News from the Official Mumbai Indians website

Tiwary: Going to give my best at CLT20

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:26:34 GMT

The reigning winner of the Citi Under-23 Success award of IPL Season-3, Saurabh Tiwary is hoping to recreate his form in the forthcoming Champions’ League Twenty20 in South Africa.

“It (CLT20) is an important tournament for me. I am going to give my best to it and I am confident of doing well,” the hard-hitting southpaw said on the sidelines of a Jharkhand Ranji trial camp. “I have been working hard and practiced with my India team-mates to ensure consistency in my performance,” he said, referring to his stint with the national squad for ODIs in Sri Lanka.

Tiwary said he was not disappointed with not getting the opportunity to be a part of the playing XI for India, despite going on the last two overseas tours. “The Indian team had experienced players and the captain would obviously settle for winnable combinations,” he added.

“Right now, I am focusing on the upcoming Champions’ League, and leaving tomorrow (Thursday) to take part in the tournament,” Tiwary informed.

On September 10, the Mumbai Indians will take on Highveld Lions at Johannesburg.

Robin: Zaheer, Harbhajan raring to go

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:10:23 GMT

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians coach Robin Singh reckons his side can go the distance and capture the coveted Champions League Twenty20 tournament that gets underway in South Africa on September 10. The fully fit 15-man squad led by Sachin Tendulkar will leave for the tournament on August 30.

“We have the team to win the tournament. We are going with positive intent. Everyone is excited. We played exceedingly well in IPL Season-3 and are looking ahead now to win the Champions League,” Robin said in a teleconference on Friday.

The Mi coach reasserted that star bowlers Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh – who did not take part in the ongoing Micromax Tri-Series in Sri Lanka – have completely recovered from their respective injuries. “Both are fully fit and raring to go,” he said.

Robin revealed that the team had been practising in South Africa and Chennai in the lead up to the tournament. He added that the team would be even more focused when it reaches South Africa. “We had a preparatory camp in South Africa in end-July. We had another camp in Chennai. Everyone talks about the bounce on those wickets. We have to go there and see. We will do focused work-outs once we reach there on the 30th,” he said, adding that the team would practice in Durban for 5-6 days.

The former India all-rounder feels that skipper Tendulkar, who was training at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru last week, will hold the key to Mumbai’s success. “He (Tendulkar) is always crucial whether playing for India or for us. He is a crucial part of our game. He has already started practising for the tournament,” he said.

Robin felt Jean Paul Duminy would also be crucial to the team’s fortunes due to his knowledge of the conditions in his home country. “JP is a very important part of our team with his knowledge of the conditions,” he said.

The Trinidadian duo of Dwayne Bravo and Kieorn Pollard is the one with the most match practice under their belts, Robin informed. “They were in England and have played a lot of cricket. They are joining the team after the 2nd (of September),” he said.

MI will kick start its campaign against the Highveld Lions on September 10.

‘First CLT20 changed my life’

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:43:39 GMT

Mumbai: Kieron Pollard is raring to bat for the Mumbai Indians at any position in the upcoming Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) in South Africa. The explosive all-rounder was declared fit for the tournament following the eye injury he suffered during the Friends Provident T20 final in England last week.

“My eye is OK. The swelling has gone down and I am hoping for the best,” Pollard told the Daily News Analysis. “From this point, I have three weeks before the tournament starts, so I should be alright.”

Recalling the incident, Pollard said he missed the bouncer while going for a six. “I tried to open up and hit a six and just missed it. It is not a matter of him (the bowler) being quick or anything like that. It was an unfortunate incident.” Pollard admitted that he could not see all that well. “It is just a little blurry. If we get time to clear up, then I will be able to see clearly. I will get accustomed to light again.”

Turning out for his home nation, Trinidad & Tobago, the 23-year-old became a household name in India after his performance during the inaugural CLT20. “It is something I will never forget. My life changed since that tournament last year. I am a bit busy. I am happy and I am really enjoying it.”

He said that Guyana, the lone West Indian team to qualify for CLT20, is very good. “They have a good fighting team. They have a ‘never-say-die’ attitude. They play along with each other. They are a good bunch of guys. They are going to put up a tough fight.”

Pollard has never been to South Africa but is ready for his first trip. “I have not been to South Africa before. So it will be a different challenge. I have been to Australia, done well in India, England. Now, I am looking forward to playing in South Africa and will try to perform to the best of my ability there.”

Pollard said he learnt a lot from MI captain Sachin Tendulkar. “Sachin is in a class of his own. The way he lifts every player and shows enthusiasm to go out and perform is amazing. We get to learn a lot from him and I have learnt a few things and I have put that into my cricket. It has been fun and it is the dream of every boy to play with someone like him.”

The Trinidadian said he was comfortable playing at any position. “I am comfortable at any position. The technical staff and coach draw up the team. My thing is to go out and perform. I am not the one who says that I want to bat high or low. I just go there and give my contribution. It does not matter where and when I bat and bowl. The team wins, that is all that matters to me.”

"We have a good team with impressive young batsmen like Shikhar Dhiwan and Saurabh Tiwary. It all boils down to how well we adapt to the conditions in South Africa, which will be bouncy and seam-friendly, different to Indian wickets. A few practice sessions in South Africa before the tournament should be enough to get into the groove," he concluded.

Mumbai Indians will clash against the Highveld Lions in the tournament opener.

India qualify for Emerging 50 final

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:06:49 GMT

India’s Emerging Players prevailed in a thrilling low-scoring tie against the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) at the WEP Harris Oval in Brisbane on Wednesday, clinching a berth in Friday’s final.

AIS, who chose to bat first, were rocked by the pace-bowling trio of Vinay Kumar (2-16), Jaidev Unadkat (4-8) and Dhawal Kulkarni (2-27), and were eventually shot out for a paltry 127. A late rearguard action from Glenn Maxwell (63 not out) helped the hosts get past the 100-run mark.

The decisive moment came when Kulkarni trapped in-form batsman Moises Henriques leg-before in the 20th over to leave AIS at 48-6. Thereafter, only Maxwell could provide some resistance to India’s bowling prowess. Piyush Chawla (1-37) and Shikhar Dhawan (1-7) chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Chasing 128 to a seal a berth in the final, the opening duo of Abhinav Mukund (27) and Dhawan (20) made an aggressive start, until a mini collapse meant India were struggling at 60-4. Josh Hazlewood (3-26), who received his first national call-up earlier this year, was the chief destroyer, removing Mukund, Ajinkya Rahane (1) and skipper Parthiv Patel (0) in quick succession.

Eventually, it was Cheteshwar Pujara’s (32) calming influence and an unbeaten knock of 23 from Manish Pandey that helped India get over the line in the 29th over. However, the run-chase was not deprived of more drama, as substitute Peter George (2-13) steamed in to leave India in tatters at 116-7. Mitchell Starc (2-42) removed Vinay Kumar, and the score read 121-8, with India requiring a further seven runs with just two wickets in the bag. It was Pandey’s knock that saw them home.

India will clash against South Africa in the final. Parthiv Patel’s side had lost the final of the 20-over leg of the tournament, and would be eying a win on Friday to round off a highly successful tour.

India beat Kiwis in Emerging 40-40

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:36:08 GMT

India bounced back in the Emerging Players’ Tournament with a 7-wicket win against New Zealand at Albury Oval in Brisbane on Monday. Having crashed to a 60-run defeat against the South Africans at the Allan Border Field on Saturday, this was India’s first victory in the 40-over leg of the tour.

Chasing 198, Shikhar Dhawan (1) departed early, but a breezy partnership of 145 runs between Abhinav Mukund (80 runs off 97 balls) and Ajinkya Rahane (62 runs off 64 bals) took India to a comfortable position. Naman Ojha (23) and Manish Pandey (14) remained unbeaten, as India coasted home with 8.2 overs to spare. Mukund had also affected two run-outs during India’s innings earlier on in the match.

Earlier, Dhawal Kulkarni (3-54) and Piyush Chawla (2-53) combined to leave New Zealand in tatters at 143-7, until an unbeaten knock of 62 from Brendon Diamanti steered them to a respectable total. Opener Tim McIntosh (11) was run-out by Vinay Kumar, following which the New Zealand innings jostled for momentum but kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Chawla, who took a 5-wicket haul against South Africa on Saturday, continued to enjoy bowling on dry surfaces.

India will now clash against Australia Institute of Sports (AIS) on Wednesday at the same venue.

India lose Emerging T20 final

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:19:24 GMT

Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) defeated India by 29 runs in the final of the 2010 Emerging Players’ Tournament at the Peter Burge Oval in Brisbane on Thursday.

Electing to bat first, Australia were reeling at 51-3 with the in-form Luke Pomersbach (5) back in the hut. Ashok Dinda (2-33), Jaidev Unadkat (1-28) and Vinay Kumar (1-30) bowled impressive spells with the new ball and kept the Aussie batsmen on their toes. However, the duo of James Faulkner (44) and Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Moises Henriques (72 not out) added 72 runs for the fourth wicket to bring Australia back into the contest. Henriques’s rearguard action included three massive sixes and two boundaries, as Australia finished at a competitive total of 162-5 after the twenty overs. Umesh Yadav (0-6) bowled just the solitary over, while Shikhar Dhawan (1-16) claimed a wicket with his part-time off spin bowling. Incidentally, India defended a total of 168-4 against the same side earlier in the tournament, and the hosts had fallen short by just 2 runs on that occasion.

Chasing 163 to retain their championship, the young Indian team faltered, as teenage pace sensation Mitchell Starc (3-2) removed Dhawan (6), Parthiv Patel (9) and Ajinkya Rahane (12) inside just 3.2 overs. India’s disastrous start required a rearguard action similar to Australia’s, but it was only Cheteshwar Pujara (38) who stood his ground, as the visitors finished with 133-9 at the end of their run-chase. Peter George (2-16), who was recently called to the Test squad, removed Kedar Jhadav (17) and Naman Ojha (4) in quick succession and left India’s lower-order with too much to do.

Mumbai Indians’ Dhawan finished the tournament as India’s highest run-scorer. The same four teams – AIS, India, New Zealand and South Africa – will now take part in 40-over matches throughout next week with the first two this Saturday. The final standings in the T20 tournament are AIS (1st), India (2nd), New Zealand (3rd) and South Africa (4th).

Pollard, Bravo named in CLT20 squad

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:07:02 GMT

Mumbai: Star all-rounders Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo were named in Mumbai Indians’ final 15-man squad for the forthcoming Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa late last evening. Both Pollard and Bravo were in contention for their Australian sides – South Australia and Victoria, respectively. However, Trinidad and Tobago’s elimination from the Caribbean T20 event paved the way for MI to sign-up the charismatic duo in a squad that features most players that played this year’s IPL final.

Sachin Tendulkar will lead the squad that won 10 of its 14 league fixtures in Season 3 of IPL. Injuries to Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh were a cause for concern, but the stalwarts have given a green signal to the team management. Dhawal Kulkarni, currently playing the Emerging Players’ Tournament in Australia, has been picked as the other specialist seamer. The duo of Ambati Rayudu and Saurabh Tiwary continue to don the responsibility of the middle-order. Shikhar Dhawan has been retained as the specialist opener, especially in view of his recent heroics in Australia.

Ali Murtaza joins Harbhajan Singh as the second specialist spinner, while Aditya Tare has been picked as the solitary wicketkeeper. However, it was Rayudu who kept wickets in the IPL final. Rajagopal Sathish has been retained in the squad, thanks largely to his fielding abilities.

All three IPL teams have picked five international players each in their squads of 15. JP Duminy, Ryan McLaren and Lasith Malinga are the players that join Bravo and Pollard for Mumbai Indians. If anything, it makes life a little easier for Tendulkar and Co. to pick a playing XI before a game. Duminy and McLaren are sure to make a telling impact with their knowledge of the local conditions. Meanwhile, Malinga will look to carry forward the rhythm from the Test series against India.

Nayar misses out

All-rounder Abhishek Nayar, who thoroughly enjoyed the conditions in South Africa during IPL’s second season, is set to miss the CLT20 due to his frequently recurring wrist injury. Nayar had undergone surgery after Season 3 of IPL and has been training at the National Cricket Academy. Ajinkya Rahane, Sanath Jayasuriya, Abu Nachim, Dilhara Fernando and Stuart Binny are the other notable omissions in Mumbai’s squad, besides Chandan Madan who played a game during this year’s IPL.

Mumbai Indians begin their campaign against the Higveld Lions in the tournament opener on September 10.

Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Saurabh Tiwary, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, R Sathish, Ali Murtaza, Dhawal Kulkarni, Aditya Tare, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, JP Duminy, Lasith Malinga, Ryan McLaren.

NZ T20 washed out

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:42:16 GMT

The penultimate Twenty20 game in the ongoing Emerging Players’ Tournament between India and New Zealand was washed out without a ball being bowled at the Peter Burge Oval in Brisbane on Tuesday. As a result, the Indian team has automatically qualified for the final against the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS).

Mumbai Indians opener Shikhar Dhawan has been the star of the show thus far for the Indians – notching up a hundred against South Africa in the practice tie, a brisk fifty in the thrilling T20 win against Australia, and most recently a match-winning knock of 47 against South Africa.

New Zealand and South Africa will now square off in a 3rd Place Playoff match. Thursday’s final will be followed by the 50-over leg of the Emerging Players’ Tournament.

Points Table (as on 10/08/2010):

India – Played: 3, W: 2, L: 0 , NR: 1, Pts: 10, NRR: 2.6

AIS – Played: 3, W: 1, L: 1, NR: 1, Pts: 6, NRR: 0.190

New Zealand – Played: 3, W: 1, L: 1, NR: 1, Pts: 6, NRR: -0.714

South Africa – Played: 3, W: 0, L: 2, NR: 1, Pts: 2, NRR: -0.2575

India beat SA in Emerging T20

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:34:55 GMT

Mumbai: Shikhar Dhawan’s 47 and Jaidev Unadkat’s 4-wicket haul inspired India to a massive 102-run win against South Africa in the ongoing Emerging Players’ Tournament at the Fred Kratzmen Oval in Brisbane on Monday.

Put in to bat first, India posted a healthy total of 166-7, thanks to a quick fire opening stand of 66 runs between skipper Parthiv Patel (37 off 23) and Dhawan (47 off 45). Ajinkya Rahane (14) also caressed a couple of boundaries before suffering a run-out at the hands of SA’s keeper, Davey Jacobs. India’s keeper, Naman Ojha chipped in with a brisk 20, as India ended their innings on a high note.

Chasing a steep target, South Africa collapsed to 16-5 inside four overs, strangled into submission by the new ball duo of Unadkat (4-10) and Vinay Kumar (2-13). They were eventually bundled out for 64, thanks to late order resistance from Aaron Phangiso (18) and Cornelius de Villiers (13).

Kings XI Punjab leggie Piyush Chawla finished with impressive figures of 2-8 from 3.1 overs. Umesh Yadav (1-12) was the only other wicket-taker. Dhawal Kulkarni bowled two tidy overs without any reward.

India will now square off against New Zealand at the same venue on Tuesday.

Dhawan, Rahane star in warm-up tie

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:33:41 GMT

Mumbai Indians opener Shikhar Dhawan scored a century, as India defeated South Africa by 5 wickets in a practice-tie ahead of the Emerging Players’ Tournament in Australia. The flashing southpaw scored 112 runs off just 88 balls at the Sandgate University to register India’s comfortable win.

The other MI batsman to feature in the playing XI, Ajinkya Rahane, smashed a 67-ball 83, as India overhauled South Africa’s total of 277. The Twenty20 phase of the tournament gets underway at the Fred Kratzmen Oval in Brisbane when the same two sides lock horns on Monday.

Tendulkar cracks 5th double

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:03:06 GMT

Colombo: Mumbai Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar scored the fifth double century of his Test career during day four of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SCC) on Thursday.

Resuming at an overnight score of 108, Tendulkar, the world’s leading run-getter, equalled West Indian Brian Lara’s world record of 19 scores of 150-plus, minutes before the lunch interval. In the afternoon session, Tendulkar brought up his double with a gentle nudge off Ajantha Mendis.

The 37-year-old battled through the hot and humid weather in the Sri Lankan capital for more than eight hours to play a marathon innings that included 23 boundaries and a six. He was eventually dismissed by part-timer Tilakaratne Dilshan minutes after the tea interval. His knock bailed India out of trouble on the third day, and also gave substance to the third and final Test next week.

This was Tendulkar’s first double hundred in six years. On Wednesday, Indians were in a spot of sorts at 241-4, until the duo of Tendulkar and Test debutant Suresh Raina resurrected the innings. Sri Lanka had won the first Test of the series by a crushing margin of 10 wickets at Galle last week.

India, kept on the field for the first two days during Lanka’s massive 642-4 declared, responded by piling up 669-9 by stumps. The final day is likely to be a mere formality, as the Test heads towards a draw.

Tendulkar turns 48

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:41:12 GMT

Colombo: Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar turned in his 48th Test century to lead India’s fight back on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SCC) on Wednesday.

Tendulkar, who also equaled former Australia captain Steve Waugh’s record to have played the most number of Tests (168), brought up his first century on Lankan soil in over a decade with a trademark paddle sweep off Suraj Randiv. He remained unbeaten on 108, a knock studded with 14 boundaries and a six, as India went into stumps at 382-4, still trailing Sri Lanka by 260 runs.

India were in a spot of sorts at 241-4, requiring another 200 runs to avoid the follow-on, until the duo of Tendulkar and Test debutant Suresh Raina (66*) put together an unbeaten stand of 141. Sri Lanka had won the first Test of the series by a crushing margin of 10 wickets at Galle last week. “The conditions were quite tough because of the heat and humidity. The outfield is really soft. We fielded for two days flat, and that makes it even harder. I had to fight it out,” Tendulkar said at the close of the day’s play.

The 37-year old stressed the importance of maintaining high fitness levels. “All the guys are working really hard on their fitness. It is a never-ending process. It is important to keep progressing,” he said.

Ajantha Mendis, who decimated India’s famed batting lineup in the 2008 series, finished with figures of 2-92 at the end of day three. “He is a different sort of a bowler with lots of variations. Our batsmen have sorted him out. There is no doubt he is still dangerous, but it is an even contest now,” Tendulkar said.

