5 Reasons why Chennai Super Kings defeated Royal Challengers Banglaore?

5 Reasons why Chennai Super Kings defeated Royal Challengers Banglaore?

After some consecutive defeats in the last two games, the Chennai Super Kings were looking to end this winless streak. On the other side, the Royals from Bangalore have had a brilliant outing against Kolkata Knight Riders with the bat. But the yellow army were in no mood to face another consecutive defeat at home. So, here are the 5 reasons why CSK dominated RCB at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

1.The Toss

The toss is rated as the most important moment of any match irrespective of the format. Well, MS Dhoni in this game against the RCB was lucky to take the toss in his favor. Winning the toss and batting first was very much on the cards at a venue like MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

2.Suresh Raina's responsible innings

After losing quick wickets of Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum, the CSK team required a sensible innings as well as something which can provide them momentum to get through. Suresh Raina's introduction at No.3 position proved to be a vital part in Chennai's innings. After establishing his innings, Raina took charge of the game and went on to score another fifty showing his ability and sense of responsibility. A 46-ball 52 set up a base for the other batsmen. He developed a solid partnership with Faf du Plessis giving some stability to the CSK innings. Surely, a match winning performance by this Indian batsman.

3. Virat Kohli's run-out

The skipper of RCB was in full form before he got unlucky to be dismissed by a runout. A miss communication with his teammate Dinesh Karthik, Kohli had to return back to the pavilion on an individual score of 48 of 44 balls. A blistering innings by the aggressive batsman could have taken them home if this unfortunate runout would not have taken place. This surely is a huge reason for the loss that RCB faced.

4. MS Dhoni - Skipper with a master mind

We have seen MS Dhoni turning matches up side down not with his batting but with his captaincy at numerous ocassions. Some same abiltiy was shown by the CSK skipper on the field. The Chennai team had struggled miserably with the bat and bowlers didn't have much to defend. But the skipper of the yellow army had other plans in his mind. Crucial bowling changes and field placements proved to be the most beneficial for his side. The Royal Challengers batsmen lost the momentum at the early stage of the innings. They lost wickets early and at a regular intervals made CSK gripping the match more strongly. " Thats the reason he has won all the three ICC titles as a skipper".

5. Bowlers did their job magnificently

Fom the start of the match the bowlers were giving batsmen a hard time. With some innvovative plans, Chennai bowlers too started the innings at a good pace. The fast bowlers Ishwar Pandey, Dwayne Bravo and Ashish Nehra were successeful in breaking partnerships and played a crucial role to restrict RCB but the major reason was the less economy rate. The bowlers didnot leak much runs keeping control in the match. " A match turned into a bowlers' paradise". 

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IPL 8: Top 5 death bowlers

IPL 8: Top 5 death bowlers

The cash rich league is in full swing at the moment with superb performances from the players. The slam bang version of the game is in favor of the batsmen so it is always nice to see bowlers ripping apart opposite numbers with his Yorkers and other variations. Indian Premier League has been a palace for batters but bowlers too have enjoyed success on many occasions. The most difficult thing is to bowl in the death overs, where batters are after the life of bowlers. The ongoing edition has seen unbelievable performances from the bowlers in the last overs. Let's take a look at the top five bowlers, who has restricted batsmen in the last phase of the match.

Mitchell Starc

The left arm pacer has been sensational for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He has taken 11 wickets at an economy rate of 5.83 in six matches. The best part has been his percent of dot balls. Starc has bowled 56 dot balls in 18 overs so far, which is the best in this year’s Indian Premier League. The batters have found him unplayable in the last overs of an inning.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The Indian pacer has worked his magic once again for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. The right arm fast bowler has taken 13 wickets in nine matches so far and has bowled 84 dot balls. He has held his line and length in the last overs, which has helped him in taking keys wickets of the opposite side.

Ashish Nehra

The left arm fast bowler has been Chennai Super Kings outstanding bowler in the Indian Premier League. He has bowled a nagging line and length, which has accounted for important wickets for his side. His dot balls stands at 107 in 10 matches so far. The former Indian bowler has taken 14 wickets in the league.

Lasith Malinga

He started on a bad note in the competition with some low performances under his belt. However, he has improved a lot, which has helped Mumbai Indians in the points table. The Yorker Man from Sri Lanka has added 13 wickets to his name in the Indian Premier League and is bowling superbly in the last overs. Watch out for him in the upcoming matches.

