Wednesday 4 April 2012
Tuesday 3 April 2012
Preview: Match 1 – CSK v MI Defending champs take on CLT20-winners in tournament opener
The opening fixture of IPL 2012 features two heavyweight teams – Chennai Super Kingsdefending champions of the Indian Premier League, lock horns with 2011 Champions League T20 winners Mumbai Indians.
Chennai Super Kings, who won the IPL title for the first time in 2010 and defended it successfully in 2011, will begin the 2012 season eyeing their third consecutive IPL title. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, will remember the defeat at the hands of CSK in the IPL 2010 final and will want to settle scores on this occasion.
When
Wednesday, April 4, 2011, 08:00 p.m.
Where
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
The Protagonists
With the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga in the mix, the game is an all-star affair.
However, it would be prudent to keep an eye on Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni in the Chennai Super Kings line-up, and Sachin Tendulkar, Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga in the Mumbai Indians jersey. Raina thrives in the limited overs format and the T20 format gives him the freedom to play his shots from the word go. MS Dhoni is one of the best finishers in the world and though he might look pretty calm and cool outwardly, he is always in the ready-to-explode mode.
Sachin Tendulkar has got the 100th international century off his back and relinquished captaincy of the Mumbai Indians. Watch out for a doubly dangerous Tendulkar this IPL, out to enjoy his game
Pollard was in devastating form in the home series against the Australians recently and will be hoping to make up for an ordinary performance IPL 2011. Lasith Malinga was too hot to handle in IPL 2011 (when he bagged the Purple Cap); watch out as he sends stumps cartwheeling with his razor-sharp yorkers.
Previous meetings
Both teams have shared honors evenly in the eight previous meetings between them. In the most recent clash, at the Wankhede Stadium last season, the Mumbai Indians got the better of the Chennai Super Kings by eight runs.
Trivia
• This fixture will feature the top two run-getters and top two wicket-takers in the history of the IPL. Chennai Super Kings’ Suresh Raina tops the list of run-getters while Mumbai Indians’ Sachin Tendulkar is placed second on the list. On the bowling front, Mumbai Indians have the edge thanks to RP Singh and Lasith Malinga, who are placed first and second respectively on the list of leading wicket-takers in the IPL.
• Chennai Super Kings’ skipper MS Dhoni is the most experienced cricketer when it comes to leading a team in Twenty20 matches. The Jharkhand-lad has been captain in 100 T20 matches.
• In the two outings between the sides at Chennai, the home team has come out on top.
What next?
Mumbai Indians will head back home after this fixture to host neighbors Pune Warriors India at the Wankhede Stadium on April 6, while the Chennai Super Kings will be seen in action the following day when they take on the Deccan Chargers at Visakhapatnam.
Chennai Super Kings, who won the IPL title for the first time in 2010 and defended it successfully in 2011, will begin the 2012 season eyeing their third consecutive IPL title. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, will remember the defeat at the hands of CSK in the IPL 2010 final and will want to settle scores on this occasion.
When
Wednesday, April 4, 2011, 08:00 p.m.
Where
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
The Protagonists
With the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga in the mix, the game is an all-star affair.
However, it would be prudent to keep an eye on Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni in the Chennai Super Kings line-up, and Sachin Tendulkar, Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga in the Mumbai Indians jersey. Raina thrives in the limited overs format and the T20 format gives him the freedom to play his shots from the word go. MS Dhoni is one of the best finishers in the world and though he might look pretty calm and cool outwardly, he is always in the ready-to-explode mode.
Sachin Tendulkar has got the 100th international century off his back and relinquished captaincy of the Mumbai Indians. Watch out for a doubly dangerous Tendulkar this IPL, out to enjoy his game
Pollard was in devastating form in the home series against the Australians recently and will be hoping to make up for an ordinary performance IPL 2011. Lasith Malinga was too hot to handle in IPL 2011 (when he bagged the Purple Cap); watch out as he sends stumps cartwheeling with his razor-sharp yorkers.
Previous meetings
Both teams have shared honors evenly in the eight previous meetings between them. In the most recent clash, at the Wankhede Stadium last season, the Mumbai Indians got the better of the Chennai Super Kings by eight runs.
Trivia
• This fixture will feature the top two run-getters and top two wicket-takers in the history of the IPL. Chennai Super Kings’ Suresh Raina tops the list of run-getters while Mumbai Indians’ Sachin Tendulkar is placed second on the list. On the bowling front, Mumbai Indians have the edge thanks to RP Singh and Lasith Malinga, who are placed first and second respectively on the list of leading wicket-takers in the IPL.
• Chennai Super Kings’ skipper MS Dhoni is the most experienced cricketer when it comes to leading a team in Twenty20 matches. The Jharkhand-lad has been captain in 100 T20 matches.