This was Tendulkar’s fifth century in just six Tests in 2010. Will he make it a double on Thursday?

Nayar eyes comeback

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:24:31 GMT

Mumbai: Abhishek Nayar, who is currently nursing a wrist injury at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), is hoping that the national selectors will consider him as a potential all-rounder.

Having missed all competitive cricket since the IPL final earlier this year, the 26-year old is keen for a big performance for Mumbai in the forthcoming Buchi Babu Tournament in Chennai. “I am ready to fill in Pathan’s (Irfan) place because I am confident of my bowling, as well as batting. I want to be known as a handy all-rounder rather than just a reliable middle-order batsman,” Nayar told The Hindu.

“I have always bowled well in the limited-over format. I know I am not express but I am smart enough to outfox the batsmen. Rahul Dravid once told me that successful bowlers always understood their limitations. “He cited the examples of Chris Harris, Gavin Larsen and Robin Singh, who were never quick but were highly effective,” Nayar said.

On the road ahead, Nayar said: “I was not selected due to injury twice. Besides, the rain had played spoilsport in the West Indies, denying me any chance of bowling. I am hopeful of performing well and gaining the selectors’ attention again. I believe I can bat up the order as well and get some useful runs at the domestic level.”

Nayar, who was instrumental in Mumbai winning the Ranji Trophy title last year, will turn out for the Mumbai Indians in September’s Champions League Twenty20.

Malinga's back with a bang

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:09:44 GMT

Mumbai: Sri Lankan quickie Lasith Malinga has completed a highly successful comeback to Test cricket at the Galle International Stadium against India. Malinga, who will turn out for the Mumbai Indians in September’s Champions League Twenty20, was named the Man of the Match in Sri Lanka’s 10-wicket victory, as the hosts moved into a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Local boy Malinga scored his maiden Test fifty – a blazing knock of 64 runs from 75 balls – to help Sri Lanka stitch together a massive first-innings total of 520-8. Incidentally, the 26-year old had never reached the milestone of a half-century in school or first-class cricket. Malinga added 115 runs for the eighth-wicket with Rangana Herath to lift Sri Lanka from 393-7 to a total in excess of 500.

Later, Malinga was equally lethal with both the new and old ball, as India’s celebrated batting line-up came under the pump. With his slinging angle, and pace, he was invariably on target, maintaining a full length and swinging the ball towards middle and leg stump. He took his career-best figures of 5-50 in the second innings, and finished with a match haul of 30-2-105-7. Malinga broke the back of India’s top-order – removing the reigning ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, Gautam Gambhir, in both innings.

His best moment came during the final session of the fourth day when he captured the wicket of his Mumbai Indians skipper, Sachin Tendulkar. The talismanic duo of Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar had earlier resurrected the Indian innings with a partnership that lasted 42.1 overs, yielded 119 runs, and threatened to deny Sri Lanka a famous victory. ‘Slinga Malinga’ removed both Dravid and Tendulkar in the space of six deliveries and left India in tatters, at stumps. He deceived Tendulkar with a low full toss that was slower than expected, straightened, and trapped the master batsman leg-before wicket.

Malinga took Sri Lanka closer to victory on the final day by slipping through the defense of India skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with almost the same delivery that had removed Tendulkar. Dhoni played down the wrong line, as the ball crashed into his middle stump and left India at 186-6. His explosive return has cast aside whatever doubts there have been about his future as a frontline bowler.

Dhoni showered praises on Malinga after the Galle Test. “Whenever we had a partnership going, he (Malinga) came up with a beautiful delivery. Some of the deliveries were difficult to keep out. He got reverse swing going. He has a difficult action, which is unique. We found out the hard way in this Test that he could take the ball away from the right-hander as well, apart from bringing it in,” he said.

Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara, meanwhile, is glad Malinga has returned to Tests: “We’ve been trying to get Lasith to play all forms of cricket for two years now. We believe in him immensely. He is a fighter, and works as hard as anyone I have seen. He prepares well to play matches. Unfortunately, he was feeling a bit stiff. We do not want to bowl him into the ground,” he said.

Malinga made his debut in 2004, but his style of bowling, with the arm coming from behind his back has made it difficult for batsmen. It will be fun to see how Malinga fares against India at Colombo in a few days from now. Keep watching this space.

McLaren is best newcomer

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:07:41 GMT

Mumbai: All-rounder Ryan McLaren was adjudged the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ by Cricket South Africa (CSA) at the 2010 SA Cricket Awards on Tuesday evening.

McLaren, who become a ‘Kolpak player’ and migrated to England in 2007, returned to his home country last year and became a regular fixture in South Africa’s one-day and Twenty20 squads. Upon his debut, he took 9 wickets from 4 T20 internationals and 8 wickets from 10 one- day matches during the evaluation period. He was also impressive during his Test debut against England earlier this year. McLaren took his maiden five-wicket haul (5-19) against the West Indies during the second T20, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua a few months back.

The 27-year old is not an out-and-out fast bowler, but can be extremely nippy and deceptively brisk. Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar used McLaren in different roles during IPL’s third season – asking him to open the bowling at times, and handing him the job of the finisher too. His prowess with the bat is yet to be seen in the IPL universe, but the team management has exhibited enormous faith in his abilities. McLaren was also asked to open the batting in a game against KKR.

McLaren has been named in the MI 20-man squad for September’s Champions League Twenty20.

MI quartet to tour Australia

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:05:17 GMT

Mumbai: The Mumbai Indians quartet of Saurabh Tiwary, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane and Dhawal Kulkarni will participate in the forthcoming Emerging Players’ Tournament in Australia.

The 15-man squad, led by Parthiv Patel, began its week-long preparatory camp at National Cricket Academy (NCA) facilities at Bengaluru on Thursday. The four countries – South Africa, Australia, India and New Zealand – play two competitions – Twenty20 and 50-overs – during a two week period.

Dhawan and Rahane, in particular, are coming off a dream run from the tour of United Kingdom. Both batsmen scored a couple of centuries each and a few fifties at the top of the order for India ‘A’. Taking advantage of the overcast conditions, Dhawal also took a five-wicket haul against Yorkshire.

Indians are the defending champions of the 50-over Emerging Players’ Tournament. Virat Kohli and Subramaniam Badrinath were drafted into the national side following their impressive run at this tournament last year. Could it be Tiwary’s big break this year, or for Rahane to prove his class?

Meanwhile, MI all-rounder Abhishek Nayar is continuing his rehabilitation at the NCA academy.

All four players have been named in MI’s 20-man preliminary squad for the Champions League. Stay tuned to this space to track down the performances of these four future India stars.

MI name 20-man CLT20 squad

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:54:18 GMT

Mumbai: IPL Season 3 runners-up Mumbai Indians have named a 20-man preliminary squad for the forthcoming Airtel Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) in South Africa. Sachin Tendulkar will captain the side that includes Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan

Zaheer has been named in the side despite suffering from an injured shoulder. The MI vice-captain, who was ruled out of India’s tour of Sri Lanka, is currently in Johannesburg at the Centre for Sports Medicine and Orthopedics. The left-arm seamer is expected to be fit in time for the CLT20.

Ambati Rayudu, who donned the role of wicketkeeper during the second half of IPL Season 3, will be joined by Sushant Marathe and Luke Ronchi as the other two wicketkeepers in the squad.

Ajinkya Rahane, who missed the entire IPL Season 3 due to an injury, has made a comeback to the squad on the back of an impressive run for India ‘A’ during the tour of the United Kingdom. Saurabh Tiwary, Shikhar Dhawan and JP Duminy are the other specialist batsmen in the squad. Tiwary, who scored 419 runs during IPL Season-3, was awarded the 2010 Citi Under-23 Success.

Abu Nechim Ahmed has been retained in the squad as one of the fast bowlers. The Sri Lankan duo of Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando will join Zaheer and Dhawal Kulkarni in the pace-attack.

Abhishek Nayar, Rajagopal Satish, Dwayne Bravo, Ryan McLaren and Kieron Pollard are the genuine all-rounders in the side.

Ali Murtaza will join Harbhajan Singh as the second specialist spinner in the squad.

The 10th and final team to compete at this year’s Champions League will be decided when the West Indies’ domestic Twenty20 tournament finishes on July 31. All-rounders Pollard and Bravo will be turning out in the tournament for Trinidad & Tobago. The duo will be eligible to represent their home side, if T&T win the tournament in the Caribbean. "As was the case last year, if a player is selected to play for an ’away’ team rather than his ’home’ team, the ’away’ team must pay USD 200,000 compensation to the ’home’

team," CLT20 said in a statement.

MI CLT20 Squad: Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Saurabh Tiwary, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, R Sathish, Ali Murtaza, Dhawal Kulkarni, Abhishek Nayar, Abu Nechim Ahmed, Ajinkya Rahane, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Sushant Marathe, JP Duminy, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Ryan McLaren, Luke Ronchi.

‘Zaheer’s injury not serious’

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:23:04 GMT

Mumbai: Zaheer Khan, who is currently in Johannesburg to get his injured shoulder treated, does not require any further surgery, according to Debbie Davidson, one of the seven physios working at the Centre for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics.

"Zaheer Khan came to me on Tuesday afternoon and has been advised to come this whole week. His injury doesn’t seem to be serious and it may not be too long for him to recover", Davidson was quoted as saying by Deccan Chronicle. "Zaheer, in his rehabilitation schedule, has been asked to do some exercises and also being given acupuncture treatment".

"His MRI report was examined by me and also Dr. Mark Fergusson before he went overseas and according to the doctor, Zaheer Khan requires no further surgery to his shoulder", she further added.

"Zaheer is likely to be here till Sunday. It is up to him to stay longer and get his shoulder examined by the doctor. However, Zaheer has been advised to come again in mid-August, before the Champions League in September, for the examination", the lady physio added.

Mrs. Debbie Davidson also treated Anil Kumble seven years ago when the former India captain was also operated upon by Dr. Fergusson, Zaheer’s primary surgeon in South Africa. "I have been treating several South African cricketers and tennis players also on my patient list", she said.

Harbhajan eyes 500 Test wickets

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:51:14 GMT

Mumbai: Hailing the retiring spin genius from Sri Lanka, the inimitable Muttiah Muralitharan, star off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has now set a new target for himself - to take 500 Test wickets. Muttiah Muralitharan, who will retire after the forthcoming Galle Test against India, had hailed Harbhajan as the only bowler who can challenge his world record tally of 792 scalps.

A veteran of 83 Tests, Harbhajan is currently the third highest wicket-taker for India, having 355 scalps to his credit. Speaking to Gulf News, he said, “It has been a great journey. And to be behind two all-time greats of the game in India (Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble), is satisfying. It will be delightful if I can achieve the 500-wicket milestone.”

Harbhajan reckons India will do well in the three-Test series. “We should do well. All of us have been to Sri Lanka many times. So, acclimatisation is not a problem. We are almost at our full strength. We should do well in the Tests,” he said.

The off-spinner, who recently turned thirty, said, “Whenever I am in the field, I try to do my best for the country. For me, 30 is just a number. My heart is always young.”

Harbhajan said he had had to don the mantle of a senior spinner in the absence of Kumble. “I know I can always rely on Anil-bhai for good advice. I called him after the Nagpur Test [against South Africa, last year] and he told me to keep things as simple as possible. I followed his advice and reaped the rewards. In his absence, I have to take on the role of wicket-taker.”

Malinga set to return to Tests

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:01:12 GMT

Mumbai: Lasith Malinga, the slinging fast bowler, is all set to make a comeback to Test cricket against India at Galle this Sunday. The 26-year old last played a Test at his home ground against England in December 2007. Malinga’s return is extra special since his long- time mentor Champaka Ramanayake has recently been appointed as Sri Lanka’s bowling coach.

Speaking to The Indian Express from Galle, Ramanayake said that Malinga’s selection in the playing XI was a certainty. “Lasith has been itching to play a Test match again and that can be dangerous for India. He is fully fit as on today. Lasith has shown good form. If he stays injury-free, he will definitely be the impact bowler for us in the Test series,” Ramanayake said.

Malinga, who injured his knee nine months back, was kept away from the longer version of the game by the Sri Lankan selectors thus far. However, he enjoyed great success in the third edition of the IPL, and continued to blossom with his maiden five-wicket haul against archrivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup.

Ramanayake first spotted Malinga at the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) trials about a decade ago. “He still retains the determination to do well. His action puts a lot of stress on his body but I have never bothered to change it as it was natural. Injuries will be part and parcel of his career. It has been frustrating for him but he has worked hard and come out mentally stronger. He has also learnt to be patient if things do not go his way and has also picked up the art of setting up a batsman for dismissal,” Ramanayake said.

TA Sekar, Mumbai Indians director of cricket, feels Malinga’s form will be key factor in the series. “He is the only bowler in the Sri Lankan side who can consistently clock over 140-145 kilometres per hour. He also adds variety to his attack. I would say he has a freak action, one that naturally helps generate reverse swing. Once the ball gets older, it will be difficult to face him because he can generate reverse swing at 140-plus kmph.”

Since making his Test debut against Australia at Darwin in 2004, Malinga has captured 91 wickets in 28 Tests. The other members of the fast-bowling department are fellow Mumbai Indians quickie Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara and Dammika Prasad.

Harbhajan: Would love to stay with MI

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:23:01 GMT

Pune: The Mumbai Indians’ star off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed player retention going into the fourth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The player contracts were valid only for the first three seasons and there is no certainty whether franchises would be allowed to retain players ahead of the mega auction later this year.

Harbhajan says, given a choice, he wants to stay with the Mumbai Indians. “People associate me with the Mumbai Indians. If players get a chance to select their team, I would love to continue playing for the Mumbai Indians,” he said, adding: “I feel the franchises should also get a right to retain a few players, because otherwise the loyalty of the players, as well as the fans, will get affected.”

He reiterated that teams would find it hard to retain fan loyalty. “If all players are going to be auctioned again, there would not be any team loyalty. But then, big guys are going to set the rules of the new process.”

The Turbanator also paid tribute to the retiring off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. “No one can touch Muralitharan’s record in Tests,” he said. The Sri Lankan spin king had hailed Harbhajan as the ‘only one who can match’ his world record haul of 792 Test wickets. However, a humble Harbhajan was quick to point out that Muralitharan’s record would stand forever. “It is very kind of Murali to say such a thing. But I feel it is not possible for anyone to reach that level and take around 800 wickets in Test cricket.”

Harbhajan, a veteran of 83 Tests and 212 ODIs, feels nothing can match the intensity of the clash between neighbours India and Pakistan. “They are always full of tension, as there are many emotions involved,” he said. The previous clash between the archrivals saw Bhajji winning the match for India by hitting a six in the last over. When asked about his heated exchange with express bowler Shoaib Akhtar, he said, “I cannot tell you what we exchanged but yes, such things happen in a match like this. But I am happy that we won and the win came with a six.”

‘Bhajji’ was in the city to endorse an Australia-based coffee chain. He will now leave for Sri Lanka to take part in the three-Test series that gets underway on July 18. The Galle Test will feature a final face-off between the generation’s finest spinners – Muralitharan and Harbhajan.

Tendulkar backs Spain to win FIFA World Cup

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:21:47 GMT

Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar, skipper of the Mumbai Indians, has backed Spain to beat the Dutch, and win the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2010.

“I think Spain has been playing fine football. The side’s passing has been slick and it is playing in a very organised manner. I feel it has an edge over Holland in the final,” Tendulkar told The Hindu.

Tendular, Rahul Draivd, Yuvraj Singh and a majority of the Sri Lanka-bound players assembled in Chennai on Thursday night for the forthcoming three-Test series in the Emerald Island. The Tests, that get underway on July 18, will be followed by a triangular ODI series that involves New Zealand.

Dravid said, “Spain is a very well balanced team. There are no obvious weaknesses in the side. The players are very good on the ball. Holland is a worthy opponent and it could be a tough game but I think Spain will emerge triumphant.” Yuvraj Singh also backed Spain, saying, “It’s going to be Spain, no question about that.”

Zaheer out of Lanka tour

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:12:10 GMT

Mumbai: Team India suffered a big setback late on Tuesday, as pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, a veteran of 72 Tests, pulled out of the forthcoming 3-Test tour of Sri Lanka because of shoulder injury.

While India have won a Test match each on their previous trips to Sri Lanka in 2002, and later in 2008, they have yet to win a Test series in the Emerald Island since the one-off series in 1992-93 under the leadership of Mohammed Azharuddin. Zaheer was rested for the tour of Zimbabwe, but played an integral part in India’s win in the Asia Cup in Dambulla last month.

Later, Zak did not reveal much in his Twitter feed: “Shoulder is troubling me a little... need to sort it out ...hope to be back soon ... Important season ahead ...,” the pacer said in a post.

The left-arm quickie has led India to famous wins in the last 24 months, including the 2-0 trouncing of Australia and Sri Lanka at home, besides capturing a couple of five-wicket hauls in the last 12 months. The numbers below indicate why India may have suffered a major blow ahead of the Lanka tour:

Zaheer in last 12 months (Tests)

Tests: 7, Wickets: 33, Ave: 27, 5w: 2, BBI: 7/87

The BCCI did not reveal the cause of the injury in its statement, but declared that Abhimanyu Mithun, who finished as the second highest wicket-taker in the 2009-10 Ranji Trophy season, has been drafted into the squad.

India have struggled to come up with a potent fast bowling unit in the absence of Zaheer, who had pulled a muscle in his leg and bowled only six overs in the second innings of the final Test against South Africa in February, and subsequently missed the one-day series against the Proteas.

The Mumbai Indians vice-captain will be hoping to get fit in time for the Champions League T20.

India 'A' enter Tri-Series final

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:59:19 GMT

Mumbai: If Tuesday night’s thrilling encounter at Grade Road in Leicester is anything to go by, Indian cricket is in safe hands. Chasing an improbable 344, India ‘A’ posted 343/8, as the match ended in a tie. The two sides will clash again on Thursday in the final of the Tri-Series.

Mumbai Indians opener Shikhar Dhawan struck eight glorious boundaries in his knock of 44, as India ‘A’ raced to 80/1 in the first ten overs. Later, Ajinkya Rahane chipped in with a brisk 29, adding 74 runs for the second-wicket with the top-scorer, Abhinav Mukund (114). The MI duo has been instrumental in India ‘A’ posting big totals throughout the tour. Mukund then added 41 with skipper Cheteshwar Pujara, and 56 in partnership with Manoj Tiwary before he was bowled out by Ravi Bopara. However, the Bengal duo of Tiwary and Saha kept India afloat.

