Barely into the formalities of the third edition of IPL. CSK is not out of their dug-out and already there seem to be a pattern developing. Two teams, MI and KKR are on a different war-foot altogether with a great level of fearlessness tagged around them. MI lacks a bit of momentum in the middle overs though the young sensations like Rayudu and Saurav Tiwari would prefer to differ in this regard.
They miss a Bravo and Dumini for sure and the newest sensation and the 700000M man Pollard could be the most welcome edition to an otherwise fragile middle and tail portion. Arguably they have the best bowling combination up front and the west Indian pair should cover up for the meagreness in the back-up bowling. One wonders where Abhishek Nair is going to be fitted in.
Te KKR side sans two of the greatest strikers McCullum and Gayle isn’t perturbed an inch. The new found energy level is the most welcome sight of the SRK owned team and two wins on the trot is the best thing that Ganguly and his men can hope for. Alas! Can’t remember Saurav diving across the turf even in his prime!
RC is not posing a real challenge to any body. Not sure the aging legs and tiring minds are the exact wants of the T20 format. With due respect to the greats Kallis and Dravid, they draw a picture of a Mark3 ambassador car amidst the new generation fast machines. The first season was far worse with Chanderpaul and Wasim Jaffer complicating the issues. They badly miss Ross Taylor to begin with. Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa will have to shoulder the brunt for the time being.
RR is all set prove their critics wrong and Vow! What a blitzkrieg it was by the elder Pathan. It wasn’t all about form. It was just astonishing power hitting, right out of the blue. The 39 ball hundred would have made even the great Richards stand and applaud, leave the lesser mortals alone.
VVS Laxman! Dear oh! Dear! Isn’t it the most pathetic of sights to see him slogging across desperately in order to be on par with Gilchrist? Hope he realises this sooner rather than later and continue to be the ever charming test cricketer for ever.