• In the two outings between the sides at Chennai, the home team has come out on top.
What next?
Mumbai Indians will head back home after this fixture to host neighbors Pune Warriors India at the Wankhede Stadium on April 6, while the Chennai Super Kings will be seen in action the following day when they take on the Deccan Chargers at Visakhapatnam.
Opening Nite was amazing: Priyanka Chopra
How was the experience of performing at the IPL Opening Nite?
The experience was amazing. Since it was a sporting event, I made sure I do something action-packed and full of energy; hence the entry from the sky and all the stunts that I performed. The Chennai crowd was wonderful.
Are you a cricket fan? Who introduced you to the game?
I am a cricket fan. I love watching matches. It was my dad who got me interested in the game. Since I was a child, cricket has been a part of our household, and I’ve grown up watching matches with my dad.
What according to you defines the IPL?
The thing I love the most about the IPL is the amalgamation of Indian and foreign players. They all come together and perform for each other. The crowds not only support the Indian players but also the overseas players in their favourite team. There’s no patriotism attached to this tournament. It’s just sport, fun and entertainment.
What’s your favourite IPL moment?
I love the IPL bugle. Every time it goes on, I can feel the rush of energy in me.
The experience was amazing. Since it was a sporting event, I made sure I do something action-packed and full of energy; hence the entry from the sky and all the stunts that I performed. The Chennai crowd was wonderful.
Are you a cricket fan? Who introduced you to the game?
I am a cricket fan. I love watching matches. It was my dad who got me interested in the game. Since I was a child, cricket has been a part of our household, and I’ve grown up watching matches with my dad.
What according to you defines the IPL?
The thing I love the most about the IPL is the amalgamation of Indian and foreign players. They all come together and perform for each other. The crowds not only support the Indian players but also the overseas players in their favourite team. There’s no patriotism attached to this tournament. It’s just sport, fun and entertainment.
What’s your favourite IPL moment?
I love the IPL bugle. Every time it goes on, I can feel the rush of energy in me.
Pune stadium ready to host IPL matches
The Sahara Pune Warriors will finally get to play at home this Indian Premier League as the Rs. 260-crore International cricket stadium -- just 20kms from the city -- is set to be inaugurated on Sunday.
Located at Gahunje, the stadium would be the home ground of the Sahara Pune Warrior, led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, and is scheduled to host its first match on April 8.
Built and owned by Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA), the Gahunje stadium with a capacity of 45,000, will be the venue of as many as nine IPL matches this season for the first time in the history of the tournament as the Warriors previously captained by the ailing Yuvraj Singh had played all their matches outside Pune while the construction work of the sprawling structure was underway.
"The first phase of the stadium is ready to host the IPL matches when Sahara Pune warriors will take on 8 other teams at their home ground for the first time.
"A total of nine matches will be played in the new stadium as Pune has also got a chance to host one playoff match between the first placed team and second placed team on May 22," said Ajay Shirke, MCA president.
Shirke said Pune warriors captain Ganguly had already visited the stadium with other team members for practice.
Highlighting the features of the stadium, he described it as an "architectural wonder" designed by Sir Michael Hopkins, UK, in civil engineering.
One of the most important aspects of the stadium is stated to be its rain water drainage system.
"Many times rain plays the spoilsport and even light showers for some time force organizers to alter the match duration. To overcome this problem MCA has opted for sand based outfield developed departmentally with technical assistance from a UK company," the MCA president added.
He said the system had been successfully tested and even during heavy showers, water on the outfield drained out fast making it ready for play again just in a few minutes' time.
"The stadium and the seating arrangements have been designed in such a way that an unobstructed view is assured from every location, making it the best match viewing experience, enhanced by four big LED screens strategically placed to watch replays," Shirke noted.
Statue of legendary cricketer D B Deodhar will adorn the stadium to be inagurated by ICC president Sharad Pawar in the presence of Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Subrata Roy, Chairman, Sahara India Pariwar.
Located at Gahunje, the stadium would be the home ground of the Sahara Pune Warrior, led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, and is scheduled to host its first match on April 8.
Built and owned by Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA), the Gahunje stadium with a capacity of 45,000, will be the venue of as many as nine IPL matches this season for the first time in the history of the tournament as the Warriors previously captained by the ailing Yuvraj Singh had played all their matches outside Pune while the construction work of the sprawling structure was underway.
"The first phase of the stadium is ready to host the IPL matches when Sahara Pune warriors will take on 8 other teams at their home ground for the first time.
"A total of nine matches will be played in the new stadium as Pune has also got a chance to host one playoff match between the first placed team and second placed team on May 22," said Ajay Shirke, MCA president.
Shirke said Pune warriors captain Ganguly had already visited the stadium with other team members for practice.