India’s batsmen came up against a potent England attack that included Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett and James Tredwell. The game was all but sealed by India, until a late-order collapse forced a tied game.

Earlier, Dhawal Kulkarni slipped through the defence of England Test batsman Jonathan Trott after skipper Ian Bell elected to bat first. Kulkarni finished with figures of 1/44, while Dhawan rolled his arm over for four overs with his off-breaks, conceding 26 runs. Bell’s fluent knock of 158 propelled the England Lions to a massive total of 343/8.

Thursday’s final promises to be another riveting encounter between the future stars of India and England.

Rahane, Dhawal shine for India 'A'

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:13:02 GMT

Mumbai: The Mumbai Indians trio of Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan and Dhawal Kulkarni has been consistently performing for India ‘A’ in the ongoing tour of England and Scotland.

On Friday, Rahane scored a quick fire 90 to help India ‘A’ register a mammoth 340-6 against West Indies ‘A’ at the Grace Road venue in Leicester. Dhawan scored a 42-ball 59 in the same game, as India ‘A’ romped home to a solid 53-run win, claiming their first win in the Tri-Series.

Last week, Kulkarni captured his career-best List ‘A’ figures of 5-29, as India ‘A’ outclassed a full-strength Scotland side by 152 runs. Earlier on, the lanky seamer from Mumbai finished with impressive figures of 5-31 against Yorkshire, incidentally his first outing at Leeds. Kulkarni has formed a lethal new-ball pair with Saurashtra’s Jaidev Unadkat. The duo is sure to be in the eyes of the selectors for a possible spot in India’s pace-attack.

Meanwhile, Dhawan (179) and Rahane (118) kick-started the UK tour with smashing centuries against Yorkshire during the first week of June. Since then, the duo has been consistently amongst runs for India ‘A’.

The numbers below tell the story:

Tri-Series (India ‘A’, England Lions and West Indies ‘A’)

Rahane – 3 games, 124 runs, Ave: 41.33, SR: 93, HS: 90

Dhawan – 2 games, 83 runs, Ave: 41.50, SR: 118.57, HS: 59

Kulkarni – 2 games, 4 wickets, Ave: 30.50, SR: 29.2, BBI: 2/61

India ‘A’ tour of England and Scotland (First-class cricket)

Rahane – 3 games, 233 runs, Ave: 77, 100: 1, 50: 1, HS: 118

Dhawan – 3 games, 260 runs, Ave: 65, 100: 1, 50: 0, HS: 179

Kulkarni – 3 games, 7 wickets, Ave: 36, SR: 75, BBI: 5/31

A victory against England Lions on Tuesday will ensure India ‘A’ a spot in the final of the Tri-Series. Stay tuned to this space for updates.

With Champions League T20 less than 90 days away, fans of the Mumbai Indians will surely be hoping for more tons and five-wicket hauls from the trio.

Mumbai to play CLT20 opener

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:34:22 GMT

Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians will square off against Alviro Petersen’s Highveld Lions in the opening fixture of the 2010 Airtel Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) on September 10. Wanderers Stadium, one of world cricket’s most famous venues, will host the final.

All matches of CLT20 will be broadcast at prime time in India, starting either at 5 p.m or at 9 p.m IST, host broadcasters ESPN said on Tuesday.

Change of format

The 10 competing teams – three from India, two from Australia and South Africa, one each from Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies – have been divided into two groups of five for the round-robin phase before the top two teams from each group progress to the semi-final stage.

Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore will fight it out in Group B along with South Australia’s Redbacks and a representative team from the West Indies to be decided later this month.

The Pollard Puzzle

The most sought-after Twenty20 cricketer in the world won’t turn out for South Australia, but could still be a part of Trinidad and Tobago, if his birth country wins this month’s domestic Twenty20 series in the West Indies. Pollard will then have to make a choice between Mumbai and T & T.

A number of other players have also qualified to play for two or more teams at this year’s CLT20, including Ross Taylor (Central Stags, Victoria and RCB) Jacques Kallis (Warriors and RCB), Mark Boucher (Warriors and RCB), Makhaya Ntini (Warriors and CSK), Dwayne Bravo (Victoria and Mumbai Indians) and Cameron White (Victoria Bushrangers and RCB).

As was the case in 2009, an ‘away’ team of a player is required to pay a compensation of USD 200,000 to the ‘home’ team if a player chooses to represent an ’away’ team over a team from his birth country. However, an ‘away’ team is not eligible for compensation if a player chooses to play for his ‘home’ team. For example, if White picks Victoria over RCB.

Mumbai’s fixtures:
Vs Highveld Lions on September 10 at Johannesburg
Vs South Australia on September 14 at Durban
Vs West Indies T20 Champions on September 16 at Durban

Abu Nechim eyes CLT20

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:58:12 GMT

Mumbai: Guwahati-born fast bowler Abu Nechim Ahmed, who consistently clocked 140-KMPH speed during his only appearance for the Mumbai Indians in IPL Season-3, is eager to prove himself when he receives an opportunity in the near future.

Ahmed, who had a nightmarish debut against Chennai Super Kings, conceding 26 runs from 2 overs, is confident of a better showing the next time around. “Please do not judge me by those two overs. It was a one-off game from which I have learned a lot and which I am sure will stand me in good stead. I have the self-belief to do well, prove my worth and remain a part of the IPL. I am now looking forward to the Champions League, followed by the Ranji season,” he told The Telegraph when asked whether it was temperament that let down cricketers from Assam on the big stage.

Ahmed admitted he was nervous playing in front of 50,000 cheering fans and bowling to established names like Mathew Hayden, Suresh Raina and M.S. Dhoni. “It was a learning experience. From Sachin Tendulkar to Zaheer Khan, everybody encouraged and supported me. I now know what it is like to play in the big league and the mental preparation it requires.”

The 21-year old is keen to participate in September’s Champions League Twenty20. “I am taking a week off before hitting the nets to get myself ready for the Mumbai Indians’ selection for the Champions League,” he said.

Bravo keen to play key role in World T20

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:05:14 GMT

Mumbai: Charismatic Mumbai Indians all-rounder Dwayne Bravo says he is eager to play a big role for West Indies in the World Twenty20 tournament, which kicks off on Friday.

West Indies play Ireland in the second match of a doubleheader at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence on April 30. “You can expect energy from me whenever I step on the cricket field. It is guaranteed that I will give the team 100 percent,” Bravo was quoted as saying by The Trinidad Express. “It is part of my job as vice captain to also be the livewire in the team, and support Chris (Gayle) who has been doing a good job as the team leader,” he added.

“We also have some other very good all-rounders in the team like Darren Sammy and (Kieron) Pollard who bring great energy and enthusiasm, and this helps to pull the players together and pull the team along,” he said. He added that it was good to have other all-rounders alongside who were just as good. “All we want to do is go out there and make major contributions,” he said.

Last year, West Indie reachd the semi-finals of the tournament in England before crashing out to Sri Lanka. Bravo, who was a key factor in that event both with his batting and bowling, said his side’s chances of repeating that success were as good as any for the April 30 - May 16 showpiece in the Caribbean. “This is a big tournament, a very important tournament for us. We are really, really looking forward to this event. It is an open tournament, all the teams are good and have a good chance, but we believe we have the ability to go all the way,” the Trinidadian noted. “This time around we are at home and we want to use home advantage and go further,” added the talented all-rounder.

Bravo said that the West Indies team was looking forward to the next two weeks so that they could showcase to the world what they were all about. “As a player, I am up to the challenge, and we will be trying to have a better ICC World T20 Tournament than we did last year in England,” he said.

Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Sanath Jayasuriya and Lasith Malinga are some of the other Mumbai Indians participating in the World Twenty20 as part of the squads of their respective countries.

Tiwary awarded 'Under-23 Success' of IPL Season-3

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:39:42 GMT

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians batsman Saurabh Tiwary was named the winner of the 2010 Citi Under-23 Success of the League Trophy for IPL Season-3 at the presentation ceremony of the tournament last Sunday. The winner was adjudicated by an eminent jury comprising former India captains Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

Tiwary, who emerged as the linchpin of Mumbai’s middle-order this season, scored 419 runs from 16 games at an impressive strike rate of 136. The 20-year old faced stiff competition from young talents like Kieron Pollard, Rohit Sharma and Piyush Chawla.

Speaking on his decision, Ravi Shastri said, “Saurabh Tiwary has been one of the real finds of this year’s DLF IPL. Few people will have been aware of him before this season but his performances have caught the selectors’ eye. He has not been fazed by the big occasions, and looks set for a great future in the game. He had some tough competition for this award but he is a worthy winner of the Citi Under-23 Success of the League.”

N. Rajashekaran, Country Business Manager, Consumer & Commercial Banking, Citi India said, “By instituting the Citi U-23 Success of the League Trophy, we hope to make a contribution towards recognizing and encouraging young talent. We hope that the Trophy will motivate youngsters like Saurabh to aspire towards building a successful career in the game.”

Tiwary was obviously all joy on receiving the coveted award. “I am thrilled that legendary cricketers like Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and M K Pataudi have chosen me as the Citi Under-23 Success of the League. I feel on top of the world, as well as humble. Playing for the Mumbai Indians this season has been a wonderful experience, and I have learnt so much from playing with so many great players. I would like to thank my teammates for helping me win this award. It is a great honor to be chosen as this year’s Citi Under-23 Success of the League trophy holder,” he said.

MI in Season-3: Bowling and Fielding Statistics

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:18:51 GMT

Player	Mat	Overs	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	Ct	St
JP Duminy	7	5.3	37	1	1/15	37.00	6.72	33.0	0	3	0
SL Malinga	13	49.0	344	15	4/22	22.93	7.02	19.6	1	2	0
Harbhajan Singh	15	53.3	377	17	3/31	22.17	7.04	18.8	0	6	0
CRD Fernando	5	19.0	138	7	2/23	19.71	7.26	16.2	0	1	0
KA Pollard	14	37.0	274	15	3/17	18.26	7.40	14.8	0	6	0
ST Jayasuriya	4	9.0	68	2	2/17	34.00	7.55	27.0	0	0	0
AG Murtaza	3	12.0	91	3	2/18	30.33	7.58	24.0	0	1	0
Z Khan	14	48.2	376	15	3/21	25.06	7.77	19.3	0	4	0
R McLaren	10	34.0	270	4	2/28	67.50	7.94	51.0	0	2	0
DJ Bravo	10	26.1	228	4	2/11	57.00	8.71	39.2	0	4	0
STR Binny	1	1.0	9	0	-	-	9.00	-	0	0	0
DS Kulkarni	1	4.0	40	1	1/40	40.00	10.00	24.0	0	0	0
R Sathish	12	8.0	81	2	1/11	40.50	10.12	24.0	0	3	0
AN Ahmed	1	2.0	26	0	-	-	13.00	-	0	0	0
S Dhawan	10	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	0
C Madan	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	0
AM Nayar	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0
AT Rayudu	14	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	1
AP Tare	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2
SR Tendulkar	15	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0
SS Tiwary	16	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0

MI in Season-3: Batting Statistics

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:14:07 GMT

Player	Mat	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	50	4s	6s
SR Tendulkar	15	618	89*	47.53	132.61	5	86	3
JP Duminy	7	157	42*	31.40	119.84	0	13	5
SS Tiwary	16	419	61	29.92	135.59	3	29	18
AM Nayar	3	58	27	29.00	113.72	0	4	2
AT Rayudu	14	356	55*	27.38	144.71	2	34	13
Harbhajan Singh	15	105	49*	26.25	166.66	0	12	5
Z Khan	14	24	23*	24.00	184.61	0	3	1
KA Pollard	14	273	45*	22.75	185.71	0	23	17
R McLaren	10	66	40	22.00	95.65	0	7	0
S Dhawan	10	191	56	19.10	112.35	2	23	3
R Sathish	12	112	24	16.00	116.66	0	11	0
C Madan	1	15	15	15.00	78.94	0	3	0
AP Tare	7	50	23	12.50	138.88	0	5	3
DJ Bravo	10	61	23	8.71	115.09	0	4	4
ST Jayasuriya	4	33	23	8.25	106.45	0	4	1
STR Binny	1	8	8	8.00	160.00	0	1	0
AN Ahmed	1	4	4*	-	57.14	0	0	0
CRD Fernando	5	2	2*	-	100.00	0	0	0
SL Malinga	13	1	1*	-	100.00	0	0	0
DS Kulkarni	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
AG Murtaza	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

A lot of positives from IPL-3: Robin

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:55:27 GMT

Navi Mumbai: Mumbai Indians coach Robin Singh feels the loss in the final to Chennai Super Kings does not take away from a host of positives his side can take out of IPL Season-3.

The former India all-rounder was particularly thrilled with the success of the dynamic young trio of Saurabh Tiwary (21), Ambati Rayudu (24) and Kieron Pollard (21). “The performance of the youngsters has been the biggest positive for us this season. Tiwary and Rayudu are exceptional talents. Pollard has shown what he is capable of, and these are the three guys that stand out for me. Also, Sachin’s captaincy and leadership has been remarkable, while Bhajji (Harbhajan) and Zak (Zaheer) have led the bowling attack. Overall, it has been a wonderful team effort.”

Robin reckons his team would have won the tournament, if not for the existing rules. “We won the league stage quite early. If the rules were different, we would have won the tournament,” he said.

On the final, Robin reckons his side lost the plot in the first twelve overs of the run-chase. “We could have scored a little more in the first ten overs. Obviously, while chasing a total in excess of 160, the run-rate will increase quite rapidly,” he said.

The MI coach defended the decision of sending Pollard to bat at no.7. “He has played some positive innings coming down the order in the final few overs. We wanted him to face the fast bowlers towards the end. The same tactic worked in the semi-final, so we wanted to stick to the plan.”

Mumbai needed 27 runs off the last over following the back-to-back dismissals of Rayudu and Pollard. “We wanted to keep the required run-rate to 10 in the last 5 overs, but unfortunately it shot up rapidly. We probably lost the game in the first ten or twelve overs,” he said.

“We also dropped a few catches. They would have scored only 140 or so, if we would have fielded better. Their batting is not very deep, and heavily depends on the top six,” he concluded.

Knew Sachin would play: Dhoni

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:53:35 GMT

Navi Mumbai: Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he knew all along that his counterpart Sachin Tendulkar would play in the IPL final on Sunday, despite recovering from a finger injury.

“I was 100 percent sure that he (Tendulkar) will play. As far as I know him (Tendulkar), he would play. He is a brave character and has done such things for his team in the past,” Dhoni said of Tendulkar playing in the final, despite having five stitches on the latter’s right hand. “He has gone through worst injuries and come back strongly. I always knew that he would play, as they (Mumbai) were in the finals,” he added.

Mumbai needed 55 runs from the final three overs when Kieron Pollard stepped out to the crease, and Dhoni revealed that he was a little worried. “The way he (Pollard) was batting, it becomes difficult to stop someone like that. No matter how many runs are required, he can win it. I was a bit worried. We were able to remove him quickly so the run-rate started mounting,” he said.

Chennai Super Kings have the final hurrah

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:42:57 GMT

Navi Mumbai: Albeit dropped twice during his innings, Suresh Raina scored an unbeaten 57, took a wicket, and claimed one of the finest catches of the year to inspire Chennai Super Kings past the formidable Mumbai Indians in a thrilling conclusion to the 2010 Indian Premier League (IPL) here at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.

In a tantalizing climax, Mumbai Indians, chasing 169, recovered from 114-6 after 17 overs to finish at 146-9, falling 22 runs short of clinching their maiden IPL championship. Although Kieron Pollard powered Mumbai back into the contest through a whirlwind knock of 27 runs from 10 balls, it was only a brief interlude in an otherwise slow chase that saw the required run rate mounting to 27 off the last seven balls. The penultimate over saw Rayudu and Pollard fall on consecutive balls, sealing the fate of the contest.

“It was one of those days when things did not go our way, but I would take this opportunity to thank all the Mumbai Indians’ supporters,” Sachin Tendulkar said after the game. The MI skipper admitted that fielding let his side down. “We could have played better. We also dropped some catches. We did not do well in our fielding. Also, we could have accelerated a bit more in the initial overs. I congratulate CSK for winning the final, and I must say they played better than us today,” he said.

Earlier, Raina once again proved that fortune favours the brave. The southpaw swung his willow at almost everything, batting on a surface that was not giving him full value for his shots. Chennai recovered from 108-5 after 15 overs to post a match-winning total of 168, thanks largely to Raina’s efforts.

Electrifying atmosphere...
The crowds cheered the little master with loud chants of “Sachin... Sachin...” in the closing ceremony, as they had hailed him prior to the game and it was perhaps the electric atmosphere that propelled the MI skipper to play despite five stitches on his finger. He had told Ravi Shastri a few minutes before the toss that the atmosphere and the wicket “look fantastic.”

With their redoubtable pace attack, the Mumbai Indians would also have been pleased to hear CSK skipper MS Dhoni saying that the pitch would assist the seamers at the start of the contest. Both teams played to their strategies – CSK playing three genuine spinners, while MI with three quick bowlers and an additional batsman.

However, right after the toss, the odds were stacked against Mumbai. Four out of five games at the venue in this season were won by teams batting first, with the most successful run-chase here being 164 thus far.

Riveting start...
Realising that Harbhajan Singh is a big occasion player, Tendulkar threw the ball to his star off-spinner to kick start the proceedings. The result: CSK’s openers did not look to counterattack with the same intensity. The battle between old rivals Harbhajan and Hayden was a captivating one and saw the latter survive four lbw shouts off six balls (one of them almost plum, as seen in the replays), before stepping down the track and clearing long-on. Meanwhile, Lasith Malinga and Zaheer Khan maintained the pressure at the other end, as CSK were kept to 29-0 after 5. Thereafter, Fernando and Zaheer bowled a few tidy overs to keep Chennai at bay.

