Bangalore Royal Chalengers, the team looked balanced in the first match but the exclusion of Ryder and the idea that P. Kumar would be able to open was inane. I am sure the boss would have noted this and hope to see ryder play every match from here. Departure of KP might not be that big a blow as even ross taylor can be lethal. RD is looking quite focussed and looks determined to prove a point...Team has a pretty potent bowling attack steyn would be my man and praveen kumar, ryder also could prove quite a handful in these overcast conditions. my favorites in the absense of DD and MI
Chennai Super Kings, just like BRC has that balance...with Hayden looking to rip apart the opposition and with raina and morkel providing some solid support and Dhoni's captaincy (the way this guy manages things amazes me) and a pretty decent bowling with Murali at the helm would be difficult for the opposition to penetrate. Flintoff would leave after the initial fillip.
Deccan Chargers (My team
), after last year's occasional individual brilliance, its time that the team plays as a team. first match was a pretty good step in that direction...No one would doubt the quality of the batsmen in this team except that the middle order requires one anchor. I believe Laxman would fit the bill ( i am sure most of u would disagree) provided he stops running like a chicken tryin to cross the road. the exodus of fidel edwards might look as a blow to the team but in these conditions Vaas is as strong as anyone and R.P. Singh was always known as R.P. Swing. His match winning spells in T20 WC might look as a thing of the past but one should remember that South Africa was the plpace where he achieved them
Delhi Daredevils are the favorites..Their local strength apart from the foreign recruits who would continue with them through out the series makes DD the strongest contenders..waise it rarely happens that the favorites continue to win everything till the end ...Favorites generally stumble at some point (and this one happens to be the end for the team). If that doesnt happen DD will win IPL2...Batting Sehwag, Gambhir, DeVilliers and the list goes on Bowling: Vettori i believe is the best bowler in this form of cricket and pigeon...need i speak more
KingsXIPunjab.. they are arguably the weakest team this time around. Shaun Marsh is the biggest blow. On the face of it sreesanth's ( love the name which he got on that blog) absense might not look that big a problem to the team but inface he was one of the leading wicket takers last time. The sri lankan duo seems out of sorts. The prince looks pedestrian. Net-Net this team lacks form. Great opportunity for Pathan to get back those golden days of his. These people have to fire to get this team out of this mess. the owner's jadoo ki jhappi might do wonders
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Kolkata Knight Riders. The team which is made to hog all the available limelight. The team will miss Gayle the most and that probably will affect the team as nothing else. Its not practical to expect McCulllum to fire in every match (considering the way he bats). has to buttress the middle order and as everyone else i doubt Akash Chopra's place in the playing eleven. Team will miss pujara. Inclusion of Mashrafe Mortaza could be useful to the team. With no potential match winning replacement in sight this would require to play out of their skins if they foster any hopes of winning
Mumbai Indians. I would rate this team on par with BRC (and slightly more). I will not comment on the man called Tendulkar
.... Jayasuriya, Dhawan, Nayar make an enviable batting line up and MI has the strongest bowling attack in IPL 2.Zak, bhajji, malinga and even jayasuriya looks formidable...A definite Semis contendor.
Rajasthan Royals, No one gave them a chance last time around. A true underdog story (a.la rocky)..Asnodkar, pathan and jadeja might not fire all cylinders in SA...That leaves a lot to be done by Smith. Sohail Tanveer and his purple cap will be missed. Bowling is dependent on warne and Kamran khan looks an exciting prospect.
Rain, Finally the uncertainity...If the matches are decided by playing out 5 or 6 overs then ...hehehehehe
PS: BRC, CSK, DC and RR will fight it out for 2 semis slots with BRC CSK looking favorites for those.
PPS: Standard disclaimers apply. Some facts could have been creatively tweaked/ imaginatively created to suit the author's needs
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But seriously, they have some BIG names. Batting:Sachin & Sanath. Good all rounders like Bravo & Duminy. Good bowlers like Malinga and Zaheer. Perfect team.
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