), Brett Lee (Aus), and Irfan Pathan (IND) to provide the break-throughs, while Sangakkara (SL), Katich (Aus) and Jayawardene (SL) strengthen their batting.
Rajasthan Royals: Finally, a team with a foreign captain - Shane Warne (Aus). The Royals were ridiculed for being the only team not to meet the minimum bidding requirement of 3.3 million dollars during the first auction, but the subsequent auction and drafts have strengthened their team. Big names like Graeme Smith (SA), Mohammad Kaif (IND), Justin Langer (Aus), and Munaf Patel (IND) will definitely draw supporters to their matches. The fact that not all of their players have proven themselves in the Twenty20 arena, however, goes against them.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Shah Rukh Khan’s team has a classy uniform, mascot and even an anthem. Kolkata paid an astronomical sum to land themselves rookie Ishant Sharma, and were probably unwise in their pursuit of David Hussey (Aus). Umar Gul (the best bowler of the World Twenty20 Cup) and Ricky Ponting (Aus), however, were steals for their price. Sourav Ganguly (IND), Shoaib Akhtar (Pak) and Chris Gayle (WI) add even more star value to the Knight Riders. Shah Rukh has sent out clear signals about what he expects from his team by making statements like, “You don’t win the silver, you lose the gold.” Whether Ganguly and co. can deliver remains to be seen.
Mumbai Indians: India ’s biggest player captains Mumbai. Watching Sachin Tendulkar walk out to open with Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) will be one of the biggest draws of the IPL. Mumbai has quite a few big hitters of the cricket ball; however, their bowling attack, with names like Lasith Malinga (SL) and Dilhara Fernando (SL), is not too reliable.
The true heroes of the IPL may well turn out to be local players who have never played the shortest form of the game before. However, individual brilliance alone is unlikely to win the tournament. The hastily assembled players would have to learn to work with each other in order to succeed as a team. On paper, however, it seems that the Chargers, Super Kings, and Knight Riders are the teams to watch out for.
The Indian Premier League begins on the 18th of April. Get ready to sit back and enjoy a few weeks of great cricket.
Photo Courtesy: Andrew Muller
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