RR’s Faulkner and Smith outdo RCB in match 35

It was undoubtedly one of the best matches for Pepsi IPL 7 so far as RR’s Faulkner and Smith turned around the match against RCB with some scintillating batting to steal a win after Yuvraj’s blast from the past went in vain. James Faulkner by outdoing Yuvraj’s efforts claimed the man of the match award. In Bengaluru it was a day when Yuvi who has been scratchy in form decided to dominate the RR bowlers and played an unbelievable knock with none other than de Villers as partner. AB de Villiers and Yuvraj Singh came together to change the very complexion of the RCB innings. The duo reputed for their massive strikes hit a total of 12 sixes, five by de Villiers and seven by Yuvraj Singh to completely flatten the confidence of the RR bowlers. It happened in the space of only 65 balls that 132 runs flowed from their bats to boost the RCB score 191. Yuvraj Singh made 83 before being trapped leg before wicket by Kane Richardson in the 19th over to the immense relief of RR. AB de Villiers scored 58 before being dismissed by James Faulkner in the final over of the RCB innings. Virat Kohli made 4 upon opening with Chris Gayle when RCB won the toss. Kane Richardson dismissed Kohli in the third over. While Gayle on 19 got stumped off the bowling of Pravin Tambe in the eighth over, Vijay Zol on 16 got out to a beauty of Rahul Tewatia in the ninth. Thanks to the Yuvi-AB show RCB on home turf ended up scoring a mammoth 190 for five in their quota of 20 overs. In one of the best T20 finishes ever seen Steve Smith and James Faulkner pulled of an unbelievable win for RR that stunned the home crowd in Bengaluru. The home crowd had really lapped up the scintillating batting of Yuvi and AB. But little did they know that the RR batsmen Faulkner and Smith would prove that they can do it much better than the home team RCB at Bengaluru. The pair came together at a point when the target was still 85 runs away and they had only 39 balls to get it in. The blitz from them enabled RR to reach the 191 run target by a five-wicket margin with seven balls to spare. Earlier Ajinkya Rahane and Karun Nair gave RR a good start by adding 54 runs for the first wicket. Rahane on 24 was a victim of Yuzvendra...

Gavaskar brings Deepak Parekh for IPL-7

Deepak Parekh has a diverse combination of skills and experience to be appointed as special advisor for IPL VII which will in turn result in a well-rounded senior management team setting the direction for a better and bigger league was how Sunil Gavaskar introduced him. Gavaskar, interim president BCCI-IPL requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India to get Deepak Parekh for the 2014 season of the Pepsi Indian Premier League. Parekh the chairman of HDFC is also a common face on multiple corporate boards in India along with being an ardent cricket lover with tested and exceptional management skills. Parekh will be a special invitee to the IPL Governing Council meetings. While accepting his appointment Parekh stated that he was excited to be invited to be a part of the IPL and looking forward to fulfilling the challenging new role of an IPL senior advisor to Mr Gavaskar to strengthen the Indian Premier...

Dhoni lied in Gurunath cover-up operation

India cricket team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be one of the employees of India Cements who will be held responsible for his fraud statements if an inquiry is ordered into the cover-up of the Indian Premier League betting and fixing scandal. It has now become very apparent that since Dhoni had lied to the Mudgal probe panel investigating into the association of Gurunath Meiyappan with CSK in an official capacity he will be answerable. It is indeed very unfortunate that Dhoni forgot his standing of being a world renowned player while supporting false statements before the Mukul Mudgal headed probe panel appointed by the Supreme Court. Dhoni should have stood by the truth instead of giving in to statements that had been corroborated by Board of Control for Cricket in India chief N Srinivasan that son-in-law Meiyappan was a mere cricket enthusiast. Salve snatched the facade off the face of the Indian cricket team captain Dhoni’s lie for covering up Gurunath’s misdeeds in front of the supreme Court bench. This makes Dhoni a part of the corruption that has been a part and parcel of IPL. Slave further claimed that BCCI a disciplinary body should have questioned Dhoni’s statements instead of backing...