The frustration soon caught on, as Vijay, batting fluently on 26, holed out to Tiwary at deep mid-wicket off Fernando in the eighth. In the next over, the red-hot Pollard struck almost immediately when Hayden’s fortunes came crashing down off a miscued pull shot to Rayudu behind the stumps. CSK were 47-2. Badrinath’s thwart off Fernando to the fine-leg region resulted in his dismissal in the twelfth. It was then that the CSK skipper Dhoni came out to join Suresh Raina in an attempt to reinforce the initiative for his side. The passage of play between overs 8 and 13 yielded only 30 runs for CSK, and got Mumbai three wickets.

Suresh Raina: Living Dangerously...
Some confusion between Nayar and Fernando in the third-man region meant Raina survived a miscued hit over mid-wicket. It proved expensive, as Raina struck a boundary and a six in the next three deliveries. The eventful over meant CSK went into the 15-over mark at 108-3. The first ball of the next over saw Raina get yet another life when Zaheer failed to catch a skier at short third-man. Raina capitalised once again, striking two humongous sixes in the same over. It was quite evident that Chennai had turned the tables – going into the second time-out at 125-3 (16). The period between overs 13 and 17 saw CSK scoring 57.

It was a moment of irony on the first ball of the eighteenth when Zaheer and Fernando – the two fast bowlers who dropped catches earlier in the evening – made a combined effort to remove Dhoni. Harbhajan and Malinga returned to finish off their spells with stupendous overs, conceding 11 runs apiece in the penultimate and last over, respectively. Both bowlers finished with 0-33 off their designated 4 overs each.

Cautious approach....
Later, Mumbai’s openers made a conscious approach to tone down their aggressive stroke-play against Chennai’s potent, yet unorthodox, opening duo of Ashwin and Bollinger. The extra carry in the surface led to Dhawan’s dismissal, as the left-hander edged one to Dhoni in the second over. Tendulkar struck a glorious paddle-sweep off Ashwin in the third over to give the crowd some joy.

The fifth over proved to be a turning point of sorts, as both Tendulkar and Nayar struck gorgeous cover-drives off Ashwin in a space of three deliveries. MI went into the 5-over stage at 21-1. The floodgates seemed to be opening for Mumbai, as Morkel was dispatched for 12 runs in the next. However, the batsmen struggled to pierce the inner-ring in the next few, as MI went into the strategic time-out (after 9 overs) at 43-1. Incidentally, Chennai Super Kings were 49-2 at the same juncture.

Just when it appeared as if the wheels were coming off Mumbai’s batting, Nayar broke the shackles in the tenth over with two back-to-back sixes off Shadab Jakati. Mumbai went into the last ten needing a taxing 111 runs, but with an optimistic crowd supporting their cause. The thirteenth over, bowled by batting hero Raina, proved fatal, as Nayar and pinch-hitter Harbhajan fell in a space of three balls. Nayar drove the ball to short mid-wicket and took off for a single but found himself at the receiving end of a direct hit by keeper Dhoni, as MI went into the second time-out (13) at 80-3.

Mumbai went into the last seven overs needing 89 runs – at a required rate of 12.8 – with Duminy, Pollard and Tiwary waiting in the dugout. There was a huge cheer in the ground when the site screen reflected that Mumbai were three runs ahead after the 14-over stage, but there was an equally deafening reaction two balls later when Tendulkar holed out to Bollinger off Jakati, while trying to clear long-off. Tendulkar’s knock of 48 runs was studded with seven glorious boundaries.

It left the onus on Rayudu and Pollard, as Mumbai needed 68 runs off 30 balls with 5 wickets in the bag.

Last roll of the dice...
Pollard came into bat with Mumbai needing 55 runs off three overs. He took CSK’s most economic fast bowler and one of Australia’s finest – Doug Bollinger – for 22 in the eighteenth. His whirlwind gave Mumbai more than a glimmer of hope, but it proved too little too late at the end.

Both sides will next compete in the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa later this year.

All in all, Tendulkar expressed great satisfaction. “The journey was fantastic, so were some of the youngsters. Towards the end of the tournament, Pollard produced some special efforts. I thank the support staff and the owners for their support. The hard work started after the end of IPL 2, and we did well to get the team together and play some nice cricket. Most probably, I will be playing next year as well. I would also like to congratulate CSK for winning the tournament,” the master concluded.

Decision to play is Tendulkar's alone: Robin

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:28:57 GMT

Mumbai: On the eve of the IPL-2010 final, Mumbai Indians coach Robin Singh said that Sachin Tendulkar’s availability for the big occasion was solely up to the skipper himself. Tendulkar had hurt two fingers of his right hand while attempting a low slip catch during Mumbai’s semi-final win on Wednesday.

“It is entirely his decision to play or not. If it is in his power, he will give his best shot. If he does not, we will have to go with other plans,” Robin said, speaking to reporters at the MCA ground.

“We are a very confident side. We are in the final because of tremendous preparation. The young guys have done exceptionally well. Both seniors and locals have come forward,” he said.

Robin reckons his team is not looking to experiment, “We do not want to spring any surprises on such a big occasion, and spoil the winning combination. We have managed to get this far with whatever combination we have played. Our bowling attack has been mostly fast and fast-medium,” said Robin.

Tendulkar, Pollard bag major IPL awards

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:28:15 GMT

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar bagged two IPL awards for Best Batsman and Best Captain, at the glitzy Sahara Indian Premier League (IPL) Awards ceremony on Friday evening.

Tendulkar, who has 570 runs from 14 games, prevailed over competition from Jacques Kallis (553 runs), Robin Uthappa (374 runs), Suresh Raina (463 runs) and Murali Vijay (432 runs) for the best batsman award. Visitors to IPL’s official website also voted Tendulkar as the Best Captain for leading the Mumbai Indians to the final of the IPL, and for being the highest run scorer in Season-3 of the Twenty20 league.

Meanwhile, Trinidad’s Keiron Pollard, Mumbai Indians’ costliest buy in this year’s auction, got the award for the best debut performance. Pollard was instrumental in taking Mumbai to the final during the semi-final match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Pollard, who has scored 123 runs off just 46 deliveries in his last four appearances for Mumbai, is also the leading candidate to win the Under-23 Success Story Award of IPL Season-3.

IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi chaired the IPL awards jury. Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara, Javagal Srinath, Simon Taufel and Harsha Bhogle were other members on the board.

Preview: The final countdown

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 22:26:43 GMT

Mumbai: The vast coverage received by controversies outside the cricket pitch would come to a standstill on Sunday evening, at least for the next few hours, when the Mumbai Indians come to blows with Chennai Super Kings in the final of the 2010 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the DY Patil Sports Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

There has also been plenty of talk about Mumbai captain Sachin Tendulkar’s finger injury and its ramifications on the outcome of the high voltage clash. IPL’s top-ranked side has proven in the second half of the season that it is not a one-man show, rising above hurdles as a cohesive unit. “It is completely his decision to play or not. If it is in his power, he will give his best shot. If he does not, we have to go with other plans,” a confident Robin Singh said on the eve of the game.

The hard-work and preparation over the last few months will finally bear fruit, as the teams look to express themselves and enjoy the moment in front of the swarming crowds on Sunday.

Chennai Super Kings, a formidable side in their own right, have emerged the only side to have qualified in all three IPL semi-finals, besides clinching a final berth for the second time. They have been bolstered by the uncanny opening duo (bowling) of Doug Bollinger and Ravichandran Ashwin.

The Arena

Eight matches have been held at this state-of-the-art stadium since IPL first arrived here in 2008, of which five have been won by the team batting first. In fact, that is the story in all four games this season, including the recently concluded semi-finals. Chennai Super Kings returned here for the first time since 2008 and were able to strangle defending champions Deccan Chargers in a low-scoring game.

However, these facts are irrelevant, as far as the MI management is concerned. “The wicket is the least of our concerns. We have done everything necessary to win, and do not want to change too many things now,” Robin said. Mumbai’s mammoth total of 184-5 in the semi-final against Bangalore was incidentally the highest-ever total at the venue. Both sides will take heart from the outcome of the 2008 final when Rajasthan Royals chased down 164, considering the importance given to the toss. “Anything can happen on the day. Deccan lost chasing 142 in the semi-final,” the MI coach said.

Team Update

For Mumbai, the responsibility of in-form duo Saurabh Tiwary (419 runs) and Ambati Rayudu (335) is bound to increase if Tendulkar were not to play due to his injury. JP Duminy (151 runs) and Abhishek Nayar are likely to use their experience in holding the innings together, while Tiwary and Rayudu play freely. Robin expressed faith in the team to clinch the IPL title, “We are in the final because of tremendous preparation. Our young guys have done exceptionally well. Both seniors and locals have come forward.”

Robin said his team was not looking to experiment. “We do not want to spring any surprises on such a big occasion, and spoil the winning combination. We have managed to get this far with whatever combination we have played. Our bowling attack has been mostly fast and fast-medium,” he said.

The bowling attack looks potent as ever with Lasith Malinga, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh amongst the wickets on a regular basis. Pollard’s six wickets in the last two wins against Bangalore represent an additional positive facet. There could be a case for Ali Murtaza, if Mumbai decide to opt for another spinner.

Chennai Super Kings have heavily relied on Suresh Raina (463), Murali Vijay (432) and S Badrinath (432) for the bulk of their runs. The experienced duo of Dhoni (265) and Matthew Hayden (329) has not been at its customary best, but the former found sparkling form in the semi-final. The trio of Dhoni, Hayden and Muralitharan could play a big role with truckloads of experience.

Doug Bollinger, also known as the Eagle, has made a telling impact on Chennai’s fortunes since he arrived late last month following Australia’s tour of New Zealand. The left-arm quickie, with his spell of 4-13, was instrumental in Chennai restricting Deccan to 104 in the semi-final on Thursday.

Key Players

Kieron Pollard turned it on for Mumbai in his last four appearances. He has scored 123 runs off just 46 deliveries, maintaining a strike rate of over 250, besides taking 7-79 from 14 overs of medium-fast bowling, not to forget three run-outs and catches. If these figures are anything to by, Pollard is a runaway winner for the Most Valuable Player award. It would be interesting to see the strategy CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni employs against this dynamite of an individual.

R Ashwin, a shy over 23, may also have been a red-hot contender for the best under-23 player award but for a few weeks. In his last five games, the off-spinner has aggregated 8 wickets at an economy rate of 4.3. Overall, in 11 games this year, he has 13 wickets at an impressive 6.11 runs per over. Mumbai gathered only 62 runs from 11 overs of spin bowling during the semi-final. The value of R Ashwin, Muttiah Muralitharan and other spinners will double up, if the pitch continues to play slow.

However, Robin is confident about his batsmen countering the unorthodox off-spinner, saying, “We have some plans for him. You will see it in the match. We prepare really hard for our games.”

Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (capt), Muttiah Muralitharan, Manpreet Gony, Shadab Jakati, Arun Karthik, Thissara Perera, L Balaji, Suresh Raina, Michael Hussey, Makhaya Ntini, Thilan Thushara, C Ganapathy, Murali Vijay, Sudeep Tyagi, R Ashwin, Justin Kemp, Hemang Badani, S Badrinath, Matthew Hayden, Albie Morkel, Jacob Oram, George Bailey, Parthiv Patel.

Match Start: 20:30 HRS

Full credit to Tiwary and Rayudu: Zaheer

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:23:05 GMT

Navi Mumbai: Stand-in skipper Zaheer Khan showered praise on Ambati Rayudu and Saurabh Tiwary for inspiring Mumbai’s win against Bangalore in the semi-final on Wednesday.

The duo added 67 runs from 45 balls to resurrect Mumbai’s innings. “Our initial target was 170, but because of Rayudu and Tiwary, and later Pollard, we were able to get in excess of 180,” Zaheer told reporters after the game. The left-arm quickie said there was a plan behind promoting Abhishek Nayar to number 3. “He (Nayar) has been a consistent player for us in the past two seasons. This season he has been bogged down with injuries, but now that he is fit, we thought he should get a chance to play higher up in the order, and allow Rayudu and Tiwary to negotiate the spin,” he added.

Zaheer said he enjoyed captaining the side in the absence of Tendulkar. “It was unexpected, and unfortunate that Sachin had to leave the field, and I had to take responsibility. It was good - all is well that ends well. We are happy that we are in the final – (we) just want to keep focused and wait until 25th for the last push,” a jubilant Zaheer said.

The 31-year old said he was unaware of the extent of Tendulkar’s injury. “I do not know what exactly the status is. I hope he plays the final. All Mumbai Indians supporters would be praying that he does, and we also expect that. But some things are not in your hands. We are going to take a call in a few of days’ time, so we need to be patient, wait for a couple of days and see how it is, you never know.”

Zaheer admired his bowlers for restricting the strong Bangalore batting line-up to 149-9. “Our bowling unit has been performing really well, and I am really happy with their efforts. The intensity on the field was superb; the whole team was up for the big occasion. All the players were running hard on the field and looking for the early breakthroughs. That made a huge difference,” he said.

Asked if Mumbai would give Tendulkar a fitting 37th birthday present on the 25th, Zaheer jokingly said, “That would actually be a belated birthday gift.” “Knowing Sachin I am sure he is up for it. It does not matter what has exactly happened right now, we are still hopeful. That is the reason we are going to see how things shape up,” he concluded.

Tendulkar injures finger

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:38:45 GMT

Navi Mumbai: The Mumbai Indians, who qualified for their maiden IPL final by trouncing Royal Challengers Bangalore by 35 runs here at the DY Patil Stadium on Wednesday, also received a blow with the news of skipper Sachin Tendulkar sustaining a finger injury.

Tendulkar injured a finger in his right hand while attempting a low catch at first slip. Suffering from a split of the webbing, he received five stitches upon his immediate return to the dressing room. The leadership duties were handed to vice captain Zaheer Khan.

Zaheer declared that his team will take a final call on Sachin’s participation in the final in a few days. “We are worried but we will take a few of days to decide (on his availability for the final). Every team he has played for has relied on him. It was unfortunate he got out early and got injured. But we have reached the final, and all the credit goes to him,” he said.

Tendulkar, who is all set to celebrate his 37th birthday on the eve of the IPL final, is confident of a speedy recovery. "My right hand is not doing too great. I split my webbing and got five stitches during the game. But I will hopefully recover for the final,” he said.

Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, the little master praised the efforts of Suarabh Tiwary (52 not out) and Ambati Rayudu (40) who resurrected the Mumbai innings before Kieron Pollard’s late onslaught took them to a total of 184-5. “Special mention goes to Rayudu and Saurabh’s performance, the mental strength they showed, the shot selection, the whole thing. I am very pleased with their showing,” he said.

The captain also praised Kieron Pollard who is fast becoming a household name in the sport. “The final burst from Pollard, the way he ended the innings, was simply exceptional. Later, he bowled really well too. He (Pollard) is getting bigger and bigger, and his hits are getting farther and farther,” a satisfied Tendulkar said.

Pollard rides the wave, MI storm into final

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:37:17 GMT

Navi Mumbai: Continuing their dream run, Mumbai Indians, who topped the league table with 10 wins from 14 games, marched into the final of IPL Season-3 with a 35-run win over last year’s runners-up, Bangalore Royal Challengers, here at DY Patil Sports Stadium. With the victory, Mumbai also clinched a spot in September’s Champions League T20.

The win was set up by unbeaten cameos from Saurabh Tiwary (52) and Kieron Pollard (33) as MI posted 184-5, incidentally the highest total at the ground. Later, Mumbai restricted Bangalore to 149-9, thanks to a thoroughly professional bowling and fielding performance led by Lasith Malinga (2-24), Harbhajan Singh (2-44) and Kieron Pollard (3-17).

All-round Pollard...
Pollard followed his cracking effort with the bat, with a three-wicket haul that included scalps of Robin Uthappa (26), Virat Kohli (9) and Manish Pandey (5). The sluggish nature of the surface made it difficult for batsmen to hit through the line, inspiring Pollard to roll his fingers over the ball. In fact, all three dismissals were thanks to clever variations, including the one that removed Pandey through a fine catch taken inches from the rope by Duminy.

The Uthappa factor...
The dangerous Uthappa seemed to turn the game on its head in the ninth over - taking Harbhajan for two sixes and a four – to put Bangalore’s run-chase back on track, going into the strategic time-out (after nine overs) at 80-2. Incidentally, Mumbai were 74-3 at the same juncture. Uthappa’s brief blitzkrieg ended next over when he holed out to Dhawan off Pollard at deep mid-wicket, leaving the crowd in a state of euphoria. The air was abuzz with the feeling that his wicket was the last nail in the coffin. The next ball saw a mix-up between Dravid (23) and Taylor (30 not out), and the former run-out by Pollard who made a spectacular lunge at the wickets! Suddenly, BRC were reeling at 83-4 after 10 overs.

Harbhajan checks in...
The fact that BRC’s slow bowlers conceded only 60 runs from 11 overs would have left Harbhajan Singh licking his lips. Coming around the wicket to Kevin Pietersen (19), he struck with just his second ball, firing it down leg-side, as he noticed Pietersen stepping down the pitch. The stumping was completed thanks to wonderful glove work by Rayudu.

Tendulkar injures finger
The first ball of the fourth over saw Dravid stand his ground after edging a Zaheer out-swinger to Tendulkar at first slip. TV replays suggested that the MI captain might have grazed the ball, and in the process hurt his fingers. Tendulkar left the field for some first aid, leaving leadership duties to his deputy, Zaheer. “My hand is not great. I split my webbing, got five stitches. I am hoping to recover in time for the final,” a wounded, yet euphoric Tendulkar said after the game.

The duo of Kallis (11) and Dravid had their share of luck before a fast out-swinger by Malinga induced an outside edge from the former in the fourth over. Kallis had earlier survived a miscued pull-shot with Dhawan dropping a catch.

Tiwary, Rayudu, Pollard guide MI to 184-5
Earlier, Mumbai’s innings was evidently divided into three halves – the first was full of anxiety, nervousness, direct hits and over throws, despite which they raced along to 61-2 after 7. But the next 8 overs, bowled by spinners, saw Mumbai gather only 46 runs, at a run-rate of less than six runs per over. However, the burst between overs 15 and 20 saw Mumbai amass 77 runs for a match-winning total. There was a clear difference between pace and spin bowling on the night. For BRC, 9 overs between Kumble, Pietersen and Kohli cost only 60 runs, while the remaining eleven cost 124.