Highlighting the features of the stadium, he described it as an "architectural wonder" designed by Sir Michael Hopkins, UK, in civil engineering.
One of the most important aspects of the stadium is stated to be its rain water drainage system.
"Many times rain plays the spoilsport and even light showers for some time force organizers to alter the match duration. To overcome this problem MCA has opted for sand based outfield developed departmentally with technical assistance from a UK company," the MCA president added.
He said the system had been successfully tested and even during heavy showers, water on the outfield drained out fast making it ready for play again just in a few minutes' time.
"The stadium and the seating arrangements have been designed in such a way that an unobstructed view is assured from every location, making it the best match viewing experience, enhanced by four big LED screens strategically placed to watch replays," Shirke noted.
Statue of legendary cricketer D B Deodhar will adorn the stadium to be inagurated by ICC president Sharad Pawar in the presence of Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Subrata Roy, Chairman, Sahara India Pariwar.
Team profile: Royal Challengers Bangalore
It requires talent, consistency and commitment to obliterate the first impression. The Royal Challengers from Bangalore were deemed as a Test side in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League where they finished second from bottom. Plausibly, there was a second wind in the waiting. The guileless display in the opening edition was followed by a complete turnaround the next year which was spurred by fearless and astounding cricket by Ross Taylor and Anil Kumble in particular. They came second to the Deccan Chargers in the final.
In the third edition, Royal Challengers' juggernaut was halted by the Mumbai Indians in the semi-final and Dr. Mallya's team ended up finishing third. Post IPL 3, the teams were allowed to retain 4 players before the fresh set of auctions. However, Virat Kohli was the only player retained. The Royal Challengers had to bid goodbye to key players like Dale Steyn, Ross Taylor, Rahul Dravid, Kevin Pietersen, Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey in the auctions. Though AB de Villiers, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Zaheer Khan, Dirk Nannes and Daniel Vettori were roped in, the team looked less threatening on paper than it did a couple of years earlier.
An injury to Nannes in the last edition of the tournament proved to be Bangalore's biggest blessing in disguise. Chris Gayle who was Nannes' replacement was nothing short of an one man army scoring 608 runs in just 12 matches which included 2 hundreds. Much to the delight of RCB fans, Gayle was retained by the Royal Challengers for the 5th edition of the Indian Premier League.
STRENGTHS
Top-heavy and plenty of experience: Chris Gayle, Tilakaratne Dilshan, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers form a formidable top order, perhaps one which most other teams would fail to match. Gayle's reputation and recent T20 form would cause jitters for any bowler while Kohli's form in the last couple of years would suggest that he has the talent to destroy any opposition. Going with this is the experience of Muttiah Muralitharan, Daniel Vettori and Zaheer Khan - the most precious weapon in the Challengers' armoury. The inclusion of Vinay Kumar further strengthens the bowling unit that looked dodgy last year.
WEAKNESSES
Dicey middle order and lack of all-rounders: The opponents would be wary of the fact that once they make early inroads into the Royal Challengers' batting, the team is bound to dismantle. With Saurabh Tiwary, Daniel Vettori and either Mayank Agarwal or Asad Pathan forming the middle order, one can't see any ominous signs of danger for the opponents. Also, the lack of all-rounders would be one of the concerns for Dr. Mallya's brigade. Dilshan and Gayle are known to be handy with the ball and Vettori can chip in with the bat as well, but the team certainly lacks quality all-rounders.
STAR PLAYER:
Chris Gayle: No ground is too big for the Caribbean lad who once scored 36 runs off just one over in a match against Kochi. Having scored 6 T20 centuries since the start of 2011 alone, Gayle is the power house of RCB's batting line-up. His ability to chip in with the ball is also an added advantage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Virat Kohli: Recently promoted as India's vice-captain for ODIs, Virat Kohli is in the form of his life. With the ability to play every shot in the book and with such fluency, Kohli is quickly turning out to be a nightmare for every opposition. Kohli has scored over 2500 International runs since 2011 alone. His excellent ground fielding and his aggression makes him a fierce competitor.
Daniel Vettori / Muttiah Muralitharan: The spin wizards bring in plenty of experience to the table and the 4 foreign players rule would mean that, only one of the two might take the field on any given day. Muralitharan has scripted several wins for Chennai Super Kings in the previous editions and Daniel Vettori showed last year, why he's the best left arm spinner in the world. The batsmen need to watch out for Murali's ever so famous doosra and Vettori's threatening arm ball.
KEY PLAYER TIMELINES:
Tilakaratne Dilshan will not be available for RCB's first match against Delhi. He is currently involved in the Test series against England which ends on the 7th of April.
NEW ADDITIONS:
Muttiah Muralitharan, Vinay Kumar and Andrew McDonald.