Trent Boult

He has been preferred over Dale Steyn in the Indian Premier League which shows his importance for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The left arm pacer has bowled 10 dot balls on an average in the six games. He has accounted for 8 wickets at an average of 23.87 in the competition.

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5 most expensive players flops in IPL history

5 most expensive players flops in IPL history

Indian Premier League has become one of the most popular and "glamorous" cricket leagues round the globe. Involving huge amount of money, the IPL has given many unknown cricketers a great platform to showcase their talent. But every coin has two faces and we have seen big guns of the world cricket failing miserably in this league. So, here is the list of 5 players who have not justified their price tag.

1) Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh is known for his class and caliber in the world cricket and when it comes down to T20 format, this man can take away games from the opponents at any point. But the IPL statistics suggest something else. This talent has failed miserably after being bought for an INR of Rs.14 crore by Royal Challenger Bangalore in 2014. He scored 376 runs in 14 matches at an average of 34.18 with 3 half-centuries to his name. With Yuvraj's standard this was quite a mediocre performance.

2) Dinesh Kathik

Another name that comes in the mind of every Indian spectator is of Dinesh Karthik. He scored just 325 runs at an average of 23.21 in 14 matches. Surely, this wasn't a performance of a player who was bought for Rs. 12.5 crore by Delhi Daredevils.

3) Kevin Pietersen 

 Kevin Pietersen who is known for his aggressive batting style was another miserable failure in the IPL 2014 edition. Bought at a huge amount of Rs. 9 crore, he managed 294 runs at 29.40 with just 1 fifty to his name. This was surely not a Kevin Pietersen's caliber performance.

4) Andrew Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff was a good household name whenever we talked about talented all rounders. With same image he was bought by Chennai Super Kings for Rs. 9.5 crore. He scored 62 runs at an average of 31 and took only 2 wickets in the three matches he played. Though, he got injured but his performance in the matches he played was also not up to his caliber. Surely, a big failure.

5) Irfan Pathan

The fast bowling ace of Indian cricket Irfan Pathan was one of the most unsuccessful players in IPL 2011. Rs 11 crore was spent on this player by Delhi Daredevils was surely not worth. He managed to score 150 runs at average of 18.75 in 14 matches and took 11 wickets. A performance not to watch out for any spectator.   

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8 facts of just engaged Rohit Sharma and Ritika Sajdeh

8 facts of just engaged Rohit Sharma and Ritika Sajdeh

Rohit Sharma, who has scored 2 double tons in the ODIs, has been in blistering form in the shorter formats of the game. This man from Mumbai has shattered many records in one day internationals, leading Team India to famous wins. He has been a treat to watch over the years. The Indian opener has now decided to settle down and will marry his long time girlfriend Ritika soon.

1. Rohit Sharma, who is leading Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, recently proposed to his long time girlfriend Ritika in a most romantic way. He took her to Borivili Sports Club and popped the question as the clock struck twelve. This is the same club where Rohit started his journey towards stardom. He chose the ground because of his professional connect with the place.

2. Ritika Sajdeh is also close to a few Indian cricketers and considers Yuvraj Singh as her brother. She has clicked several pictures with the left hand batsman, who is playing for Delhi Daredevils in the cash rich league. She is present in every game where her beau Rohit is playing but has kept herself away from the ever catching lenses of cameras.

3. Ritika has always admired Rohit for his cricketing acumen and technique. According to her, Rohit is dedicated towards his game and has never run from his responsibilities when it comes to cricket.

4. With Rohit Sharma deciding to settle down, the Indian cricket team will soon lose its one of the most famous bachelors leaving Virat Kohli in the driving seat. 

5. The ever classy Rohit Sharma took to twitter to announce the news of his engagement to Ritika. Rohit, who is known for his batting, proposed to his manager cum friend, Ritika Sajdeh (28) at the Borivali Sports Club. She was amazed to see Rohit in a romantic avatar and accepted his proposal there and then.

6. Ritika, who is a sports management professional, is dating Rohit Sharma since last 6 years. She resides in the posh Cuffe Parade area with her brother and father.

7. She is in touch with Yuvraj Singh for a long time who treats her as his sister. Ritika is Yuvi’s rakhi sister and has often celebrated this festival with the former heartthrob of the Indian team. He was the first one to congratulate the couple on their big day on Twitter.