The vivacious crowd that arrived almost four hours before the game due to security concerns exclaimed with joy when Tendulkar chose to bat after winning the toss. The speculations surrounding Tendulkar’s partner ended when Shikhar Dhawan walked out to the middle alongside his skipper. Praveen Kumar, who missed five games on the trot, got the ball to shape away, leaving the batsmen watchful in their shot-making.

Tendulkar falls cheaply...
Having waited patiently for seven balls, Tendulkar clipped Steyn through deep mid-wicket to set the ball rolling for Mumbai. Two balls later, he played a trademark cut shot between backward point and cover-point to leave the capacity crowd in raptures. After the two glorious strokes, the master stretched out to a wide one, only to find Taylor at cover. The silence at the stadium following his departure was deafening.

Abhishek Nayar, who had played just the solitary game prior to the semi-final, was promoted to no. 3 after Tendulkar hailed the southpaw as a ‘big match player’ at the toss. P Kumar missed a direct hit to remove him in the third over and the ball raced away to the boundary, an indication that the rub of the green was going Mumbai’s way. The same over saw Virat drop a sitter at second slip – in yet another indication. However, high stakes got to the players, who scampered around, trying to convert ones to twos, and twos into threes, and in the process Dhawan (12) fell victim to a stupendous piece of fielding from Kohli. MI were left in a tricky situation of 29-2, leaving the onus on Rayudu.

Rayudu responds to the pressure...
Rayudu (40) exemplified his rich vein of confidence when he stepped down the track to caress V Kumar through long-off in the sixth. Rayudu continued the charge in the next over by taking P Kumar for two fours. Despite all the drama at the start, MI went into the strategic timeout at 61-2, thanks to the counterattack led by Rayudu.

Nayar kept the scorecard ticking with deft touches and brisk running. His handy knock of 21 ended when he top-edged a Pietersen ball to Taylor at short fine-leg. The same over saw the end of Duminy’s brief stay at the wicket, when the left-hander looked to maneuver a delivery outside off towards the leg side, only to find Pietersen at short cover.

Spinners slow it down...
The dismissals of Nayar and Duminy meant the overs between 7 and 13, bowled by Kumble and Pietersen, saw MI gather only 30 runs between the two time-outs. Pietersen, usually a part-timer, conceded only 20 from 4 overs.

Tiwary comes to the party...
Mumbai’s innings went through 13.3 overs without a six, leaving the crowd thirsty for fireworks. Saurabh Tiwary (52 not out) answered the call with a monstrous slog-sweep off Kohli. Kumble’s decision to go back to V Kumar in the 16th proved fatal, as Tiwary and Rayudu combined for 17 runs.

Rayudu received a life while on 36, when he skied down a Kumble ball to Kohli at long-off. Luckily for MI, it was a no-ball, and the situation improved next ball, as Rayudu played a reverse-sweep for a boundary off the free hit, and Tiwary ended the over with a sensational strike straight down the ground for six. Rayudu and Tiwary stitched together a stand of 67 from 45 until the latter’s invaluable knock of 35 ended in the 18 over, when he holed out to Kallis at mid-off. Meanwhile, Tiwary brought up his third IPL fifty, off just 31 balls, when he cleared a slower one from Steyn over deep long-on, leaving the bowler in a state of shock.

The Pollard Show...
Pollard walked out to a startling reception, with exactly two and a half overs left, and it was time to unleash the Trinidadian dazzler in him. The penultimate over saw him strike V Kumar for two biggies over long-off, and the last saw him take Steyn for 16, signing off in style. Such is the power in the shoulders of Pollard that even the mis-hits were carrying for sixes. His unbeaten cameo of 33 was power-packed with three sixes and a boundary.

Man-of-the-Match Pollard appreciated the role of the team management. “I want to thank the team for sticking with me. I know my role was to go in and up the run-rate, I think I did that, and then take some wickets,” he said.

Mumbai will now clash with the winner of the second semi-final - between Deccan Chargers and Chennai Super Kings - in the grand finale on Sunday.

Tendulkar always a big wicket: Kumble

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:42:24 GMT

Navi Mumbai: Bangalore and Mumbai have won a game apiece in two previous encounters this season, and Anil Kumble acknowledges the unpredictability of the Twenty20 format, stating that either team could emerge triumphant on Wednesday and clinch a berth in Sunday’s final.

“The beauty of Twenty20 cricket is that the team that plays well on the day wins,” he said. Kumble reckons the hosts will be under more pressure. “Mumbai will be playing at home, something that they probably did not expect. They have had a wonderful run in the tournament and are carrying forward a lot of expectations. The pressure is possibly on them. We won against them earlier in the season so we can take that confidence forward. But it is all about what happens on the day,” he said.

Kumble reckons Sachin Tendulkar will always remain a big threat to any opposition. “He is such a big player, regardless of whether he is playing for India, Mumbai or the Mumbai Indians. The idea is to always try and get him out early, as an opposition, and hopefully we can do that on Wednesday. We have seen right through the tournament that Tendulkar’s ability as a captain and as a player is incredible. It is important for us to execute our plans and ensure he does not get on top of our game,” he said.

Will play based on our plans: Robin

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:41:49 GMT

Navi Mumbai: Mumbai Indians Head Coach Robin Singh reckons the team’s dream run in IPL Season-3 would be irrelevant when his side clashes against Bangalore in the semi-finals on Wednesday. Both sides used the nets at the DY Patil Sports Stadium on the eve of the game ahead of the knockout tie.

Mumbai had defeated the Bangalore on their home ground last Saturday. “We realise that it is a knock-out round. Everything else becomes irrelevant - whether we beat them on Saturday, or they beat us during the first half of the tournament. This is a one-off game, and anything can happen.”

Robin acknowledged the fact that it was a close contest between two strong batting sides. “They have a pretty good side, especially in their batting line-up. There is quite a lot we know about their side. We will play based on our plans. The intention is to go out and play some quality cricket,” he said.

Anticipating the big semi-final outing, Mumbai rested Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga in the match against Kolkata on Monday. “We wanted to give our main players a break. Most of the players in our camp have played a lot of cricket. The journey here (to the semi-finals of IPL) has been long and far. We came back here (to Mumbai) at 4:30 this morning (Tuesday) and are immediately preparing for a high pressure semi-final game,” he said.

Robin said there was a stratagem behind including some new faces in Mumbai’s line-up against Kolkata. “We wanted to give an opportunity to almost everyone in the team in the last game. We took into account the performances of some of those players to get a fair idea of what combination to play in the semi-final, and hopefully the final.”

Robin is aware that Delhi Daredevils had won ten games at the league stage last season but lost to Deccan Chargers in the semi-final. “Most of the teams in IPL are really strong. If you see in this IPL, every team has won a game against every other at some stage. It is about playing well on the day. Twenty20 is a funny format and this semi-final is anybody’s game,” he said.

Robin refused to reveal the little master’s pairing on Wednesday even as Skipper Tendulkar has opened the batting with four different partners in recent games. “We have thought about those things. If Bangalore can tell us what their plans are, we will tell you ours,” Robin said jokingly.

Robin, who was a part of Deccan Chargers last season, reckons this year has been more fruitful due to the time he has spent with players. “Last year I was a part of Deccan Chargers, but due to excess travelling in South Africa, it was a bit difficult. This year has been a lot different, as I have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with these players. We have been preparing since August.”

Speaking of Kieron Pollard who has scored 90 runs off just 33 deliveries in his last three games, Robin said, “He did not start off as desired but has come really good in the last five games or so. It augers well for us that he has been playing exceptionally well, we need our best players to peak at the right time.”

Following a low-intensity blast, Wednesday’s semi-final was shifted from Bengaluru to Navi Mumbai. However, Robin rubbished claims that the shift would work in Mumbai’s favour, “The idea is to perform well on the field on the given day. All teams have exceptional players; this is not a one-man show. It is a team game,” he said.

Robin is not disconcerted with the fact that this would be Mumbai’s maiden IPL semi-final. “That does not matter at all. Every game is a pressure game. We would not have qualified for the semi-final, if we would not have handled pressure before this game. We know a thing or two about handling pressure and want to execute our plans now,” he concluded.

Preview: The Big Mumbai Bash

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:24:40 GMT

Navi Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians roar into their maiden IPL semi-final against last year’s runners-up Bangalore Royal Challengers, assured at heart that the crowds will be firmly backing them up at the state-of-the-art DY Patil Sports Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday evening.

While Mumbai’s overriding ten wins in IPL Season-3 are significant, a minor blemish could result in elimination at this stage. It is often said that perseverance is a great element of success, and that a knock long enough and loud enough at the gate is sure to wake up somebody. Mumbai would be hoping to produce their loudest knock and march into the grand finale on Sunday at the same venue.

A champion side is one that produces its best when put to the sword. For sure, the Mumbai Indians have shown tremendous resilience thus far, and Tendulkar will be hoping that his enthusiastic teammates seize the moment and rally into their maiden IPL final.

Head-to-Head

In the previous editions of the IPL, four close shaves witnessed the two sides sharing the honours. The Bangalore Royal Challengers enjoyed a five-wicket win at the Wankhede Stadium in 2008, but were thumped by nine wickets when the Mumbai Indians travelled to the Chinnaswamy Stadium later that season. Subsequently, both sides won a game each during last year’s IPL in South Africa.

Earlier this season, Bangalore registered a convincing 7-wicket victory against Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium, thanks largely to a resolute half-century from veteran batsman Jacques Kallis. Mumbai returned the favour last Saturday with a comfortable 57-run victory at Bangalore’s own den.

The score line reads 3 wins each, but Wednesday’s result will be the most significant one in this fierce rivalry. Spectators will also be looking at the mini battle between stalwarts Tendulkar (561) and Kallis (542) for the Orange Cap.

The Arena

The average first-innings total in six previous IPL games at the DY Patil Stadium is 158. In fact, Mumbai’s total of 172-7 against reigning champions Deccan Chargers earlier this season is the highest total at the ground.

For the record, Bangalore Royal Challengers have never participated in a match at the stadium. With a capacity of close to 60,000, it is the second-largest stadium in the country. It is where the Mumbai Indians came back strongly after their loss to Deccan in 2008, winning their next two games against Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals, respectively. Overall, the Mumbai Indians boast of a 3-1 record here.

It may also be a pointer to a riveting contest, considering the batting strength of both the sides. The pitch here has offered enough bounce for the fast bowlers, and a bit of movement under lights. The team batting second has won more than 60 percent of the games here, but all that could change this season.

In view of the Bangalore blasts, a large posse of police personnel would be deployed at the stadium on security duty on match day. “Spectators will not be allowed to carry bags, bottles or mobile phones; and if they carry their mobile phones, they would be sent back home,” Dattatray Shinde, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Navi Mumbai, told The Hindu.

Key Players

Harbhajan Singh possesses the temperament for the big matches, having participated in numerous 50-over and 20-over World Cup situations in the past. The ‘Turbanator’ produced a whirlwind knock of 49 and took a three-wicket haul against Deccan Chargers earlier this season, incidentally at his first-ever appearance at the Nerul stadium. In Harbhajan, the Mumbai Indians camp does not just seek a senior player, and a match-winner, but a source of energy and inspiration.

Robin Uthappa faced the wrath of the local media in Bengaluru when he failed to help his side cross the line in last year’s final against the Deccan Chargers. However, his exploits in the ongoing season have established once again the young batsman’s ability to turn a match on its head. Uthappa has managed 348 runs from 13 innings thus far – at an astonishing strike rate of close to 170.

Team Update

The Mumbai Indians have tried out as many as 21 players in the 14 league games. The time for experimentation is over, as the Reliance-owned side will now field its best playing XI on the day. The team management comprising Sachin Tendulkar, TA Sekar and Robin Singh would have already decided on the best possible team composition to lock horns with the dangerous Bangalore side by now.

The batting charge is evidently led by skipper Tendulkar (561 runs), Saurabh Tiwary (367 runs) and Ambati Rayudu (295 runs), while JP Duminy has held the middle-order together in recent games. The biggest advantage for Mumbai over the last two weeks has been the rise of Kieron Pollard. In his last three appearances, the big Trinidadian has scored 90 runs off just 33 deliveries, besides taking four wickets and conceding a miserly 62 runs from ten overs of medium pace bowling. Apart from his explosive batting and miserly bowling, Pollard has shown flashes of brilliance in the outfield. The spot of Tendulkar’s opener could be filled by Shikhar Dhawan, Ryan McLaren or Aditya Tare, depending on the team’s strategy on the day of the game.

The bowling department is in safe hands with three veterans – Zaheer Khan (14 wickets), Harbhajan Singh (15 wickets) and Lasith Malinga (13 wickets) – delivering the goods on a consistent basis. Fortunately for Mumbai, all three bowlers have taken some rest ahead of the big semi-final clash. Ryan McLaren is expected to chip in with his medium-fast bowling and useful lower-order batting.

Bangalore is likely to retain the international quartet of Jacques Kallis, Kevin Pietersen, Ross Taylor and Dale Steyn. Kallis had come under the pump for consuming too many deliveries, and would be hoping to better his strike-rate in the crunch game. Meanwhile, Pietersen has struck good form with two half-centuries in the last two weeks. However, Taylor has not yet performed to the best of his ability. Virat Kohli (298 runs), Rahul Dravid (198 runs) and Manish Pandey (244 runs) have contributed at different stages in the tournament but have not maintained the desired consistency.

On the bowling front, Bangalore is heavily dependent on Steyn (12 wickets) and their skipper Anil Kumble (12 wickets). The form of India pacer Praveen Kumar remains a worry, while Vinay Kumar (16 wickets) is relatively new to the sort of big-match pressure that awaits the teams.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Anil Kumble (capt), Jacques Kallis, Shrivats Goswami, Bhuvanesh Kumar, Eoin Morgan, Abhimanyu Mithun, Virat Kohli, Robin Uthappa, Dale Steyn, Cameron White, Kevin Pietersen, Rahul Dravid, S Sriram, Manish Pandey, R Vinay Kumar, KP Appanna, B Akhil, Steven Smith, Praveen Kumar, Mark Boucher, Dillon du Preez, Ross Taylor, Roelof van der Merwe.

MI in Season-3: Batting and Fielding Statistics

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:56:06 GMT

Player	Mat	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100	50	4s	6s
SR Tendulkar	13	561	89*	51.00	136.16	0	5	77	3
JP Duminy	5	148	42*	49.33	123.33	0	0	13	5
Harbhajan Singh	13	104	49*	34.66	170.49	0	0	12	5
SS Tiwary	14	367	61	28.23	132.97	0	2	26	14
AT Rayudu	12	295	55*	26.81	152.06	0	2	29	12
S Dhawan	8	179	56	22.37	116.99	0	2	21	3
R McLaren	10	66	40	22.00	95.65	0	0	7	0
KA Pollard	12	213	45*	19.36	171.77	0	0	19	12
R Sathish	12	112	24	16.00	116.66	0	0	11	0
C Madan	1	15	15	15.00	78.94	0	0	3	0
AP Tare	7	50	23	12.50	138.88	0	0	5	3
DJ Bravo	10	61	23	8.71	115.09	0	0	4	4
ST Jayasuriya	4	33	23	8.25	106.45	0	0	4	1
STR Binny	1	8	8	8.00	160.00	0	0	1	0
Z Khan	12	23	23*	-	230.00	0	0	3	1
AM Nayar	1	9	9*	-	128.57	0	0	1	0
AN Ahmed	1	4	4*	-	57.14	0	0	0	0
SL Malinga	11	0	0*	-	-	0	0	0	0
CRD Fernando	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
DS Kulkarni	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
AG Murtaza	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

All statistics are updated until 20-04-2010

MI in Season-3: Bowling Statistics

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:53:06 GMT

Player
Mat
Overs
Runs
Wkts
BBI
Ave
Econ
SR
Ct
St
Harbhajan Singh
13
45.3
303
15
3/31
20.20
6.65
18.2
6
0
JP Duminy
5
5.3
37
1
1/15
37.00
6.72
33.0
2
0
SL Malinga
11
41.0
287
13
4/22
22.07
7.00
18.9
1
0
KA Pollard
12
29.0
212
11
3/28
19.27
7.31
15.8
6
0
ST Jayasuriya
4
9.0
68
2
2/17
34.00
7.55
27.0
0
0
AG Murtaza
3
12.0
91
3
2/18
30.33
7.58
24.0
1
0
Z Khan
12
40.2
308
14
3/21
22.00
7.63
17.2
4
0
CRD Fernando
3
11.0
87
4
2/24
21.75
7.90
16.5
0
0
R McLaren
10
34.0
270
4
2/28
67.50
7.94
51.0
2
0
DJ Bravo
10
26.1
228
4
2/11
57.00
8.71
39.2
4
0
STR Binny
1
1.0
9
0
-
-
9.00
-
0
0
DS Kulkarni
1
4.0
40
1
1/40
40.00
10.00
24.0
0
0
R Sathish
12
8.0
81
2
1/11
40.50
10.12
24.0
3
0
AN Ahmed
1
2.0
26
0
-
-
13.00
-
0
0
S Dhawan
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
0
C Madan
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
0
AM Nayar
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
0
AT Rayudu
12
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
0
AP Tare
7
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
2
SR Tendulkar
13
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
0
SS Tiwary
14
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
0

All stats are updated until 20-04-2010

Player	Mat	Overs	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	Ct	St
Harbhajan Singh	13	45.3	303	15	3/31	20.20	6.65	18.2	6	0
JP Duminy	5	5.3	37	1	1/15	37.00	6.72	33.0	2	0
SL Malinga	11	41.0	287	13	4/22	22.07	7.00	18.9	1	0
KA Pollard	12	29.0	212	11	3/28	19.27	7.31	15.8	6	0
ST Jayasuriya	4	9.0	68	2	2/17	34.00	7.55	27.0	0	0
AG Murtaza	3	12.0	91	3	2/18	30.33	7.58	24.0	1	0
Z Khan	12	40.2	308	14	3/21	22.00	7.63	17.2	4	0
CRD Fernando	3	11.0	87	4	2/24	21.75	7.90	16.5	0	0
R McLaren	10	34.0	270	4	2/28	67.50	7.94	51.0	2	0
DJ Bravo	10	26.1	228	4	2/11	57.00	8.71	39.2	4	0
STR Binny	1	1.0	9	0	-	-	9.00	-	0	0
DS Kulkarni	1	4.0	40	1	1/40	40.00	10.00	24.0	0	0
R Sathish	12	8.0	81	2	1/11	40.50	10.12	24.0	3	0
AN Ahmed	1	2.0	26	0	-	-	13.00	-	0	0
S Dhawan	8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0
C Madan	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	0
AM Nayar	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0
AT Rayudu	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0
AP Tare	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2
SR Tendulkar	13	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0
SS Tiwary	14	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	0

Kartik, McCullum carve out consolation win

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:49:49 GMT

Kolkata: The Kolkata Knight Riders registered a 9-wicket consolation victory against a second-string Mumbai Indians XI in the final league game of the 2010 Indian Premier League (2010) on Monday here at the Eden Gardens. This is the first time in their last six clashes that Kolkata have defeated the Mumbai Indians.

