Ponting is a useless resourse. He has just quit because he is under pressure. Australia anyways are a third rate team now. In IPL, Ponting cant aford to play under Saurav, and thats why he's not playing. By bye Ricky, we dont need u anyways.
6. Mumbai Indians - If they want to make an impact, then the starting point will be to make Sanath Jayasuria the captain and ask Tendulkar to fake injury throughout the tournament. Zaheer's entry may add some sheen but one wonders if Pollock and Nehra can contribute anything to the team's winning cause.
7. Deccan Chargers: This year Gilly will be captain throughout, lazy Laxman is out. The unpredictable Afridi is also out. May be, this time Gilly can aspire to take the team to the semi finals stage.
8. Royal Challengers, Bangalore: If reports are right, the franchisee is planning to make KP the captain and drop Dravid. They may need to drop some other players like Sunil Joshi, Kumble, Bharat Chiply etc. too, if they need to make an impact in the tournament. Considering that KP didn't lead England well in India and may have difficulty in leading the likes of Kallis and Boucher, it may be a better idea to make Robin Uthappa the captain. This may bring in more positive energy and zeal to the team, Uthappa being a Bengaluru guy and an excellent T20 player. In any case, with so much heart burn on the anvil, the team faces an uphill task.
Re: Prospects of IPL teams - 2009 - Part II
by sameer arora on Feb 21, 2009 06:20 PM
Before commenting check your facts.Nehra is no longer with Mumbai but has been swapped with Shikhar Dhawan and will nowplay for Delhi.
1. Rajasthan Royals - This team appears to be doing well, if last year's performance is any indication. But this year they will be without the bowler of the tournament, Sohail Tanwir.
2. Chennai Super Kings - They might have won IPL 2008, if they had better resources than the likes of Badrinath (good only with fielding in T20), Balaji, Amarnath, Stephen Fleming etc. Perhaps the addition of Flintoff may add firepower to the team, but knowing Flintoff's past, I am keeping my fingers crossed.
3. King's XI, Punjab: Everything seemed to be going superbly well for this team in 2008, until they lost to CSK in the semi-finals. Hopefully they will do better this year with the benefit of last year's experience. Mahela is a question mark.
4. Delhi Dare Devils: Local lads did a fantastic job last year - Sehwag, Gambhir, Dhawan, Sangwan, Amit Mishra etc. McGrath will be one year older and it is not known how he has taken to the bereavement of his wife. Dilshan will also be one year older, but seems to have got some of his batting form alright recently. Asif, the druggist is out, so is Shoaib Malik. Collingwood may at best provide stability in the middle, don't really know if he is a good buy for T20.
5. KKR - may not do anything better than last year. Ponting is out. McCullum's 150 seems to be a freak of an innings. Shoaib Akthar is out (good for the team?). Is Ganguly the same, after retirement from official international cricket? Time will reveal.
Re: Prospects of IPL teams - 2009 - Part I
by vathula on Feb 21, 2009 08:20 PM
Following mistakes in your analysis: 1) CSK would have won but for the sitter dropped by raina ( a good filder) off Yususf pathan (Bowler Murali). The whole world knows this. Badri contributed with bat very well. 2) KXIP lost all their 3 matches to CSK. How come you are saying it went superbly well till the SF with CSK! 3) KKR has some good batting this year: McCullum, Gayle and Hussey but lackgood bowling resources. CSK with 3 best all rounders of the world(Flintoff, Oram and Morkel) will reach finals.
