The IPL frenzy is here again! Most teams sport a newish look following the expulsion of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala, many having beefed up their resources well.
Here's my take on who the favorites are and whom I'm backing -
1) Kolkata Knight Riders -
My favorite and the team of my choice, KKR, have roped back in Brendon McCullum. But McCullum this time around would be greeted by a stronger, more potent batting line-up to work with. With Bradley Haddin already in the dugout, many believe that bringing in McCullum makes him redundant. Well, there's a simple flaw there. McCullum isn't equal to Haddin. McCullum is McCullum. Remember his ferocious fireworks display from the very first game of the League's history?
So why do I believe that McCullum would be more effective this time round than he was during his previous stint? It's for the simple reason that McCullum has the solid, comforting cushions of Jacques Kallis and Gautam Gambhir around him this season. With two of the most solid batsmen going around in world cricket today around him, McCullum would be able to flash away at the opponent with greater freedom. A start of about 25-30 runs from the first 3 overs would be his task. Kallis and Gambhir would take over from there on with Shakib al Hasan's blistering form in the middle order and Yusuf Pathan's mad mauling to boot.
The bowling isn't empty either with Aussies Brett Lee and James Pattinson and South African Marchant de Lange in there. But here's the trouble. The team can only play four foreigners. If KKR decide to field McCullum, Kallis and Shakib, only one of the pacers can play. But with Kallis, Yusuf, Iqbal Abdulla, Rajat Bhatia and Laxmi Ratan Shukla giving him options, Gambhir might be able to breathe easier. But bowling is the biggest drawback of the Gold and Blacks/Violets.
2) Delhi Daredevils -
They were Team Virender Sehwag last season. This time around though, DD are playing World XI. Here's an excerpt of the team sheet - D Warner, V Sehwag, K Pietersen, M Jayawardene, R Taylor ... Anyone wants to bowl to the Daredevils? With many teams willing to let off some big guns during the transfers, DD have taken full toll!
They're currently a depleted outfit with all of the above, except Sehwag, out on tour or out on injury. But they still field a side with Irfan Pathan, Aaron Finch, Umesh Yadav, Roelof van der Merwe and Morne Morkel in it! That's fantastic bench strength. And that's why I pick them as number two for the season.
T20 is entertainment and Sehwag is skipper here. Do the crowds need more?
3) Royal Challengers Bangalore -
Chris Gayle is in town. And that's all they need. With Gayle scoring 100 runs in 10 overs all on his own, RCB have the freedom to play the worst XI they can think of, and still win. But if the Caribbean Pirate were to be called away by his whimsical cricket board, they have reinforcements - AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, TM Dilshan, Dirk Nannes, Zaheer Khan and Magic Murali. Led by Danny Vettori from New Zealand, I'd say RCB seem the strongest on paper. But will they live it up?
4) Mumbai Indians -
Lasith Malinga has dedicated his life to this team. That counts out 4 overs for the opposition. For Malinga, flying in to fling the ball hard, is as mean as a miser. So will the opposition's batters make the most out of the other 16? No wait! Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh are in this side too! So count out another 8 overs.
Would batting be MI's weakness then? I wouldn't say that about a line-up which has Sachin Tendulkar and Kieron Pollard in it! So would I back MI to win this season? Well, to me, backing a team which has Harbhajan Singh as its captain would be rather unethical.
5) Kings XI Punjab -
If I had an IPL team, Adam Gilchrist would be in it and he'd be skipper. That's exactly what KXIP have got. Given a chance, these guys can field an all-Australian XI in every game - Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Ryan Harris, Nathan Rimmington, James Faulkner. They've got one of the best bowling attacks in the competition, with Praveen Kumar and Stuart Broad amongst their ranks. Nonetheless, things simply haven't clicked for them in the IPL. They start minnows to me.
6) Chennai Super Kings -
7) Rajasthan Royals -
RR will miss Shane Warne and that means Rahul Dravid would be leading them. A gritty team, but far from being amongst the strongest. Rajasthan still do have Watson, Botha, Hogg, Hodge and Tait. But the idea of letting off Ross Taylor so that the Daredevils can play a World XI, still baffles me.
8) Deccan Chargers -
Flamboyant is the word for them. Kumar Sangakkara, Cameron White, Dale Steyn, Jean-Paul Duminy and Dan Christian are part of their dugout. They've also got a guy whom I've often held to be one of the finest T20 bowlers around - Juan 'Rusty' Theron of South Africa. But why on Earth would one let away Kevin Pietersen in a T20 league?
9) Pune Warriors India -
Pune will be the Kolkata crowd's darling with 'Dada' Sourav Ganguly at the helm. Yuvraj Singh's unfortunate cancer means PWI would miss their flamboyant trumpcard. But don't count them out! In their dugout, when all players are available, would be Graeme Smith, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Marsh and another guy whom I hold up to be the finest T20 bowler around - Alfonso Thomas. Murali Kartik's T20 experience would come in handy as well.