Kolkata, who had a minuscule chance of making it to the final four stage of the tournament, were shored up by a disciplined spin bowling performance led by Man-of-the-Match Murali Kartik (2-20), and later by some spirited batting by Ganguly (42) and Brendon McCullum who remained unbeaten on 57 to help the hosts easily gun down the target of 134 with 15 balls to spare. But it was obviously not enough to secure a place in Wednesday’s semi-final.

With the first semi-final slated on April 21, Mumbai had decided to rest key players like Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard, handing leadership duties to Dwayne Bravo. On winning the toss, the all-rounder elected to bat but his team struggled to gather substantial momentum on a sluggish surface that saw the ball taking sharp turn and kept low all too frequently. Openers Aditya Tare (1) and Shikhar Dhawan (10) were removed within the first three overs by Shane Bond (2-24), until the left-handed duo of Saurabh Tiwary (46) and JP Duminy (19) instilled some stability with a 63-run partnership.

“We did not have enough runs on the board, but the credit goes to the guys for putting a good effort in the end. The pitch was on the slower side. We had to get a couple of wickets and put the pressure early on but we failed to do that. I would like to congratulate the Knight Riders and I hope we will turn things around in the semi finals,” Bravo said after the game.

Kolkata’s spinners frustrated the batsmen with their deliberate ploy of bowling outside the off-stump, as the Tiwary-Duminy partnership of 63 runs took as many as 10 overs. The onus was on Tiwary, who continued to challenge the outfield with his power-hitting, but unfortunately could not produce the elusive big over for the visitors. Rolling of the fingers seemed to be the order of the day, and it worked wonders for Ashok Dinda and Jayadev Unadkat, as the latter slipped through the defense of Duminy in the 13th over. Two balls later, Tiwary danced down the track to Kartik, only to hole out to McCullum. Suddenly Mumbai were reeling at 77-4 with just a little over six overs left in their innings.

The sixteenth over saw Bravo (5) deceived by a beautiful delivery from Kartik that turned after Mumbai’s stand-in captain stepped down the pitch in an attempt to loft the ball over the bowler’s head. Bravo misread the delivery and was promptly stumped by Saha. The in-form Ambati Rayudu seemed unperturbed by the steady fall of wickets, playing some glorious strokes towards the end of the innings – through his quick fire knock of 27. Rayudu was run-out on the last ball quickly after he caressed a Dinda delivery though extra cover.

“I would not mind bowling on this wicket everyday. The spinners need to take the pace off the ball and all good spinners have done that,” Kartik said after his match-winning effort.

Chasing a somewhat below par target of 134, KKR openers Sourav Ganguly (42) and Brendon McCullum (57) did not allow the inexperienced Mumbai attack to settle into any rhythm, averaging at least a boundary or six in roughly every over of the run-chase.

Ganguly, who had set the tone courtesy of four boundaries and two sixes, was dropped on 22 by Ryan McLaren off Dwayne Bravo, but the KKR skipper’s luck ran out in the 14th over when he scooped a slower delivery from part-timer R Sathish to Bravo at point.

McCullum, who remained unbeaten, scored his fifty off 52 balls, including eight fours. David Hussey joined McCullum after Ganguly departed and remained unbeaten on 20 runs. His innings was studded with 1 four and a six over mid-on.

For Mumbai, Ali Murtaza (0-27), Dilhara Fernando (0-31) and Ryan McLaren (0-26) toiled hard but were at the receiving end of some glorious stroke-play from both Ganguly and McCullum. In fact, Murtaza, who was the only spinner in the absence of Harbhajan, got a few deliveries to turn sharply but was not allowed to settle into a line and length by the veteran duo. Ganguly played some of his trademark inside-out shots off Fernando in the fourth over to set the ball rolling for the hosts.

Mumbai Indians will now head to Navi Mumbai to lock horns with Bangalore Royal Challengers in their maiden semi-final on Wednesday.

Mumbai to play semi final at DY Patil

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:57:14 GMT

Bengaluru: The semi-finals of IPL Season-3 on April 21 and 22 have been moved from Bengaluru to Navi Mumbai. The decision was made following the two low intensity blasts at the Chinnaswamy Stadium prior to the Bangalore-Mumbai fixture on Saturday afternoon.

Mumbai Indians, who have registered ten impressive victories from thirteen games thus far, were scheduled to play the first-semi final of the Twenty20 tournament on Wednesday. Mumbai will now play the semi-final, and possibly the final, amidst their fanatical home crowds.

“We don’t want to take any chances. We want to ensure the safety of our players and spectators alike,” IPL Commisioner Lalit Modi said in a statement issued by IPL on Sunday. “While reluctant to relocate the semi finals at such short notice, Saturday’s incidents have made it clear that the current environment in Bangalore prevents us from continuing with our original plans,” he said.

Mumbai’s opponent on Wednesday is still uncertain.

Preview: Last roll of the dice

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:56:32 GMT

Kolkata: It seems like yesterday when the third season of Indian Premier League (IPL) was set in motion at a splendid inaugural ceremony, as the spectacular Twenty20 tournament arrives at its final league fixture in the twinkling of an eye – in the game between Kolkata and Mumbai - on Monday.

While Mumbai may be looking to experiment one more time before establishing their team composition for the semi-final on Wednesday, Kolkata Knight Riders primarily play for pride in front of the lively Eden Gardens crowd for the last time this season. Kolkata are still a formidable side on their own turf, having won four out of six home games, including a thumping win over Rajasthan on Saturday. Mathematically, there is still an outside chance of KKR reaching the semis, but it appears unlikely.

Mumbai Indians have suffered a few away losses last week but have swiftly regained momentum with three back-to-back wins against Rajasthan, Delhi and Bangalore. The performances by Kieron Pollard and JP Duminy have especially helped shut insinuations that IPL’s top-ranked team is over dependent on their skipper.

Key Players

Kieron Pollard has emerged as Mumbai’s impact player in the last three matches. In Mumbai’s last three wins, the Trinidadian has scored 90 runs off just 33 deliveries, besides taking four wickets and conceding a miserly 62 runs from ten overs of medium pace bowling. Besides his explosive batting and miserly bowling, Pollard has shown flashes of brilliance in the outfield.

Murali Kartik has fared exceptionally well this season for KKR, especially in the home fixtures. The wily left-arm bowler has taken 7 wickets from 9 games at an economic rate of 6.65. He knows a fair bit about some of the batsmen in the Mumbai line-up and could prove a handful if KKR were to defend a big total, under lights and amidst the electrifying atmosphere in the city of joy.

Run-fest at Eden Gardens

Barring the game on Saturday, Kolkata has seen mammoth first innings totals in the last four games. The hosts had posted 181-6, 200-3 and 181-3 in three back-to-back home fixtures earlier this month. The dew levels are considerably higher at the venue but spinners are a handful while bowling first. Earlier this month, Kings XI Punjab had made a mockery of Kolkata’s 201 runs, achieving the target with ten balls to spare. The crowds at Eden would be hoping for a run-fest of similar proportions.

Injury Update

All players from both sides have been declared fit.

Team Update

Sachin Tendulkar has opened the batting with four different partners in as many games – Shikhar Dhawan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chandan Madan, and most recently Ryan McLaren, who scored a patient 41 and later forged good partnerships with Rayudu (69) and Pollard (35) in the game in Bengaluru. There is still uncertainty over Tendulkar’s partner for the knockout stages of the tournament. Mumbai’s middle-order looks healthier than ever with Rayudu, Pollard, Tiwary and Duminy chipping in with good scores on a consistent basis. Also, Abhishek Nayar has returned to the playing XI to bolster the batting.

Mumbai’s strike bowler Lasith Malinga, who was rested for two consecutive games, could be back to the playing XI in place of fellow Sri Lankan Dilhara Fernando. Ryan McLaren, Kieron Pollard and JP Duminy are expected to be the other international stars. Nevertheless, flamboyant all-rounder Dwayne Bravo may be given yet another run prior to the semi finals at the DY Patil stadium.

For KKR, the pace duo of Ashok Dinda and Shane Bond struck good rhythm in the win over Rajasthan on Saturday. Dinda has been a consistent performer since his recall to the side a fortnight ago. Jaidev Unadkat, 18, a promising left-arm seamer has also impressed with his debut figures of 3-26. Kolkata are expected to retain the international quartet of McCullum-Gayle-Mathews-Bond.

The Mumbai Indians are set to return home following the game in Kolkata to prepare for the first semi-final on Wednesday at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar (capt), Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu, Chandan Madan, Syed Sahabuddin, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shikhar Dhawan, Graham Napier, Dilhara Fernando, Dwayne Bravo, Zaheer Khan, Ali Murtaza, Saurabh Tiwary, R Sathish, Aditya Tare, Ishan Malhotra, Rahul Shukla, Abhishek Nayar, JP Duminy, Sanath Jayasuriya, Harbhajan Singh.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Cheteshwar Pujara, Charl Langeveldt, Chirag Pathak, Iqbal Abdulla, G Vignesh, Brendon McCullum, Angelo Mathews, Wriddhiman Saha, Ajit Agarkar, Chris Gayle, Manoj Tiwary, Rohan Gavaskar, Harshad Khadiwale, Varun Aaron, Eklak Ahmed, Owais Shah, Murali Kartik, Brad Hodge, Ajantha Mendis, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Ashok Dinda, Ishant Sharma.

Feels good to contribute: Rayudu

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:18:27 GMT

Bengaluru: Ambati Rayudu, sometimes hailed as India’s next big batting talent, has played a brand of ‘fearless cricket’ since his joining the Mumbai Indians this IPL season. Entrusted with the crucial no.3 spot by the team management, Rayudu has mostly delivered the goods in recent games.

His 27-ball knock of 46 on Saturday was instrumental in guiding Mumbai to an imposing total of 191-4 against Bangalore. The 24-year old also showed some mettle to step down the wicket and club the legendary spinner Anil Kumble for two sixes, immediately after hammering Pankaj Singh in the previous over.

As is well known, the cheering crowds at Bangalore had to wait for an hour for Mumbai’s, and particularly Rayudu’s, fireworks on Saturday, until the panic following a low-intensity blast in the vicinity had subsided. The players were rushed inside the dressing room for a while, and there were murmurs of the match being called-off. The passionate crowd that turned out in Bengaluru was finally treated to a quality game of Twenty20 cricket. “We were aware of the blast. The security team asked us to get inside our dressing room and stay there for a while. After the briefing, we went back to the field and things seemed fine,” Rayudu said after the game.

While Mumbai were already through to the semi-final, the players exhibited a high level of intensity during their 57-run victory. “We were totally focused on the task at hand, and were just following the plan on how to go about it. It feels really good to contribute when the team is winning like this. I am glad to be playing IPL.”

Rayudu said he did not look to do anything different and just played his natural game, “I did not try to change anything as such. I just played my normal game and it clicked,” he said. “The key is to never give up. It gives the youngsters great confidence, and a positive frame of mind,” he added.

Mumbai outclass Bangalore

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 21:41:02 GMT

Bengaluru: The Mumbai Indians avenged their loss to Bangalore last month by returning the favour with a massive 57-run victory at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. The top-ranked team of IPL Season-3 restricted Royal Challengers to 134-9 after posting 191-4, their third highest total in IPL and second highest in an away fixture. Ryan McLaren was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his all-round effort that included a patient 40 with the willow, and later a tidy 4-over spell of 1-21.

Mumbai came into the game with five changes to their playing XI and a semi-final place already in the bag, but the intensity with which they played found the hosts wanting in all departments.

The decisive factors behind the day’s result included 10 sixes struck by the Mumbai Indians, as compared to 3 by Royal Challengers. Also, Mumbai’s bowlers conceded just 5 extras, as against Bangalore’s 15. With the victory, Mumbai became only the third team in IPL to register 10 or more wins in a season. Bangalore’s loss has once again opened up the points table, creating further suspense on the semi-final line up of the three other teams scheduled to join Mumbai next week, even as Virat Kohli blasted a quick-fire 37 in his attempt to shore up BRC’s net run-rate.

Earlier, it appeared as if the lack of pressure on Mumbai’s batsmen had given them the license to explode with sixes hit at will, as Ambati Rayudu (4), Kieron Pollard (3) and JP Duminy (3) nearly outnumbered the total number of boundaries (14) hit by the Mumbai batsmen.

The highly anticipated game started an hour late following a low-intensity blast outside the stadium thirty minutes prior to the toss. The anxiety ended at three past five when Sachin Tendulkar walked out to a customary ovation along with Ryan McLaren, his fourth opening partner in as many games. The duo ran a couple of cheeky singles in the first over but was unable to set the ball rolling, as Mumbai went into the fifth over at a steady 29-0, with neither McLaren or Tendulkar clearing the boundary.

Besides a cracking cut shot off Vinay Kumar in the second over, Tendulkar was consciously looking to pierce the on-side field, and that led to his dismissal in the fifth over when he shuffled around the crease before lofting the ball to deep square-leg where Ross Taylor claimed a spectacular catch. Tendulkar’s dismissal was followed by mixed emotions from the crowd that was both pleased and saddened to see the back of the Orange Cap holder.

Rayudu (46 off 27), who came into bat at number three, had told MumbaiIndians.com in an interview on Friday that he was eagerly awaiting the opportunity to bat at the same stadium where had scored tons of runs in domestic cricket almost half a decade back. Rayudu has trained at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and is well versed with the conditions in Bangalore. The 24-year old lived up to his words, as he turned up the heat in the ninth over, taking seamer Pankaj Singh apart with a boundary and two soaring sixes to push the hosts on to the back-foot.

Rayudu helped Mumbai jump from 38-1 after seven overs to 75-1 at the halfway stage. Kumble was quick to realise that the visitors were running away with the game, and reintroduced his trump card – Dale Steyn – into the attack after ten overs. Steyn pulled things back with a tidy 3-run over. However, Kumble could not sustain the pressure himself, and was taken for two sixes by Rayudu in the next.

The right-hander continued the assault in the twelfth over, taking Kallis for back-to-back boundaries, until he was deceived by a slower one and scooped the ball high for the South African all-rounder to catch. However, Rayudu’s power-packed innings had by then accounted for a match-winning partnership of 69 runs with McLaren, from just 6.5 overs. Rayudu’s dismissal began the forging of another explosive partnership between Pollard (20 off 7) and McLaren. First, McLaren took two boundaries off Kumble, and then Pollard hit three consecutive sixes off Pankaj Singh in the fourteenth to take forward the momentum. However, Kumble ended Pollard’s brief blitzkrieg when he trapped the big Trinidadian leg-before in the first ball of the fifteenth over.

The introduction of a part-timer in Pietersen caught McLaren (41) off guard, as he attempted a reverse-sweep only to be trapped leg-before. But, that did not curtail Duminy from launching into fellow South African, Jacques Kallis, for two huge sixes in the eighteenth over. Duminy looked to continue from where he had left off for the Cape Cobras last year at CLT20, and eventually remained unbeaten on 42, with three boundaries and three sixes.

For Bangalore, only Dale Steyn (0-18) impressed with his bowling, as the rest were easily taken to the cleaners. Besides the South African pacer, all of Bangalore’s bowlers conceded at least 8.5 runs per over.

Chasing 192, Kallis and Pandey got the hosts off to a steady start until the latter failed to execute a flat-batted pull shot off Fernando in the fifth over to find Zaheer Khan at mid-on. Kevin Pietersen came out to a rousing response from the Bangalore crowd, but just four deliveries later Bangalore’s hopes struck a major blow when their best batsman Jacques Kallis was cleaned up by the peach of a yorker from Ryan McLaren. Mumbai had restricted Bangalore to 38-2 at the end of seven overs.

Harbhajan’s decision to come around the wicket worked well for the off-spinner, as he conceded only 28 runs off his four overs, stifling Bangalore’s run-chase. Dravid fell to the cramped line and length when he found Pollard at mid-wicket while trying to pierce the inner circle. Ten balls later, Bangalore’s hopes were dashed further, when Pietersen holed out to Tiwary at long-off.

The feisty off-spinner’s efforts were strongly backed up by the seam-bowling quartet of Ryan McLaren (1-21), Zaheer Khan (1-30), DIlhara Fernando (2-24) and Kieron Pollard (3-28).

Unfortunately for the hosts, the cream of the batting comprising Manish Pandey (16), Jacques Kallis (14), Kevin Pietersen (21), Rahul Dravid (16), Robin Uthappa (4) and Ross Taylor (9) failed to click when it mattered most - for clinching the crucial semi-final berth. Bangalore will now await the results of the other games to know their fate.

Mumbai will travel to Kolkata for their last league fixture before returning to Bangalore for the semi-final on Wednesday.

Preview: A surrogate semi-final?

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:41:27 GMT

Bengaluru: The last stage of IPL Season-3 offers a mouth-watering clash that may prove to be a dress rehearsal ahead of the semi-finals – between the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

While the Mumbai Indians have firmly established their position at the top of the standings, last year’s runner-up Bangalore Royal Challengers need to upset Sachin Tendulkar’s triumphant outfit to seal a spot in the final four. Bangalore Royal Challengers, with 14 points from 13 games, have yet to ensure their second straight entry to the semi-finals in the Twenty20 league.

The Mumbai Indians may be trying out a few new faces in the inconsequential contest, as star batsman Jean-Paul Duminy surmised on the eve of the game while speaking to reporters. Meanwhile, it is a must-win game for Bangalore, who will look to play their best playing XI.