RCB in IPL:
In the third edition, Royal Challengers' juggernaut was halted by the Mumbai Indians in the semi-final and Dr. Mallya's team ended up finishing third. Post IPL 3, the teams were allowed to retain 4 players before the fresh set of auctions. However, Virat Kohli was the only player retained. The Royal Challengers had to bid goodbye to key players like Dale Steyn, Ross Taylor, Rahul Dravid, Kevin Pietersen, Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey in the auctions. Though AB de Villiers, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Zaheer Khan, Dirk Nannes and Daniel Vettori were roped in, the team looked less threatening on paper than it did a couple of years earlier.
An injury to Nannes in the last edition of the tournament proved to be Bangalore's biggest blessing in disguise. Chris Gayle who was Nannes' replacement was nothing short of an one man army scoring 608 runs in just 12 matches which included 2 hundreds. Much to the delight of RCB fans, Gayle was retained by the Royal Challengers for the 5th edition of the Indian Premier League.
STRENGTHS
Top-heavy and plenty of experience: Chris Gayle, Tilakaratne Dilshan, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers form a formidable top order, perhaps one which most other teams would fail to match. Gayle's reputation and recent T20 form would cause jitters for any bowler while Kohli's form in the last couple of years would suggest that he has the talent to destroy any opposition. Going with this is the experience of Muttiah Muralitharan, Daniel Vettori and Zaheer Khan - the most precious weapon in the Challengers' armoury. The inclusion of Vinay Kumar further strengthens the bowling unit that looked dodgy last year.
WEAKNESSES
Dicey middle order and lack of all-rounders: The opponents would be wary of the fact that once they make early inroads into the Royal Challengers' batting, the team is bound to dismantle. With Saurabh Tiwary, Daniel Vettori and either Mayank Agarwal or Asad Pathan forming the middle order, one can't see any ominous signs of danger for the opponents. Also, the lack of all-rounders would be one of the concerns for Dr. Mallya's brigade. Dilshan and Gayle are known to be handy with the ball and Vettori can chip in with the bat as well, but the team certainly lacks quality all-rounders.
STAR PLAYER:
Chris Gayle: No ground is too big for the Caribbean lad who once scored 36 runs off just one over in a match against Kochi. Having scored 6 T20 centuries since the start of 2011 alone, Gayle is the power house of RCB's batting line-up. His ability to chip in with the ball is also an added advantage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Virat Kohli: Recently promoted as India's vice-captain for ODIs, Virat Kohli is in the form of his life. With the ability to play every shot in the book and with such fluency, Kohli is quickly turning out to be a nightmare for every opposition. Kohli has scored over 2500 International runs since 2011 alone. His excellent ground fielding and his aggression makes him a fierce competitor.
Daniel Vettori / Muttiah Muralitharan: The spin wizards bring in plenty of experience to the table and the 4 foreign players rule would mean that, only one of the two might take the field on any given day. Muralitharan has scripted several wins for Chennai Super Kings in the previous editions and Daniel Vettori showed last year, why he's the best left arm spinner in the world. The batsmen need to watch out for Murali's ever so famous doosra and Vettori's threatening arm ball.
KEY PLAYER TIMELINES:
Tilakaratne Dilshan will not be available for RCB's first match against Delhi. He is currently involved in the Test series against England which ends on the 7th of April.
NEW ADDITIONS:
Muttiah Muralitharan, Vinay Kumar and Andrew McDonald.
RCB in IPL:
| Played | Won | Lost | Tie | NR | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 31 | 30 | 1 | - | 50 |
TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 7th position |
| 2009 | finalists |
| 2010 | Semi-finalists - 3rd place |
| 2011 | finalists |
Team profile: Deccan Chargers
The champions of the second season hit a slippery rope and finished a woeful seventh in the 2011 version of the IPL. The team's strategy for this season bordered on the confusion as they let go Pragyan Ojha, their highest wicket taker across four seasons as well as another prize catch in Kevin Pietersen. Led by Kumar Sangakkara, the Chargers will have to dig deep into their resources if they are to repeat the heroics of 2009.
STRENGTHS:
Led by the affable Sangakkara, the batting looks to be in good shape despite the absence of Pietersen. Sangakkara will be joined by JP Duminy and Cameron White to bolster a strong looking middle-order. Parthiv Patel was an excellent buy in the 2012 auctions as he can double up as an opener as well as a keeper. Shikhar Dhawan has represented India in the ODI format of the game and will know that a good showing in the IPL will enhance his credentials. Darren Bravo and Daniel Harris are the two exciting new additions to the batting department and both have shown that they can prosper in Indian conditions. Daniel Christian provides the late burst with the bat.