8. There is some similarity between Rohit Sharma and Ritika when it comes to animals. The lovely lady is a dog lover while Rohit Sharma has always advocated his concern for the animals through PETA. He is actively involved with the organization, who is constantly working for the better treatment of the animals. 

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Is sledging part of cricket?

Is sledging part of cricket?

As a staunch traditionalist I have for long bemoaned the growing misbehavior of players. As far as I am concerned cricketers have long since gone overboard. Every time there is a little confrontation on the field or a banter that is not exactly friendly players just shrug it off when questioned by the media saying``Oh it was nothing. It’s all part of the game.’’ I have always felt that things should be nipped in the bud so that they don’t fly out of control. But by just shrugging things off, shoving them under the carpet and putting on a pretence that the problem didn’t exist things were clearly getting out of hand over the years and increasing misbehavior is but a culmination of what negligence and not tackling problems head on could lead to. I always cite the example of arguably the most disgraceful scene in the game – Rashid Patel chasing after Raman Lamba with a stump during the 1990-91 Duleep Trophy final at Jameshpur – and remind my audience that it all started with both players taunting each other with chaste abuse words.

Look how it ended just because things were not nipped in the bud. Ultimately sledging had to get personal and lead to ugly on-field confrontations such as the one between Glenn McGrath and Ramnaresh Sarwan at St John’s in 2003. The Australian fast bowler reportedly started the verbal war and became incensed at Sarwan’s riposte – an apparent reference to McGrath’s wife. And just recently Dale Steyn said that he hasn’t forgiven Australian captain Michael Clarke for what he considered to be a ``personal sledge’’ during the Newlands Test earlier this year. Clarke had publicly apologized to the South African pace spearhead following the incident but according to Steyn the issue has not yet been resolved.

I have always advocated that sledging has no place in cricket whatsoever and remain firmly of the view that with the cooperation of everyone concerned – administrators, umpires, match referees and players – the cancer can be eradicated and the game believe me will be much the better as a result.

Former Indian captain Ajit Wadekar is another who has strong views on the subject. In fact he wants the ICC to ban all types of sledging to stop animosity between rival players.  Not too long ago Tim de Lisle, former editor of Wisden in a thought provoking article also called for a ban on sledging. He argued that deep down cricketers are aware that sledging iswrong.  In fact de Lisle went further and said that if the ICC does not ban sledging the captains should take the lead. What is needed is a big, simple, magnanimous response. The problem has now spread all over the cricketing world and the only solution is to get to the root of the cause. The cynics might say that the fans wouldn’t enjoy watching a game conducted largely in silence. I wonder how much they are enjoying the vulgarity and obscenity that is being enacted out in the field in the guise of passion. It is ultimately a matter of ethics. Players have the power to clear the air. Let them start something now, something that leaves cricket in a better state and spirit than they found it. God knows that the once great game is in need of a healing touch and for all the initiative taken by the authorities who better to provide it than the cricketers themselves!

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When India nearly stepped out of the field

When India nearly stepped out of the field 

Sunil Gavaskar is no stranger to controversy. But certainly the most unseemly incident he was involved with was at Melbourne in February 1981.   

The Aussies were led by Greg Chappell and the line-up included players of the calibre of Dennis Lillee, Doug Walters, Len Pascoe, Allan Border, Kim Hughes, Rod Marsh, Rodney Hogg, Bruce Yardley and Graeme Wood. And when India lost the first Test at Sydney by an innings in three days a clean sweep for the Aussies in the three-match series was well on the cards. But a drawn second Test at Adelaide gave the Indians a ray of hope. Trailing by 182 runs on the first innings India got their act together first by scoring 324 in their second knock and then by bowling out the Australians, requiring only 143 runs for victory, for 83 early on the final morning at Melbourne. As if the great comeback wasn’t dramatic enough the fact that Australia were dismissed for their lowest total in Tests against India in the face of an emaciated bowling attack.

Sunil Gavaskar had been woefully out of form in the series and in the five innings before the Indian second innings he had scored just 48 runs. Finally he found his touch, had reached 70 and with Chetan Chauhan was laying the foundation for a strong fightback when he was adjudged leg before to Lillee. Gavaskar protested that he had played the ball and again and again tried to get this point across, anxious as he was for a big score and for India to get into a winning position.