Head-to-Head

Earlier this season, Bangalore registered a convincing 7-wicket victory against Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium, thanks largely to a resolute half-century from veteran batsman Jacques Kallis.

Key Players

JP Duminy had set ablaze the Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Champions League T20 last year. The southpaw had turned out for Cape Cobras and remained unbeaten on 99, a knock that included five sixes and eight boundaries. Bangalore’s bowling attack had then included the same protagonists who are expected to take the field on Saturday afternoon.

Anil Kumble has emerged the most economical bowler this IPL season. There is a possibility of both sides opting for two spinners as the surface is dry, and also because it is a day game in which the spin bowlers are expected to get into the thick of the action. Kumble has a good track-record against Mumbai, and would be hoping to bowl his team into the semi-final.

Injury Update

Abhishek Nayar was seen spending a lot of time at the nets on Friday at Bengaluru and could find his way into the playing XI. In fact, Nayar took strike to more deliveries than any other Mumbai batsman, a clear indication that the left-hander could be close to hundred percent match fitness.

Team Update

Both Mumbai and Bangalore have enforced a few changes to their sides since their last meeting. The Mumbai Indians have introduced JP Duminy into the middle-order, and have handed the wicket keeping duties to Ambati Rayudu to extend the batting line-up. Similarly, star international batsmen Kevin Pietersen, Ross Taylor and Cameron White have bolstered the Bangalore side.

Sachin Tendulkar has opened with different partners in the last three games. There is a strong possibility that left-handed batsman Shikhar Dhawan may regain his place at the top of the order. Lasith Malinga is likely to return to the XI in place of Dilhara Fernando, while Zaheer Khan is expected to earn some rest ahead of the crucial semi-final. Ryan McLaren is likely to replace Dwayne Bravo. Duminy, Malinga, Pollard and McLaren are likely to comprise the international quartet. However, all these conjectures may remain what they are – conjectures - on the day of the game.

For Bangalore, Praveen Kumar is expected to return to the playing XI despite the impressive performance of Pankaj Singh in the last tie against Rajasthan.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Anil Kumble (capt), Jacques Kallis, Shrivats Goswami, Bhuvanesh Kumar, Eoin Morgan, Abhimanyu Mithun, Virat Kohli, Robin Uthappa, Dale Steyn, Cameron White, Kevin Pietersen, Rahul Dravid, S Sriram, Manish Pandey, R Vinay Kumar, KP Appanna, B Akhil, Steven Smith, Praveen Kumar, Mark Boucher, Dillon du Preez, Ross Taylor, Roelof van der Merwe.

Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar (capt), Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu, Chandan Madan, Syed Sahabuddin, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shikhar Dhawan, Graham Napier, Dilhara Fernando, Dwayne Bravo, Zaheer Khan, Ali Murtaza, Saurabh Tiwary, R Sathish, Aditya Tare, Ishan Malhotra, Rahul Shukla, Abhishek Nayar, JP Duminy, Sanath Jayasuriya, Harbhajan Singh.

Great opportunity for new faces: Duminy

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:09:36 GMT

Bengaluru: Star batsman Jean-Paul Duminy must reckon that the Mumbai Indians’ game against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday could be a dress rehearsal of the semi-final, but says IPL’s top-ranked team is not looking that far ahead just yet. Mumbai, who have already qualified for the semi-final, may again be locking horns with Bangalore at the same ground on Wednesday.

Scores of people turned up at the Chinnaswamy Stadium to watch the Mumbai Indians at the practice session on the eve of the game. “We are not planning for the semi-final just yet. We just want to take a game at a time, and currently the challenge is to play well against a very good side like Bangalore,” Duminy said.

The Mumbai Indians have won nine out of their twelve games this IPL season. “We have a great leader in Sachin Tendulkar, he has led us from the front. We do not want any complacency to creep in,” he said.

However, the southpaw reckons the inconsequential game provides an opportunity for some of the new faces in the Mumbai Indians side. “It is a great opportunity for some of the new faces to get a game. A lot of players in our locker room have been hungry for a game, and I believe some of them may be included.”

Duminy has appeared in just two games thus far this season, but is more than happy to be a part of a winning team. “It is a little bit disappointing to not play as many games as last year, but the experience of being a part of this winning team is simply unbelievable. Last year, the atmosphere in South Africa was not as electrifying as here. Doing well in front of the Indian crowds is special.”

The 26-year old had set the Chinnaswamy Stadium ablaze while turning out for the Cape Cobras in the Champions League Twenty20 last year. “Yes, I think that was a very good knock. I know this ground pretty well. I hope to try and recreate some of that magic,” he said.

Both Mumbai Indians and Bangalore Royal Challengers have picked part-time wicketkeepers in Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa, respectively, and Duminy reckons the Twenty20 format does not allow for a specialist wicketkeeper. ”In Twenty20, there is no place for a specialist wicketkeeper. There are only 20 overs in the game, and it is important to have your best batsmen playing out there. That is why it has become difficult to accommodate specialist wicketkeepers,” he said.

Credit to team management: Pollard

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:50:51 GMT

Mumbai: The world’s most sought-after Twenty20 cricketer is finally making waves in the most lucrative cricket league in the world – The Indian Premier League (IPL). The performance of the Trinidadian in the preceding stages of the tournament had come under the pump from detractors.

On Tuesday afternoon, Pollard cracked 45 runs off 13 balls, and followed his blitzkrieg with two sharp run outs and a tidy spell that helped Mumbai clinch their ninth victory this season.

“It feels good to start playing some big knocks. It is my natural game and I like to stick to what I do best,” Pollard said at the post-match press conference. He thanked the captain and coach for keeping faith in him. “All credit goes to the team management for keeping faith in my abilities. They asked me to just go out and play my game. They told me if it comes good, it does, otherwise it does not. I try to give my best and play like this all the time,” an honest Pollard said.

Pollard is hopeful that his team will continue the dream-run. “We are peaking at the right time. We won five games in a row, and had a few setbacks but we went back to the drawing board and got back to winning ways. Hopefully, we will carry this momentum forward to the semi-final and then the final,” he said when asked if MI could sustain the same form in the knockout stages.

Pollard received a massive cheer from the crowds at the Brabourne Stadium following his sharp work in the field to remove the dangerous Paul Collingwood. “They have been fantastic. They have supported us right through the tournament. All we can do as cricketers is to go out, perform, and get the basics right, and hope to get the crowd involved. Sometimes the crowd support can influence the performances on the field. We are hoping to get support even in away games,” he said.

The 22-year old all-rounder smashed 25-runs off the last over to power the Mumbai Indians to a healthy total of 183. “I came out to bat in the last three overs and knew that it was the ideal situation. Luckily it came off today (Tuesday), and I could score quickly. In fact, the contributions of Rayudu and Tiwary are also very crucial. Recently, we have been losing a lot of wickets in the middle-overs, so there was a conscious effort made by the batsmen to stick around,” he said.

Daredevils captain Gautam Gambhir was also quick to acknowledge Pollard’s effort. “His knock changed the game. A score of 160 was gettable but they reached 180 because of the last over, and made us change our strategies,” he said.

Pollard KOs Daredevils

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:24:27 GMT

Mumbai: Kieron Pollard could simply not go wrong on this day! In Mumbai’s last home fixture of IPL Season-3, the 22-year old struck 45 runs off 13 balls, removed Virender Sehwag and Paul Collingwood with a couple of direct hits and conceded only 3.75 runs per over off his 4 overs to guide his team to a comprehensive victory. In the process, he acquired a cult-like stature amidst Mumbai’s buzzing crowd at the Brabourne Stadium on Tuesday. Pollard powered Mumbai to 183-4 with his last over blitzkrieg, before Daredevils faltered to 144-7, handing Mumbai a 39-run win.

“It just takes one special performance from me to get things going, and I am happy I did it. I have brought in a lot of consistency into my game and that has made the difference,” Pollard said during the post-match presentation ceremony. Captain Sachin Tendulkar praised his efforts after Mumbai’s last game at the CCI this season. “Pollard’s knock was special. This knock (against Delhi) was the most important innings he has played this IPL thus far. His overall contribution was remarkable,” he said.

With the danger of elimination breathing down their neck, a desperate Delhi Daredevils, expectedly, came hard at Mumbai’s bowlers to kick-start the run chase. Virender Sehwag received two lives on his way to a brisk 20, until Man-of-the-Match Pollard ran him out with a direct shy at the stumps. Sehwag was nearly caught by Murtaza in the second over, but the decision was reversed by the third umpire when the sporty Murtaza gestured that he was not sure if the ball had carried. Two overs later, Sehwag found Murtaza once again but this time the left-armer failed to pounce on the opportunity. Meanwhile, David Warner raced along to 31 off just 15 balls, until he was done in by a Dilhara Fernando split-finger slower ball, while trying to scoop it to mid-off where Murtaza took a neat catch.

Gambhir looked in ominous touch with his quick fire 17 but was soon outwitted by Harbhajan Singh in a lovely caught and bowled effort. Gambhir stepped down the track but held back his stride, expecting a slower and shorter ball, but Harbhajan held his length and propelled the southpaw to scoop the ball back to the off-spinner. It was undoubtedly the turning point. Delhi had raced along to 78 after 8 overs but at the expense of their three big hitters – Gambhir, Sehwag and Warner.

The returning AB de Villiers was trapped plumb in front when he misread an arm-ball from Murtaza in the tenth over. The next over saw Pollard quickly react to a mix up between Collingwood and Karthik, and removed the dangerous Collingwood out of the equation by executing an underarm-flick to the stumps to perfection. Karthik also fell to a Murtaza arm-ball in the next over.

Karthik’s dismissal practically sealed the fate for the Daredevils, as Tendulkar’s bowlers ended the innings with highly respectable figures. Harbhajan (1-24), Murtaza (2-30) and Fernando (2-27) took home the booty, whereas Pollard (0-15) and Zaheer Khan (0-23) kept a check on the scoring rate. For Delhi, McDonald remained unbeaten on 33 off 31 but could not make the desired impact for the visitors.

Earlier, Mumbai’s innings was divided into three halves. First, the openers took the total to a reasonable 40-0 after five overs. The next ten overs saw Daredevils claw their way back strongly, restricting the hosts to just 68 runs, besides taking three wickets. Mumbai Indians went into the 15-over stage at 108-3, with a probable target of 160. However, late cameos from Pollard and Duminy helped Mumbai gather an astonishing 75 runs in the last five overs.

Tendulkar’s new opening partner, wicketkeeper batsman Chandan Madan, survived a few cheeky shots in the first few overs, until his luck ran out in the sixth over when he miscued a pull shot off McDonald, with Mishra taking a running catch at short fine leg. The next three overs yielded only 20 runs, resulting in Tendulkar deciding to make room to hit a length ball inside-out, off Sangwan, only to find de Villiers at extra cover. The duo of Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu thereafter consolidated the innings with a 39-run partnership off 26 balls, until the former was caught at long on, off a delivery from Sangwan, in the 14th over after taking a boundary and a six in the same over.

The dry spell between overs 10 and 15 that yielded only 42 runs was ended by Duminy who hit three cracking boundaries off Mishra in the 16th over. Rayudu continued the charge in the next over against Nehra until he misjudged the length of a delivery and holed out to de Villiers at long-on. Mumbai went into the last three overs at 133-4, and out walked Kieron Adrian Pollard. If the crowds were hoping for a treat, they sure got one.

Pollard took 13 of the last 18 deliveries and blasted his way to 45, a knock that included five soaring sixes and two hits to the fence. The last three overs yielded an astonishing 50 runs for the Mumbai Indians, while the last over by McDonald produced 25 runs. If there was a method to Pollard’s madness, it was also a clear case of poor bowling from Delhi’s seamers. McDonald bowled two full tosses and a length ball in the last over, only to be punished out of the park by the Trinidadian.

One of the highlights of Pollard’s knock came in the penultimate over when he scooped a Nehra delivery over the ropes behind fine leg. He proved that his batting was not confined to just the power hitting that the world associates him with. In fact, his lusty blows in the last few overs have shut his detractors for good, and proved that he is one of the finest strikers in IPL today.

Mumbai rang in as many as five changes, even as Sachin Tendulkar’s good luck with the toss continued. Ashish Nehra got the ball to shape back sharply into the right-handers, but was unable to strike early. As luck would have it, the first twelve runs in Mumbai’s innings were all thanks to edges.

The triumphant Mumbai Indians will now travel to Bangalore on the 17th and to Kolkata on the 19th before returning to Bangalore for the semi-final match.

Preview: Conflicting fortunes

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:23:58 GMT

Mumbai: Following three difficult games on the road, the Mumbai Indians return to the Brabourne Stadium for their last home game of IPL Season-3 against Delhi Daredevils on Tuesday afternoon. The tickets for the game have been sold out two weeks in advance, as ‘The Mumbai Paltan’ prepares itself for a last peak at the MI superstars in their home stadium.

Delhi Daredevils come into the contest having capitulated to the Kings XI Punjab on Sunday, knowing that a loss here could put them out of reckoning for a semi-final berth. Mumbai have the luxury of striking a balance between experimenting and retaining their momentum in a high-voltage clash.

Sachin Tendulkar comes into the game with 512 runs from 11 matches, with an average of over fifty and a strike rate of a shade under 140. His dream run includes five match-winning fifties, and the maestro would be keen to score at one or two more outings before heading to Bangalore for the semi-final.

Mumbai, who have won five of the six games at the Brabourne so far, realise that Daredevils could emerge as a potential opponent in either the semi-final or final. Hence, expect Tendulkar’s rampant outfit to continue with a winning combination, barring the leeway of a few experiments. Their two frontline pacers – Lasith Malinga and Zaheer Khan – are most likely to be rested at some stage.

Head-to-Head

Delhi Daredevils are currently leading 3-2 in this rivalry. Mumbai handed Delhi a heavy defeat earlier in the tournament at the Feroz Shah Kotla, thanks to brisk half-centuries from openers Sachin Tendulkar and Shikhar Dhawan. Delhi faltered to 120 all out while chasing a daunting target of 219.

Delhi is the only team besides Chennai Super Kings to have qualified for the semi-finals in the previous two editions, but could be on their way out of the tournament if they put a wrong foot on Tuesday.

Last hurrah for the Brabourne Stadium...

The venue has seen Mumbai chase down three totals in excess of 155, and scale the 180-run mark on more than a few occasions. Most importantly, Mumbai have suffered just the solitary blemish in the six games here thus far. The crowds here have been rated as one of the best in the country, and would look forward to chanting “Maalingaaa... Maaalinga...” for one last time this season.

The only day game here saw Mumbai amass a massive 212-6, and Rajasthan making a fist of the chase, falling short by just four runs. The moisture on the surface should be significantly less during Tuesday’s game and would make for friendlier batting conditions. Expect a run-feast.

Injury Update

Ashish Nehra’s return from injury augers well for Delhi Daredevils, while Mumbai are still waiting for a fully fit all-rounder Abhishek Nayar who is yet to feature in a game this season.

In some positive news for Delhi, Dirk Nannes could be fast tracked into the playing XI on Tuesday.

Key Players

Virender Sehwag is Delhi’s leading run-getter with 324 runs at a strike rate of 170. His performance at the top of the order is all the more crucial as it is a day game and Delhi’s quality spin bowling duo of Amit Mishra and Daniel Vettori are unlikely to be as effective.

Sanath Jayasuriya returned to Mumbai’s top-order after missing nine matches on the trot. Mumbai’s batting came under the hammer during their losses to Chennai and Punjab last week, and that is the primary reason for the return of the ‘Matara Mauler’. He brings in a wealth of experience with his batting. Besides, it would be suicidal for any opposition to underestimate his bowling credentials.

Team Update

The stories of Mumbai Indians’ over-dependence on Tendulkar ended on Sunday, as JP Duminy and Kieron Pollard added 50-plus partnerships with their skipper to bring stability to the middle-order. Also, the trio of Saurabh Tiwary, Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu has been consistently performing all through the season. MI would be hoping for all their batsmen to fire on all cylinders. The verdict: there would be experiments made to the XI but do not expect any wholesome changes.

Delhi Daredevils are likely to stick with Warner-Collingwood-Vettori-Maharoof as their international quartet. Nannes could force his way in place of Maharoof, if the left-armer is declared fit on match day.

Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar (capt), Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu, Chandan Madan, Syed Sahabuddin, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shikhar Dhawan, Graham Napier, Dilhara Fernando, Dwayne Bravo, Zaheer Khan, Ali Murtaza, Saurabh Tiwary, R Sathish, Aditya Tare, Ishan Malhotra, Rahul Shukla, Abhishek Nayar, JP Duminy, Sanath Jayasuriya, Harbhajan Singh.

Delhi Daredevils: Gautam Gambhir (capt), AB de Villiers, Umesh Yadav, Kedar Jadhav, Wayne Parnell, Shashi Ranjan, Ashish Nehra, Mithun Manhas, Andrew McDonald, Farveez Maharoof, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Joginder Singh, Pradeep Sangwan, Amit Mishra, Moises Henriques, Sarandeep Singh, Sarabjit Ladda, Aavishkar Salvi, David Warner, Dirk Nannes, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rajat Bhatia.

Had to plan my innings: Tendulkar

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:00:40 GMT

Jaipur: The ‘Mumbai are over dependent on Tendulkar’ rants were out again on Sunday evening when the visitors stumbled to 30-3 after being asked to bat first. However, the IPL Season-3 leaders went on to register a comprehensive 37-run victory over Rajasthan to clinch a semi-final berth.

Aditya Dole dropped Tendulkar while on 45 off Siddharth Trivedi, and the master batsman went on to make a 59-ball unbeaten 89 to guide Mumbai Indians to a healthy 174 for five. “Sometimes catches are dropped, sometimes run outs are missed, these things happen in cricket. But though I was dropped on 45, in the end I had to score runs after getting one life,” Tendulkar said in the post-match press conference on Sunday.

Tendulkar said it was crucial for him to play the role of the sheet anchor, as his side was a bit shaky at the start. “I do not play to prove anything to anybody. The source of inspiration for me is that I am playing for enjoyment. I am playing well and it feels nice. I enjoyed my batting because it was challenging initially, and then I had to be patient in the middle.”