Despite the absence of Ishant Sharma, the Chargers have the fire-power in the bowling with Dale Steyn as the leader of the pack. Amit Mishra is all set to be the prime spinner and he will need to perform the role of the lead spinner. Deccan has strengthened their bowling arsenal with a host of talented young domestic performers who will look to seek limelight with their on-field performances.
WEAKNESSES:
The loss of proven performers like Pietersen and Ojha is bound to hit the Chargers hard. Ojha is one of the leading wicket takers across the four previous seasons and it was inexplicable that they let him go. The Chargers were involved in a fierce battle for the all-round skills of Ravindra Jadeja in the IPL auctions and seemed to lack focus once they lost him to Chennai Super Kings. With very little international quality in their domestic ranks, the team from Hyderabad will be hard-pressed against tougher opponents. To add to their woes, some of their big ticket foreign players are struggling for form while their record at the Rajiv Gandhi international stadium is a matter of concern.
BEST PLAYER:
Dale Steyn - The world's best pace bowler, Steyn will need to lead the Chargers bowling line-up almost single-handedly. The lanky south African is a feared name in international circles with even the best of the batsmen unsure against him. His exploits for South Africa and the Bangalore franchisee were enough for the Chargers to bid an astronomical USD 1.2m in the 2011 auctions, easily the highest for a bowler. Deccan Chargers will be hoping that he lives up to expectations as they seek a second title.
PLAYER to WATCH OUT FOR:
Cameron White - On his day, White can dispatch any bowler to the cleaners, but unfortunately he has been a pale shadow of himself in the recent past. Bought for USD 1.1m in the 2011 auctions after a bidding war, White had an average time in season four as his form mirrored that of his team. He struggled even in the domestic Big Bash for the Melbourne Stars and promptly was axed as Australia's T20 captain and lost his place in the squad. With the World T20 tournament looming large, White has the opportunity to present his case with a good showing in the fifth season of the IPL.
NEW PLAYERS:
Parthiv Patel, Daniel Harris, Darren Bravo, Tanmay Mishra
ABSENTEES:
Pragyan Ojha, Kevin Pietersen and Michael Lumb.
DC IN IPL:
STRENGTHS:
Led by the affable Sangakkara, the batting looks to be in good shape despite the absence of Pietersen. Sangakkara will be joined by JP Duminy and Cameron White to bolster a strong looking middle-order. Parthiv Patel was an excellent buy in the 2012 auctions as he can double up as an opener as well as a keeper. Shikhar Dhawan has represented India in the ODI format of the game and will know that a good showing in the IPL will enhance his credentials. Darren Bravo and Daniel Harris are the two exciting new additions to the batting department and both have shown that they can prosper in Indian conditions. Daniel Christian provides the late burst with the bat.
Despite the absence of Ishant Sharma, the Chargers have the fire-power in the bowling with Dale Steyn as the leader of the pack. Amit Mishra is all set to be the prime spinner and he will need to perform the role of the lead spinner. Deccan has strengthened their bowling arsenal with a host of talented young domestic performers who will look to seek limelight with their on-field performances.
WEAKNESSES:
The loss of proven performers like Pietersen and Ojha is bound to hit the Chargers hard. Ojha is one of the leading wicket takers across the four previous seasons and it was inexplicable that they let him go. The Chargers were involved in a fierce battle for the all-round skills of Ravindra Jadeja in the IPL auctions and seemed to lack focus once they lost him to Chennai Super Kings. With very little international quality in their domestic ranks, the team from Hyderabad will be hard-pressed against tougher opponents. To add to their woes, some of their big ticket foreign players are struggling for form while their record at the Rajiv Gandhi international stadium is a matter of concern.
BEST PLAYER:
Dale Steyn - The world's best pace bowler, Steyn will need to lead the Chargers bowling line-up almost single-handedly. The lanky south African is a feared name in international circles with even the best of the batsmen unsure against him. His exploits for South Africa and the Bangalore franchisee were enough for the Chargers to bid an astronomical USD 1.2m in the 2011 auctions, easily the highest for a bowler. Deccan Chargers will be hoping that he lives up to expectations as they seek a second title.
PLAYER to WATCH OUT FOR:
Cameron White - On his day, White can dispatch any bowler to the cleaners, but unfortunately he has been a pale shadow of himself in the recent past. Bought for USD 1.1m in the 2011 auctions after a bidding war, White had an average time in season four as his form mirrored that of his team. He struggled even in the domestic Big Bash for the Melbourne Stars and promptly was axed as Australia's T20 captain and lost his place in the squad. With the World T20 tournament looming large, White has the opportunity to present his case with a good showing in the fifth season of the IPL.
NEW PLAYERS:
Parthiv Patel, Daniel Harris, Darren Bravo, Tanmay Mishra
ABSENTEES:
Pragyan Ojha, Kevin Pietersen and Michael Lumb.
