IPL In Numbers

IPL action over 45 days in 60 matches witnessed many new records. There were total 1708 fours and 585 sixes i.e. in all ball crossed the boundary line 2293 times. Sachin Tendulkar won the orange cap by scoring 618 runs in 15 games and P. Ojha won the purple cap by taking 21 wickets in 16 games. 4 centuries were scored in IPL-2010. Highest individual score is 127 by Murali Vijay. Highest team total is 246 runs scored by Chennai against Rajasthan.

• Tendulkar won the Man of the match award 4 times in IPL-2010. Kallis and Symonds won it thrice. Dhoni, Gambhir, Ganguly, Pitersen, Pathan, Pollard, Murali Vijay, Tiwary and Raina won it twice.
• Kallis was the best all rounder of the tournament he scored 572 runs and tool 11 wickets in 16 games.
• Andrew Symonds was awarded as king of catches. He took total 12 catches in 15 games. (more…)

Mumbai Chokes Chennai Cheers

After playing exceptionally well for last 45 days, Mumbai flunked to get their hands on the trophy. Undoubtedly the odds were in favor of home team Mumbai, who had won 11 of 15 games that they played in IPL-3. But they could not handle the pressure of big game and did not look a team as threatening as they were in this season. Whereas Chennai was inconsistent throughout the season – qualified to semis based on better net run rate – managed to handle the pressure better than Mumbai did and emerged victorious.

Chasing a total of 168 runs Mumbai failed big time, thanks to altered batting line-up. (more…)

Orange and Purple Cap Standings

It’s curtain for Indian Premium League season 3. The tournament had witnessed many outstanding batting and bowling performances. At the end of 60 matches the orange cap is with Sachin Tendulkar. He leads the top scorer’s list with 618 runs from 15 games with 5 half centuries. Kallis was his close competitor till the very end but it was largely due to his performances in early part of tournament whereas Sachin was consistent throughout IPL-3. And he played one game less than Kallis and scored runs much quicker than Kallis did.

With 21 wickets from 16 games P. Ojha won a purple cap. It’s unfortunate that two best bowlers in IPL-3 MIshra and Ojha are not part of T20 squad. For last two seasons most run getters and most wicket takers slot were occupied by foreign players. But this year top five slots of most wicket takers column are occupied by Indian players, interestingly 4 of them are spinners. Apart from Kallis 4 of the top 5 run getters are from India. And two of them are from Chennai which holds the secret behind their victory.
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It is Chennai to date Mumbai in IPL 2010 Finals

So it’s decided. After lazy start of IPL 2010 season, Chennai has made a smashing come back to the series to beat Deccans in second semi-final of IPL 2010. After Chennai’s disappointing performance at batting, their show in fielding made Deccans to kneel down to grab a 38 runs victory. The all important coin turned MS Dhoni’s way and he in turn chose to set a big target and put the pressure on the opposition. But to their disappointment, Deccan’s sharp bowling staggered Chennai to dismal total of 142. Despite all this, Deccan was outstanding at bowling. They managed to keep Chennai at poor score of 142. However that could not save them from a disheartening loss. Deccan could not crave the way for them that they had created in last year’s IPL season.

The stage now set for 25th April, the day we all will witness the extravaganza peaking with Mumbai and Chennai up against each others. Sachin is hopeful to play in the final in spite of finger injury. We really do not want to miss out his heavenly knock that too in IPL 2010 finals. (more…)

Mumbai crashes Bangalore to make into finals

First semi-final of the IPL 2010 season. Stadium jam packed, Mumbai-Pune highway jam packed so did the knock by Keiron Pollard who blasted 33 runs out of just 13 balls. Though he fell short to break his own record of 45 runs in 13 balls, it was he who dominated entire match. Had he playing from Bangalore, Mumbai would have been sitting home and watching Bangalore take on either Chennai or Deccans in the finals.

By chance I was traveling from Mumbai to Pune via Nerul where the semi-final extravaganza was held. There was a huge traffic jam on the highway stalling everything when Mumbai took guard and started with their innings. Everyone wanted to see Sachin playing a memorable knock.  (more…)

Points Table IPL-2010

Finally IPL-2010 league stage is over.  After 56 league games we come to know who are the four Semi finalists. Teams with 8 or more wins were guaranteed a place in semi final and teams with 7 wins had to be lucky with NRR. Punjab and Rajasthan were first to get out of tournament. Kolkata had a remote chance till the last game. Except Mumbai, other teams were in contention for three semis spot till last moment. But outcome of match no. 54 and match no. 55 cleared the air and Chennai and Bangalore despite 7 wins,  sail through to semis thanks to their better net  run rate. So far Chennai is the only team to enter into semifinals for all IPL seasons and Kolkata is only team yet to play semifinals in IPL.

There is only one change in semi final teams when compared to IPL-2 semifinalists, Delhi is out and Mumbai is in, rest all three teams played in semi-finals of IPL-2009. (more…)