Here's my take on who the favorites are and whom I'm backing -
1) Kolkata Knight Riders -
My favorite and the team of my choice, KKR, have roped back in Brendon McCullum. But McCullum this time around would be greeted by a stronger, more potent batting line-up to work with. With Bradley Haddin already in the dugout, many believe that bringing in McCullum makes him redundant. Well, there's a simple flaw there. McCullum isn't equal to Haddin. McCullum is McCullum. Remember his ferocious fireworks display from the very first game of the League's history?
So why do I believe that McCullum would be more effective this time round than he was during his previous stint? It's for the simple reason that McCullum has the solid, comforting cushions of Jacques Kallis and Gautam Gambhir around him this season. With two of the most solid batsmen going around in world cricket today around him, McCullum would be able to flash away at the opponent with greater freedom. A start of about 25-30 runs from the first 3 overs would be his task. Kallis and Gambhir would take over from there on with Shakib al Hasan's blistering form in the middle order and Yusuf Pathan's mad mauling to boot.
The bowling isn't empty either with Aussies Brett Lee and James Pattinson and South African Marchant de Lange in there. But here's the trouble. The team can only play four foreigners. If KKR decide to field McCullum, Kallis and Shakib, only one of the pacers can play. But with Kallis, Yusuf, Iqbal Abdulla, Rajat Bhatia and Laxmi Ratan Shukla giving him options, Gambhir might be able to breathe easier. But bowling is the biggest drawback of the Gold and Blacks/Violets.
2) Delhi Daredevils -
They were Team Virender Sehwag last season. This time around though, DD are playing World XI. Here's an excerpt of the team sheet - D Warner, V Sehwag, K Pietersen, M Jayawardene, R Taylor ... Anyone wants to bowl to the Daredevils? With many teams willing to let off some big guns during the transfers, DD have taken full toll!
They're currently a depleted outfit with all of the above, except Sehwag, out on tour or out on injury. But they still field a side with Irfan Pathan, Aaron Finch, Umesh Yadav, Roelof van der Merwe and Morne Morkel in it! That's fantastic bench strength. And that's why I pick them as number two for the season.
T20 is entertainment and Sehwag is skipper here. Do the crowds need more?
3) Royal Challengers Bangalore -
Chris Gayle is in town. And that's all they need. With Gayle scoring 100 runs in 10 overs all on his own, RCB have the freedom to play the worst XI they can think of, and still win. But if the Caribbean Pirate were to be called away by his whimsical cricket board, they have reinforcements - AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, TM Dilshan, Dirk Nannes, Zaheer Khan and Magic Murali. Led by Danny Vettori from New Zealand, I'd say RCB seem the strongest on paper. But will they live it up?
4) Mumbai Indians -
Lasith Malinga has dedicated his life to this team. That counts out 4 overs for the opposition. For Malinga, flying in to fling the ball hard, is as mean as a miser. So will the opposition's batters make the most out of the other 16? No wait! Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh are in this side too! So count out another 8 overs.
Would batting be MI's weakness then? I wouldn't say that about a line-up which has Sachin Tendulkar and Kieron Pollard in it! So would I back MI to win this season? Well, to me, backing a team which has Harbhajan Singh as its captain would be rather unethical.
5) Kings XI Punjab -
If I had an IPL team, Adam Gilchrist would be in it and he'd be skipper. That's exactly what KXIP have got. Given a chance, these guys can field an all-Australian XI in every game - Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Ryan Harris, Nathan Rimmington, James Faulkner. They've got one of the best bowling attacks in the competition, with Praveen Kumar and Stuart Broad amongst their ranks. Nonetheless, things simply haven't clicked for them in the IPL. They start minnows to me.
6) Chennai Super Kings -
It's Team India playing on the field. With MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravi Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin wearing their jersey, CSK is to the IPL what Barcelona is to the Spanish football league. They've also got Albie Morkel, Mike Hussey and Doug Bollinger! They've lost Big Matt Hayden and Wily Muralitharan and that meant they lost my support as well. But they're the defending champions. And that counts for a lot!
7) Rajasthan Royals -
RR will miss Shane Warne and that means Rahul Dravid would be leading them. A gritty team, but far from being amongst the strongest. Rajasthan still do have Watson, Botha, Hogg, Hodge and Tait. But the idea of letting off Ross Taylor so that the Daredevils can play a World XI, still baffles me.
8) Deccan Chargers -
Flamboyant is the word for them. Kumar Sangakkara, Cameron White, Dale Steyn, Jean-Paul Duminy and Dan Christian are part of their dugout. They've also got a guy whom I've often held to be one of the finest T20 bowlers around - Juan 'Rusty' Theron of South Africa. But why on Earth would one let away Kevin Pietersen in a T20 league?
9) Pune Warriors India -
Pune will be the Kolkata crowd's darling with 'Dada' Sourav Ganguly at the helm. Yuvraj Singh's unfortunate cancer means PWI would miss their flamboyant trumpcard. But don't count them out! In their dugout, when all players are available, would be Graeme Smith, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Marsh and another guy whom I hold up to be the finest T20 bowler around - Alfonso Thomas. Murali Kartik's T20 experience would come in handy as well.
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