DC IN IPL:
| Played | Won | Lost | Tie | NR | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 25 | 35 | - | - | 42 |
TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 8th position |
| 2009 | Winners |
| 2010 | Semi-finalists |
| 2011 | 7th position |
Team profile: Delhi Daredevils
A Daredevil is defined as a person who is recklessly bold. None symbolizes this definition better than the skipper of the Delhi team - Virender Sehwag - who fires boldly but can misfire recklessly. During the last four editions of the IPL, the team has lived up to their tag of the Daredevils to a fairly large extent. They reached the semi-finals in 2008 and 2009, missed out on qualifying for the knock-outs in the 2010 edition and wound up with the wooden spoon for the 2011 edition.
In the 2008 edition, they were thrashed by Rajasthan Royals in the semi-final by 105 runs. In the 2009 edition, they were once again thwarted in the semi-final stage by Deccan Chargers thanks to a blazing knock from Deccan skipper Adam Gilchrist. In the 2010 edition, they failed to reach the knock-out stages when they choked in their last league match against Deccan Chargers as they lost the match by 11 runs. In the 2011 edition, they finished rock-bottom and saw their skipper Sehwag leaving the tournament mid-way due to shoulder surgery. The Daredevils will be hoping to put up a much better show in this edition.
STRENGTHS:
The Delhi batting order looks very strong. With the addition of players like Kevin Pietersen, Mahela Jayawardene and Andre Russell, the Delhi middle order is a mixture of class and aggression. Robin Bist, who had an outstanding Ranji trophy this year, will be the player to watch out for in the Delhi batting. With Virender Sehwag and David Warner at the top, this batting line-up is intimidating.
Umesh Yadav, who had a good tour of Australia, will be the key to Delhi's bowling fortunes. Varun Aaron, who missed the entire Australian tour due to a stress fracture on the back, will be keen to make a good impression. Morne Morkel had an outstanding tour of New Zealand and he will look to continue his good form in this tournament. Backed up by Roelof van der Merwe, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar and Doug Bracewell, the Delhi team will be hoping that their bowling clicks along with the batting.
WEAKNESSES:
There is a saying that once Sehwag goes cheaply, the entire Delhi team folds up. The over-reliance on Sehwag is something that the Delhi team have to overcome. The bowling is too pace heavy and it lacks variety. The inability to perform under pressure in the knock-out situations is something that the Delhi team have to work on. With only four foreign players allowed in the playing XI, the availability of so many foreign players will pose a challenge to the Delhi team with regards to their team composition.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Glenn Maxwell: Glenn Maxwell is a dashing batsman who plays for Victoria. He first shot into prominence was during the Emerging players tournament in July 2011 and many in the Delhi management found shades of David Warner in him. He is believed to be a brilliant fielder and he bowls decent off-spin. He is being touted as a future player for Australia and his all-round skills will give Delhi a lot of utility in this tournament.
Robin Bist: He was one of the stars in the Ranji trophy this year. He was the only player to go past 1000 runs this year in the Ranji Trophy Elite championship, including four centuries as his batting helped Rajasthan secure their second consecutive Ranji trophy. His great form will be a welcome addition to the Delhi team.
KEY PLAYERS TIMELINES:
David Warner will miss the first month of the IPL as he is part of the Australian Test squad for the West Indies series. The Test series is expected to end on April 27th and he might play his first match against Rajasthan on 01st May.
Ross Taylor's left wrist was broken by his Delhi team-mate Morne Morkel during the 3rd Test between New Zealand and South Africa at Wellington. He has undergone surgery and he is expected to be out of action for close to four weeks. It will be interesting to see whether he immediately starts playing after he has recovered from his injury.
NEW PLAYERS:
Kevin Pietersen, Mahela Jayawardene, Andre Russell, Ghulam Bodi, Glenn Maxwell, Doug Bracewell, Ross Taylor
ABSENTEES:
Ashok Dinda, James Hopes, Andrew McDonald, Colin Ingram, Travis Birt
DD in IPL
In the 2008 edition, they were thrashed by Rajasthan Royals in the semi-final by 105 runs. In the 2009 edition, they were once again thwarted in the semi-final stage by Deccan Chargers thanks to a blazing knock from Deccan skipper Adam Gilchrist. In the 2010 edition, they failed to reach the knock-out stages when they choked in their last league match against Deccan Chargers as they lost the match by 11 runs. In the 2011 edition, they finished rock-bottom and saw their skipper Sehwag leaving the tournament mid-way due to shoulder surgery. The Daredevils will be hoping to put up a much better show in this edition.
