Anil Kumble
The IPL for us is over and I think the best I can say here is that Season I has been a learning process. We haven't really come up to scratch in terms of getting through to the last four, or eveut then again it's been an experience I think everyone will benefit from looking ah
ead.
The IPL for us is over and I think the best I can say here is that Season I has been a learning process. We haven't really come up to scratch in terms of getting through to the last four, or eveut then again it's been an experience I think everyone will benefit from looking ah
ead.It's very difficult to put a finger on what went wrong, but I think where we missed out primarily was on getting a start. In this format, apart from a couple of rare games, batting holds the key. Throughout this event, we've had to invariably defend totals in the region of the 130s to 140s.
It's anyway tough but if you have to do that every time, it becomes a huge problem. It did for us.
Another thing that made a difference was the way teams gelled. I think the best example of a team playing as one unit, irrespective of name or reputation was the Rajasthan Royals, where, in game after game, situation after situation, someone or the other stood up to be counted. Look at how Niraj Patel, sitting out for most of the event, came in and got a couple of good scores, even won a game for them. That ability to perform was a big differentiator to their campaign.
Another thing that made a difference was the way teams gelled. I think the best example of a team playing as one unit, irrespective of name or reputation was the Rajasthan Royals, where, in game after game, situation after situation, someone or the other stood up to be counted. Look at how Niraj Patel, sitting out for most of the event, came in and got a couple of good scores, even won a game for them. That ability to perform was a big differentiator to their campaign.
Again, with the Royals, as with Mohali, the top of the order was the key. Graeme Smith did for Jaipur what Shaun Marsh has done so well for Mohali, get them off to a great start. I think other than Chennai, that's been the story with the teams that qualified --- look at how Delhi's top three have performed for them, it's been all the difference.
In Chennai's case, though they've played bits and pieces cricket and done well in patches, they've made it through because of the early impetus, in winning four out of their first four games. And that, if you remember, was because of their great starts early on in the tournament.
Of the teams that didn't qualify, Mumbai — who were unfortunate not to make it after a couple of very close games — came into their own only after Jayasuriya rediscovered his form in scintillating fashion. Kolkata were a different unit when McCullum fired at the start and since then, they've had no consistency at the start, fiddled around with several different combines, and things have not worked except in patches, just like for us throughout the tournament.
The surprise perhaps at the top has been the Deccan Chargers, who on paper should have been the best in terms of opening stands with Gilchrist and Gibbs. But somehow, they just didn't click. For them, like for us, things were off from the start. At their first game in Eden, the lights went off when the momentum was with them, the pitch was a problem, and Kolkata came back. In our case, the way McCullum played was probably the best innings of the tournament.
Even in a 20-over format, partnerships are the key. And in the end those who have struggled to put together stands of 50 plus are the teams that have struggled. In the end, that difference will always tell.
The other thing that's crucial, like in any other format, has been getting wickets at the start. In that way, Sohail Tanvir has been brilliant for the Royals. He's bowled with a good economy rate and also picked up wickets. What's been great for them has been the fact that he's been picking up 3, 4, even a sixer not just a single wicket or something.
Again, people like McGrath, Sreesanth, Gony to a certain extent, Makhaya later on, all these guys have knocked people over early. It was important from a bowling from a bowling perspective that you get the early breakthroughs and the four teams which have managed that consistently have qualified for the knockouts. The four that haven't made the cut just haven't managed that same consistency.
The one memorable thing from this event, for me, is how the people of Bangalore came and supported us throughout in spite of our poor run in this tournament. That goes to show the popularity of the concept and its entertainment value. The same goes for most of the games that have happened elsewhere so far.
I have a feeling that Mumbai will come to a standstill over the next three days. All roads will first lead to the Wankhede and then onto to Navi Mumbai and the JY Patil stadium, that will host the final.
Hawkeye/Chivach Sport