Punjab clinches a thriller against Kolkata Knight Riders

He has turned out to be the most unfortunate player of all times. Whether it is being ruled out of the Indian team for his devastating form or the demoralizing loss against KXIP, Gautam Gambhir is really unlucky. He went a little wrong at the toss but his inherent leadership quality proved out to be a master stroke for his team, Kolkata Knight Riders. After pinning Punjab on the back foot to leave them struggling at 109 for 7, top class spinner Sunil Narine conceded an unbelievable 23 runs in the penultimate over that turned the match classically. The same Sunil Narine had scored a glittering hat trick in his previous over, the first in this seasonal IPL episode. Ironically Manpreet Gony created a whirlwind with his herculean 42 off 18 balls changed the match dramatically, though his batting average in first class cricket seems to be really shabby. In spite of the unexpected failures of Manvinder Bisla and the ever dependable Jaques Kallis, Gautam Gambhir and Morgan steadied the ship for KKR to forge a century partnership. Gambhir’s brilliant unrendering strokes seemed to slap down the bowling attack of Kings XI Punjab. His jubilant innings comprised of several eye catching boundaries that took the bowlers to the cleaners. Morgan was happy to play the second fiddle although he tried out some typical Indian shots that added glittering feathers to his awesome cap. But KXIP’s hero, Manpreet Gony’s fiery determined, yet inaccessible spell of 3 overs for just 6 runs and the prized scalp of Gambhir, KKR’s hopes seemed to start dwindling. In the next over, Morgan top-edged a leg glance to hold out to Aussie batsman David Hussey stationed at cover. It seemed that KKR fell down like a pack of cards. It was heart-rending to witness the collapse of KKR with Tiwary and Pathan’s short ball woes continue to go on. With 30 required from 2 overs, little known ‘batsman’ Rajat Bhatia smacked 2 sixes off Parvinder Awana before the latter had the last laugh by going through his defenses to have him castled. Praveen Kumar’s huge wide down the leg side was saved by a tumbling Gilchrist from going to the fine leg boundary. David Miller’s radiant catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Pathan brought the equation down to 8 off 4 balls. The bowling heroes of KKR, Sachira Senanayke and Sunil Narine could not provide the expected run as KXIP pulled off a sensational victory to demolish KKR at 153 for 9. Perhaps this loss...

The IPL bonanza

A pageant that has become the cynosure of cricketers the entire world over in its limited existence of five years speaks volumes about its organization and the decibel of the spectacle. The entire band of cricketers seems to have assembled during the hot, humid and sultry Indian summer months of April and May to play out the shortest edition of the game through a rather long process. Indian cricketers, fields and pitches have gained the momentum and risen to occasion like a duck takes to water. Cricket though inevitably the most recognizable and popular among games played and followed in the country had simply lost the lively crowds at the different stadiums that were an inseparable part of the entire process. It was indeed true that as the Indian Premier League had became embroiled in scams and illegitimate transactions bringing down big names threatening its very existence last year itself. Teams were faced with hair raising questions and shady deals in this multimillion dollar industry at the center of which lies playing just 20 over per side during a match most of which go to the wire. Past and present and even retired Indian cricket team captains and players face-off each other in this keenly contested games. Strategies rule the roost while IPL-V still remains a very open tournament except perhaps for the Deccan Chargers who have lost all their 5 games until now. Players from all cricket playing nations like England, Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and New Zealand have made it for this classy, short stinted and gracious event. The former players have become coaches and aides to help youngsters and veterans gear up for the T20 games which were considered a batsman’s prerogative initially. Bowlers have learned, practiced and evolved to contain the momentum through specialized tactics and bowling yorkers that test their patience throughout their stay at the crease. The death over are critical for both teams and perhaps this editions totally depends upon the current form of players at that particular instance only. Hence go all out and have a go to your stadiums for the sixes or the DLF maximums as they are termed and have lots of popcorn and cokes at the strategic timeouts to keep yourself hydrated. Yell your support for your favorites and let the world know that the Indians are back at the stadiums to watch cricket matches...