STRENGTHS:
The Delhi batting order looks very strong. With the addition of players like Kevin Pietersen, Mahela Jayawardene and Andre Russell, the Delhi middle order is a mixture of class and aggression. Robin Bist, who had an outstanding Ranji trophy this year, will be the player to watch out for in the Delhi batting. With Virender Sehwag and David Warner at the top, this batting line-up is intimidating.
Umesh Yadav, who had a good tour of Australia, will be the key to Delhi's bowling fortunes. Varun Aaron, who missed the entire Australian tour due to a stress fracture on the back, will be keen to make a good impression. Morne Morkel had an outstanding tour of New Zealand and he will look to continue his good form in this tournament. Backed up by Roelof van der Merwe, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar and Doug Bracewell, the Delhi team will be hoping that their bowling clicks along with the batting.
WEAKNESSES:
There is a saying that once Sehwag goes cheaply, the entire Delhi team folds up. The over-reliance on Sehwag is something that the Delhi team have to overcome. The bowling is too pace heavy and it lacks variety. The inability to perform under pressure in the knock-out situations is something that the Delhi team have to work on. With only four foreign players allowed in the playing XI, the availability of so many foreign players will pose a challenge to the Delhi team with regards to their team composition.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Glenn Maxwell: Glenn Maxwell is a dashing batsman who plays for Victoria. He first shot into prominence was during the Emerging players tournament in July 2011 and many in the Delhi management found shades of David Warner in him. He is believed to be a brilliant fielder and he bowls decent off-spin. He is being touted as a future player for Australia and his all-round skills will give Delhi a lot of utility in this tournament.
Robin Bist: He was one of the stars in the Ranji trophy this year. He was the only player to go past 1000 runs this year in the Ranji Trophy Elite championship, including four centuries as his batting helped Rajasthan secure their second consecutive Ranji trophy. His great form will be a welcome addition to the Delhi team.
KEY PLAYERS TIMELINES:
David Warner will miss the first month of the IPL as he is part of the Australian Test squad for the West Indies series. The Test series is expected to end on April 27th and he might play his first match against Rajasthan on 01st May.
Ross Taylor's left wrist was broken by his Delhi team-mate Morne Morkel during the 3rd Test between New Zealand and South Africa at Wellington. He has undergone surgery and he is expected to be out of action for close to four weeks. It will be interesting to see whether he immediately starts playing after he has recovered from his injury.
NEW PLAYERS:
Kevin Pietersen, Mahela Jayawardene, Andre Russell, Ghulam Bodi, Glenn Maxwell, Doug Bracewell, Ross Taylor
ABSENTEES:
Ashok Dinda, James Hopes, Andrew McDonald, Colin Ingram, Travis Birt
DD in IPL
| Played | Won | Lost | Tie | NR | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 50 |
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Semi-finals |
| 2009 | Semi-finals |
| 2010 | 5th Position |
| 2011 | 10th Position |
Team profile: Pune Warriors
One of the two new teams that made its debut in the 4th season of the IPL, team Pune almost pulled out of the cash rich tournament after several disagreements with the BCCI which they termed as victims being denied 'natural justice'. Extensive negotiations with the BCCI resulted in the team back for the fifth edition of the tournament albeit compromises from both parties. Pune, without their star player, Yuvraj Singh, will have to play out of their skins to entertain hopes of making it to the knock-out stages of the competition.
STRENGTHS:
A well knit team having a fair share of national as well as international stars, Pune will be led by a man who was one of the most successful skippers ever to lead India. Sourav Ganguly has had a miserable time as far as leading teams in the IPL is concerned and he will be keen for one last shot at glory. Robin Uthappa provides the flair at the top of the order and can be the show stealer if utilized properly by the team management. Pune made handy additions to bolster their batting with Michael Clarke and Angelo Mathews expected to propel their middle order. The fresh blood in the form of Tamim Iqbal and Marlon Samuels have only provided the team with a host of choices to build a balanced outfit.
The transfer of Ashok Dinda from Delhi Daredevils has lent balance to the bowling unit. Alfonso Thomas is a proven performer especially in the death overs while Ashish Nehra will hope for a good season as he recuperates from injury. Rahul Sharma and Murali Kartik provide the necessary boost in the spinners department.
WEAKNESSES:
The absence of star batsman, Yuvraj Singh who is currently undergoing treatment after being detected with cancer has left a big hole in the middle order. Pune have made amends for his absence with a host of talented foriegn players but the absence of the all-round skills of their 2011 skipper will be felt. The differences and the subsequent drama with the BCCI ensured that Pune did not participate in the IPL auction in February, a move that resulted in them losing out the top cream of both domestic as well as international players. Pune also lack many impact players in its squad unlike its opponents which may be a telling factor as the tournament moves on. The success of any franchise lays in the ability of the Indian contingent and by the looks of it, Pune looks very raw. The onus will be on players like Manish Pandey, Mithun Manhas and Mohnish Mishra to compensate for the brittleness of the middle order.
