 While Delhi Daredevils are doing a Mumbai Indians this year, by pushing ahead of the rest in the points table, it is ample testimony that a strong, well-balanced team will prevail, over an extended period, inspite of the unpredictability of the T20 format. And what an extended period it is!
If you cannot have the longer version of the game, take the shortest one and run with it for a long, long time seems to be the mantra, as IPL lumbers on, into the 5th week of its 8-week journey. While domestic squabbles over TV time for the grand Indian soap operas Vs IPL are reaching crisis points, the “too much of a good thing” factor may not be that far a cry away.
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| Ambati Rayudu |
Games like the one of Mumbai Vs Punjab will go some way in keeping the interest alive, with the required 32 being scored of the last 12 balls by Mumbai. Ambati Rayudu’s skills with the bat is proving him to be an invaluable asset for the Mumbaikars, that should also see him knocking on the selectors’ door for a spot in the exalted India XI sooner rather than later. Coaches can be forgiven to shift to hockey-style training as well, given the decisive stroke-play from the bat of the switch-hitting, hockey-playing South African cricketer, Robin Peterson.
While Murali made a strong start for Bangalore this season, there was good news over the fourth week for some of the Sri Lankan players. Malinga was back for Mumbai after having returned home with a back injury, Sangakkara’s Deccan team finally pulled off its first victory, this one against Pune, and Dilshan and Mahela were amongst the runs, with the Delhi team particularly blessed with Mahela’s sublime batting talent as also his composite cricketing acumen.
It was also refreshing to see a Pakistan player in the IPL finally, albeit with a recently-obtained British passport. Azhar Mahmood, though not looking in fine shape, was in fine form with both bat and ball for Punjab, having battled his way through the Indian visa hurdles, and should be a key player for Punjab’s push to the top 4.
Kolkatta, Chennai and Bangalore found their way to the top 4 of the table this week, on the back of shared points from rain-affected matches. The cheerleaders danced tirelessly, seemingly in better spirits than ever, in their continually evolving avatars. Pune and Kolkatta, striving for a local connect, had them out in traditional costumes, proving a stark contrast to the other, more glamourised outfits and international looks.
The season, so far has seen some good, hard-fought action with close games, exciting batting, great bowling and fantastic crowds. While one can look forward to the rest of this edition as also follow the other leagues in other countries, there is another round of T20 competition in the form of the Champions League that is scheduled in October this year, for the top teams from different countries. With so much T20 league action, the cricket management may just need to rethink this one, as the thought of yet another competition over multiple weeks, in the same year, may finally become just too much of a good thing!
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