Even as this little drama was going on Lillee went up to him, pointed to his pad and then as Gavaskar explained later used foul language.

This was too much for Gavaskar who admitted that ``something in me snapped.’’ By now furious Gavaskar went to Chauhan and told his partner to accompany him to the pavilion. Chauhan seemed reluctant whereupon there was this strange spectacle of Sunil Gavaskar pushing Chaunan towards the pavilion. As the bewildered spectators watched and the Australian team remained on the field Gavaskar walked off with a hesitant Chauhan still trailing a few steps behind. Gavaskar was so upset that he was even willing to concede the match. The situation was fast turning out to be the most embarrassing episode in Indian cricket but the timely intervention of Wing Commander SK Durani the manager, prevented matters from getting out of hand. Even as Gavaskar reached the boundary line Durani signaled for Chauhan to stay on the field and after a few words with the agitated Gavaskar he asked Dilip Vengsarkar to go out and join Chauhan and play continued. Judged by any yardstick what Gavaskar did was very wrong. However in the heat of the moment Gavaskar forgot all this. Had the match been played before a match referee one shudders tot think what kind of action would have been taken against the Indian captain. But these were the days before the ICC had thought of appointing such officials.  All things considered Gavaskar’s action was unfortunate and one he was to regret publicly on more than one occasion. The BCCI should have taken some action but at the time Gavaskar was the undisputed monarch of Indian cricket, his wish being the BCCI’s command. But then Gavaskar was one who did not mind stirring up controversy and facing the consequences. 

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When four captains led India in a Test series

When four captains led India in a Test series

When the West Indies team led by Gerry Alexander arrived in India in November 1958 for a five-Test series hardly anyone would have predicted a comfortable victory for the tourists. After the first Test at Bombay was drawn, West Indies scored thumping victories at Kanpur, Calcutta and Madras before India just about salvaged a draw at New Delhi. The defeat at Calcutta by an innings and 336 runs remains till today the heaviest loss suffered by India. Political machinations were in full swing, there were several seamy off field happenings and all this led to players being dropped and picked without any rhyme or reason. The upshot was that as many as 24 cricketers played in the five Tests and four captains led India in the five Tests. 

Ghulam Ahmed was chosen captain for all the five Tests but only through the casting vote of the chairman Lala Amarnath. Ghulam did not exactly make things easier by withdrawing from the first Test at Bombay citing an injury.  Polly Umrigar was named in his place and India earned a honourable draw after being at the receiving end for most of the game. Ghulam was back for the second Test at Kanpur but an expected defeat by 203 runs after a draw was very much on the cards on the final day sullied his image as a leader.

All hell now broke loose and the poor performances were rapidly becoming a subject for national concern.  Ghulam had announced his retirement following the Calcutta calamity.

The selectors fell back on Umrigar When announcing their choice Amarnath had said that Ghulam’s place would go to either Kripal Singh or Jasu Patel depending on the wishes of the new captain. But two more vacancies occurred on the eve of the match. CD Gopinath had been injured in the pre-Test game between the visitors and South Zone and he reported unfit while Vijay Manjrekar cabled to inform that he too had been injured in a Ranji Trophy game and would not be able to play. Chandu Borde originally named 12^th man and Kripal Singh were called upon to fill the first two vacancies. For the third position Umrigar asked for Manohar Hardikar who had played in the first two Tests to be flown from Bombay. Hardikar however could not obtain a seat on the last possible flight and Umrigar’s choice thereupon was AK Sen Gupta the young opening batsman from Services who had scored an unbeaten century in the opening match of the tour and was among the original reserves. About this time – and it was the evening before the match was to commence – only one selector C Ramaswami was in Madras. The selection for the last place was not left to the captain or Ramaswami but was dictated by the Board President RK Patel that Jasu Patel was to be played.

Umrigar told the Board officials present that Manjrekar’s absence called for the selection of another batsman and when they refused to be convinced Umrigar threatened to resign the captaincy. His resignation

pinned the Board officials on the defensive. It was then decided that Vinoo Mankad should take over the captaincy. By the time the arrangement was arrived at dawn was only a few hours away.

Mankad’s appointment however was only a temporary arrangement. A new captain had to be picked for the final Test at New Delhi and after showing an interest in GS Ramchand the selectors finally appointed Hemu Adhikari. He halted the West Indian juggernaut and India scrambled to a draw at the Kotla.

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