STAR PLAYER:
In a team that does not boast of too many impact players, Robin Uthappa stands out. A very capable batsman who can also keep wickets, Uthappa has the experience of playing as a floater in the order. His success in the third season of the IPL where he won several matches for the Banglalore outfit with his big hitting was the cornerstone in the Warriors shelling out USD 2.1m in the 2011 auctions. In the absence of Yuvraj, Uthappa will have to lead the brittle Pune batting line-up.
PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Michael Clarke - The Aussie skipper had pulled out of the previous seasons of the IPL stating that his priority was always the national team. He had even quit playing T20 altogether. A change of heart was followed by extensive negotiations with the Pune management has seen the return of one of the prodigal sons of Australia. Will Clarke get along with a format that he last played in 2010? Only time will tell.
KEY PLAYER TIMELINES:
Michael Clarke will be available only in the second part of the season as he leads the Australians in the Test series against West Indies. Angelo Mathews is expected to miss the first two matches of the season as he has been named in the squad for the 2nd Test against England. Marlon Samuels will not don Pune's uniform for a long period of time if he is selected for the Tests against Australia and the tour of England.
NEW ADDITIONS:
Marlon Samuels, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke, Ashok Dinda, Tamim Iqbal, Luke Wright.
ABSENTEES:
Yuvraj Singh, James Hopes, Graeme Smith, Mitchell Marsh.
PUNE IN IPL:
STRENGTHS:
A well knit team having a fair share of national as well as international stars, Pune will be led by a man who was one of the most successful skippers ever to lead India. Sourav Ganguly has had a miserable time as far as leading teams in the IPL is concerned and he will be keen for one last shot at glory. Robin Uthappa provides the flair at the top of the order and can be the show stealer if utilized properly by the team management. Pune made handy additions to bolster their batting with Michael Clarke and Angelo Mathews expected to propel their middle order. The fresh blood in the form of Tamim Iqbal and Marlon Samuels have only provided the team with a host of choices to build a balanced outfit.
The transfer of Ashok Dinda from Delhi Daredevils has lent balance to the bowling unit. Alfonso Thomas is a proven performer especially in the death overs while Ashish Nehra will hope for a good season as he recuperates from injury. Rahul Sharma and Murali Kartik provide the necessary boost in the spinners department.
WEAKNESSES:
The absence of star batsman, Yuvraj Singh who is currently undergoing treatment after being detected with cancer has left a big hole in the middle order. Pune have made amends for his absence with a host of talented foriegn players but the absence of the all-round skills of their 2011 skipper will be felt. The differences and the subsequent drama with the BCCI ensured that Pune did not participate in the IPL auction in February, a move that resulted in them losing out the top cream of both domestic as well as international players. Pune also lack many impact players in its squad unlike its opponents which may be a telling factor as the tournament moves on. The success of any franchise lays in the ability of the Indian contingent and by the looks of it, Pune looks very raw. The onus will be on players like Manish Pandey, Mithun Manhas and Mohnish Mishra to compensate for the brittleness of the middle order.
STAR PLAYER:
In a team that does not boast of too many impact players, Robin Uthappa stands out. A very capable batsman who can also keep wickets, Uthappa has the experience of playing as a floater in the order. His success in the third season of the IPL where he won several matches for the Banglalore outfit with his big hitting was the cornerstone in the Warriors shelling out USD 2.1m in the 2011 auctions. In the absence of Yuvraj, Uthappa will have to lead the brittle Pune batting line-up.
PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Michael Clarke - The Aussie skipper had pulled out of the previous seasons of the IPL stating that his priority was always the national team. He had even quit playing T20 altogether. A change of heart was followed by extensive negotiations with the Pune management has seen the return of one of the prodigal sons of Australia. Will Clarke get along with a format that he last played in 2010? Only time will tell.
KEY PLAYER TIMELINES:
Michael Clarke will be available only in the second part of the season as he leads the Australians in the Test series against West Indies. Angelo Mathews is expected to miss the first two matches of the season as he has been named in the squad for the 2nd Test against England. Marlon Samuels will not don Pune's uniform for a long period of time if he is selected for the Tests against Australia and the tour of England.
NEW ADDITIONS:
Marlon Samuels, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke, Ashok Dinda, Tamim Iqbal, Luke Wright.
ABSENTEES:
Yuvraj Singh, James Hopes, Graeme Smith, Mitchell Marsh.
PUNE IN IPL:
| Played | Won | Lost | Tie | NR | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 31 |
TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 2008 | - |
| 2009 | - |
| 2010 | - |
| 2011 | 9th position |