The maestro struck two massive sixes in the last over to give Mumbai the needed momentum. “I had to plan the innings. When big shots were required they came in, and it was very satisfying," he said.

Tendulkar rubbished comments that Mumbai Indians were heavily dependent on him. “In Twenty20 games it is difficult to be consistent,” he said. The 36-year old praised the efforts of Kieron Pollard, “He (Pollard) has contributed well with a quick 25-run burst and Yusuf’s (Pathan) wicket. Everyone in the team is playing his role,” Tendulkar said after the game.

Mumbai will now host Delhi Daredevils in their last home game in IPL Season-3 on April 13.

Coming full circle

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Jaipur: It was here on May 26, 2008, nearly twenty three months back, when the Mumbai Indians lost to Rajasthan Royals in a heart-breaking last ball finish, and were effectively ruled out of the semi-finals in IPL’s inaugural season.

Statisticians and commentators alike had barely retained this information prior to the start of the Rajasthan-Mumbai game on Sunday evening, but Sachin Tendulkar was quick to recall the night after his side became the first to qualify for the semi-finals, aptly on the same ground.

Defending 145 in that encounter, Mumbai’s bowlers had Rajasthan reeling at 77-5 but the young duo of Ravindra Jadeja (23) and Niraj Patel (40) had held their nerves and saw their side through in an epic climax. Mumbai’s fielding had fallen apart in the final stages of that game, with overthrows conceded, poor attempts at direct-hits at the stumps, and a forgettable last over from Dilhara Fernando. Tendulkar ran across to the bowler after almost every ball, and Fernando, who had bowled three tidy overs prior to the final over, lost his line and length while bowling under the gripping pressure.

The tables have turned and Tendulkar is an ecstatic captain today. “In the first season, this was the same ground (Sawai Mansingh Stadium) that made us lose the semi-final spot, and now in the same ground we have made our way to the semis, it feels good,” he said after Sunday’s victory.

Mumbai clinch semi final berth

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:30:21 GMT

Jaipur: Inspired by Captain Sachin Tendulkar (89 not out) and vice-captain Zaheer Khan (2-17), the Mumbai Indians handed Rajasthan Royals their first defeat at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday, and in the process became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of IPL Season-3.

Put in to bat first, skipper Tendulkar weathered the storm with his career-best IPL knock to steer Mumbai to 174-5 after his side initially stumbled to 30-3. Later, Zaheer Khan bowled a stirring first spell to peg Royals back, leaving their batsmen little opportunity to claw back at their own fortress. Fittingly, Tendulkar’s fifth IPL-3 fifty also helped him regain the orange cap while sealing Mumbai’s first-ever semi-final berth.

The enormity of the win reflected in Tendulkar’s comment after the maestro picked up yet another Man-of-the-Match award. “In the first season, this was the same ground that made us lose the semi-final spot, and now in the same ground we have made our way to the semis, it feels good,” he said.

Defending 175, Mumbai’s world-class bowling attack stifled the Royals chase, restricting Shane Warne’s outfit to 137-8 in 20 overs, despite heavy dew that made the going difficult both for the fielders and the spin bowlers. Mumbai’s ground fielding appeared like that of a side possessed, and the positive body language that of a champion team. Zaheer led the charge in his first spell, removing the dangerous Naman Ojha and conceding only 2 runs in as many overs. The others also performed to the script, while the Royals wrote their own fate by suffering as many as three run-outs on the night.

Tendulkar usually introduces a slow bowler early but it was perhaps the dew that drove him to continue with pace until the seventh over when Harbhajan Singh was brought on. Eventually, the spin duo of Harbhajan and Sanath Jayasuriya managed 1-37 from a combined six overs, a telling factor in Mumbai’s victory. Similarly, Rajasthan held back two premier batsmen Yusuf Pathan and Adam Voges to allow the ball to get wetter, and the spinners to lose their grip. Unfortunately for the inaugural champions, the gamble to hold back Pathan backfired, and Mumbai sailed to a convincing victory.

The in-form Michael Lumb looked in red-hot form when he struck Dhawal Kulkarni for two fours in the second over, before slashing the next ball to point. Zaheer got the ball to dart around at the other end in excess of 140 kmph, removing Ojha, and sharing some heated exchanges with Watson. The pressure exerted by the bowlers told on Rajasthan’s reckless running between the wickets, as both Watson and Faiz Fazal were run out after responding to late calls from their partners. Jhunjhunwala (22) and Voges (28) hung about, but their impact player Yusuf Pathan lasted only eight deliveries.

The mosquito repellent used to wipe out moths at the beginning of the match caused some delay to the start of the game until the sight of Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya walking into the ground downed the lid on the anxiety. Jayasuriya, who is now a member of the Sri Lankan parliament, spooned a wide Shane Watson delivery to Abhishek Jhunjhunwala at extra cover in just the second over. Two balls later, Ambati Rayudu gloved a Watson bouncer to the keeper, after being stared down by the Australian. Royals continued to chatter, hustle and pressurise the batsmen, as Saurabh Tiwary succumbed, miscuing a pull-shot off Watson to Aditya Dole at fine-leg. The ‘Mumbai are over dependent on Tendulkar’ rants were out again.

Jean-Paul Duminy added 63 runs off 52 balls for the fourth-wicket with Tendulkar to stabilise the innings. In the 8th over, the big faceoff, Warne’s first delivery to Tendulkar was interrupted by a moth. Tendulkar finally got a measure of his old rival in the twelfth over, smashing the leggie for three boundaries. First, he stepped down the track and went inside out over extra cover, next he lofted it even higher over the same region, and finally finished the over with a trademark square cut.

Duminy’s miscued pull shot in the thirteenth over prompted another setback, as Mumbai scored only 15 runs with three boundaries between the 13th and the 16th over. Kieron Pollard (25) broke the shackles with a thwart down the ground just prior to the strategic time-out. Pollard’s intentions became clear, as Mumbai took 15 runs off the next over from the returning Watson.

Dole bowled around the wicket and cramped the right-handers for room, and the youngster’s strategy paid off when Pollard was cleaned up in the 18th over. At 143-5 after 18 overs, most punters would have written off 160, but Tendulkar had other ideas. Continuing the assault on Watson in the penultimate over, and winding up by taking Siddharth Trivedi for two huge sixes in the last, Tendulkar also regained the Orange Cap from Jacques Kallis in the process. The last four overs yielded fifty nine runs, as Mumbai powered their way to a highly respectable 174.

An elated skipper at the presentation ceremony, Tendulkar said, “We needed a solid performance, and I thought 170-plus was competitive. All the credit goes to the way our fast bowlers bowled at the start, especially Zaheer who was simply fantastic.” He was also quick to acknowledge the successful recovery by the middle-order. “The target (for JP and himself) was to try and stay until the end. We knew the big overs were around the corner, and it was about protecting wickets,” Tendulkar said.

Mumbai Indians will now return to the Brabourne Stadium for their last home fixture this IPL season against the Delhi Daredevils on Tuesday.

Preview: Warne vs. Tendulkar Revisited

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:32:58 GMT

Jaipur: A lot has changed since Rajasthan and Mumbai last met at the start of IPL Season-3. The Royals are coming off two back-to-back wins against Deccan and Punjab, and have been successful in maintaining their unbeaten streak of 8 wins (since IPL Season-1) at their primary home stadium – the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. If Mumbai were to win on Sunday, they would hand Rajasthan their first-ever defeat at Jaipur.

The hosts have 12 points from the 11 matches, while Mumbai is currently at the top of the tree with 14 from 10, and is mathematically poised a win away from a semi-final spot.

Skipper Shane Warne, who has been justly proud of his team’s showing at their fortress, has got the renowned leg-breaks going recently, aggregating 5-95 in the last three games. Warne only had 3-204 in his side’s first eight games, but has been leading the charge of late. Also, the duo of Shane Watson (118 runs in 3 innings) and Adam Voges (117 runs in 4 innings) has bolstered the Royals who are already basking in the success of Orange Cap contender Naman Ojha (352 runs in 11 innings). Michael Lumb’s top-order batting and Siddharth Trivedi’s death bowling are other revelations, and suddenly, the Royals, who started with three losses, have emerged as a team to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians have called up Jean-Paul Duminy to strengthen the middle-order, starting with their trip to Mohali. The table toppers will be hoping that Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu and Saurabh Tiwary continue their good form, allowing Duminy and Pollard to play the role of finishers. Sachin Tendulkar, who has 322 runs from 7 ODIs at Jaipur, continues to play the role of the anchor to perfection. The Mumbai Indians have lost 13 wickets between the 10th and the 20th over in the last two losses, the primary reason for the setback after a flawless start. The visitors will be hoping for one of their middle-order batsmen to hold the innings together in case of need.

Head-to-Head

The sides have two wins apiece in the four previous clashes. The first of the two games in South Africa last season was abandoned without a ball being bowled. This year’s opening fixture saw Yusuf Pathan scoring IPL’s quickest century but the Mumbai Indians prevailed after scoring a mammoth 218.

Pathan’s blitzkrieg at the Brabourne was almost three weeks back, and teams in the IPL seem to have found a way to contain the Baroda bomber with a barrage of short deliveries. Pathan has struggled against genuine pace; look for Zaheer Khan and Lasith Malinga to exploit the chink in his armour.

The Warne vs. Sachin Tendulkar battle has been redefined over the years and is much larger than merely a battle between the bat and the ball now. The two inspirational cricketers have been looking to polish the skills of young and spirited individuals in their respective sides. This could be the last face-off between the champions, if the 40-year old Warne decides to hang up the boots at the end of the season.

Key Players

Shane Watson has made a telling impact since joining his side after Australia’s Test series win in New Zealand. Watson’s arrival has given Rajasthan the freedom of including an extra batsman in the side, since he has got the ability to bowl four tight overs. The 28-year old has scored two fifties in his only two outings with the bat, and has 3 crucial wickets from as many games.

Harbhajan Singh has an uncanny knack of bowling at his best to the Australians. The Royals heavily rely on Watson and Voges to deliver the goods, while the inexperienced Lumb has never come up against the feisty off-spinner. Tendulkar has used Harbhajan’s overs very smartly this season, and there could be a case for his trump card opening the bowling as Lumb is a southpaw.

The Venue

The last fixture here saw Rajasthan chasing a target of 154 with thirty balls to spare. The average first innings total here in the Twenty20 format is 157. The lack of moisture in the surface usually allows batsmen to play with confidence against spinners, especially under lights. However, the surface here has traditionally generated a lot of sharp turn, making the role of Harbhajan crucial.

The Times of India reported on Friday that Warne has requested Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) for the same pitch that was used during the win against Punjab, and longer boundaries.

Injury Update

One of the positives in Mumbai’s loss to Punjab was the sight of Zaheer Khan running in to bowl four tidy overs. Abhishek Nayar has also recovered and could be considered for Sunday’s game.

The Rajasthan Royals are said to have a fully-fit side for the game, except for seamer Munaf Patel.

Team Update

Rajasthan are most likely to continue with Watson-Lumb-Voges-Warne overseas quartet. Trivedi and Aditya Dole are expected to don new-ball duties, at the expense of Shaun Tait or Morne Morkel.

For the Mumbai Indians, Duminy is likely to be in after his crucial knock of 35 against Punjab. Pollard is starting to hit his straps with both bat and ball, while Ryan McLaren continues to be tidy with the new-ball.

Come Sunday, and Mumbai will be hoping for all its players to be firing in what promises to be yet another thriller.

Rajasthan Royals: Shane Warne (capt), Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Abhishek Raut, Faiz Fazal, Amit Paunikar, Amit Singh, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Shaun Tait, Yusuf Pathan, Swapnil Asnodkar, Naman Ojha, Johan Botha, Michael Lumb, Shrikant Wagh, Sumit Narwal, Syed Quadri, Kamran Khan, Morne Morkel, Siddharth Trivedi, Munaf Patel.

Chawla, Sangakkara and Irfan inspire Punjab win

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:50:43 GMT

Mohali: Kings XI Punjab salvaged some pride with a comprehensive 6-wicket win over top-ranked Mumbai Indians in their last game at the PCA Stadium in IPL Season-3 on Friday. Chasing a modest 155 for their third win in eleven games, Kumar Sangakkara’s side won with four balls to spare.

Punjab’s victory was initially setup by a disciplined bowling performance, led by the Indian duo of Piyush Chawla (3-24) and Irfan Pathan (3-29) who ensured that the Mumbai Indians struggled to gather any substantial momentum after skipper Sachin Tendulkar elected to bat.

Tendulkar conceded that his team fell short by 20 runs or so. “The partnership between Rayudu and me was the only thing that went our way. After that, we kept losing wickets. The ball was not coming onto the bat nicely. We fell short by 20 runs or so,” the MI skipper said after the game.

Openers Adrian Barath (33) and Mahela Jayawardene (31) chipped in with useful knocks to ensure that there were no hiccups in Punjab’s moderate run-chase. However, there were some redeeming moments toward the end when the struggling Yuvraj Singh holed out in the deep to give Mumbai a glimmer of hope. Punjab skipper Sangakkara anchored the chase with a classy knock of 56 until he found Dhawan at long-off. Eventually, Pathan scored a quick fire 15 to take the hosts to a rare win this season.

Earlier, Mumbai made two changes to their side with the inclusion of returning pacer Zaheer Khan and IPL Season-2 star Jean-Paul Duminy at the expense of Abu Nechi and Dwayne Bravo, while Punjab rang in as many as five changes to their playing XI.

Punjab’s new-ball duo of Brett Lee and Pathan ensured with some disciplined bowling that the hosts did not get off to their customary flying start. The MI slide started when the latter cleaned up in-form Shikhar Dhawan in his very first over. However, Ambati Rayudu (33), who was promoted to bat at number three, caressed the two pacers for five boundaries in a space of nine balls to inject some momentum to the Mumbai Indians. Rayudu added 44 with Tendulkar to consolidate the innings before being done in by a beauty from Chawla.

Skipper Sangakkara was quick to realise the slowness of the surface and persisted with slow bowlers. Love Ablish bowled a torrent of slow deliveries, while part-timer Yuvraj Singh bowled a tidy spell from the other end. The pressure built up by the duo told on Saurabh Tiwary (4), who stepped down the pitch to a googly by Chawla, only to be stumped by Sangakkara. The leggie’s next over saw Tendulkar losing his middle-stump while attempting a booming sweep to a ball that refused to turn into him.

Tendulkar’s abrupt departure meant Mumbai went into the halfway stage at 74-4, with the onus on Duminy and the rest of the lower middle-order. R Satish (20) chipped in with a brisk knock before edging a shrewd off-cutter from Pathan. Thereafter, Pollard and Duminy added 38 runs for the sixth-wicket until Pollard was beaten by a peach of a yorker, once again from Pathan. All in all, it was a batting effort that did not find the much-desired thrust in spite of some thrashing about toward the end.

Sangakkara was adjudicated Man-of-the-Match for his all-round effort. “The guys stuck to their basics well. Chawla and Ablish bowled really well. We did well to cut out on the extras. With the start we got, we got the required momentum, and did well to finish things off,” the KXIP skipper said after the game.

Mumbai most popular team, says report

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:04:06 GMT

Mumbai: IPL Season-3 league leaders Mumbai Indians are the favourite team among television viewers, according to iDubba, an online and mobile platform that helps users get instant information on what is happening on television, based on their profile, geography and requirement.

The iDubba report provides details such as, a) the most watched team in IPL season-3, b) the time when the viewership of a match increases, c) cities that are most active watching IPL, and 4) the team viewers like to watch most on television. The data is helpful for broadcasters, advertisers and media planners.

Exchange4Media.com also reported on Thursday that Sachin Tendulkar has emerged as the most popular player this IPL Season, and users watching IPL matches have set the maximum number of alerts to seek information on him.

“The aim of this report is to give a detailed view of user behaviour, reaction and their likings towards IPL,” Rabi Gupta, Founder, idubba.com, said in an interview to Exchange4Media.com. “For instance, advertisements played before Sachin Tendulkar comes to bat on ground should sell higher than when any other player comes,” Gupta explained.

Mumbai Indians were the most watched IPL team in the last two seasons as well.

Preview: It is time to recoup

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:02:47 GMT

Chandigarh: The Mumbai Indians continue to be on the road, heading to the scenic PCA Stadium in Mohali to lock horns with Kumar Sangakkara’s Kings XI Punjab.

Albeit Sachin Tendulkar’s triumphant outfit was strangled into submission in the torrid heat of Chennai on Tuesday, they would be battling in different conditions on Friday evening, against a side that has lost four consecutive matches at home. Speculations were rife in some parts of the media that Tendulkar, who had retired ill with dehydration in the match against Chennai, would avoid the Punjab trip to be fully fit ahead of the semi-finals, but the maestro has already reached Chandigarh on Wednesday, giving great joy to fans who had gathered around the team bus to get a glimpse of their cricketing idol.

After losing to CSK on Wednesday night, Tendulkar had exuded confidence that his team would continue to maintain the good run, saying, “One bad game does not take away the momentum.” Mumbai Indians, who have seven wins from nine games, are almost through to the semis.

With no hopes of making it to the semi-finals, the outcome of the tie is inconsequential for Punjab, which has managed just two wins from 10 outings. Punjab have a lot of pride to play for, and would like to ‘spoil the party’ for a few higher-ranked teams in the process. They stumbled from 103-2 (11) to 153-6 (20) against Rajasthan on Thursday, performance that outlines their poor run this year. Their two most highly rated batsmen, Yuvraj Singh (198) and Kumar Sangakkara (183), are yet to score fifties this season.

Head-to-Head

Mumbai clinched a thrilling four-wicket win when the sides last met at the Brabourne Stadium. Punjab enjoy an overall lead of 3-2 in this rivalry, but two of those wins were by a single-digit margin, outcomes that reflect the phenomenal contests these sides have had over the last three years.

During their last visit to Mohali in 2008, the Mumbai Indians had suffered a massive 67-run loss. Tendulkar had missed the contest due to an injury and would be hoping to set the record straight, come Friday.

Run-fest on the cards...

The team batting first has scored a minimum of 180 runs in the last three fixtures at the PCA Stadium. However, only Bangalore Royal Challengers were successful in chasing down the mammoth total. Overall, two sides have won chasing, and two while defending, in the four IPL Season-3 matches held there thus far.

The square boundaries at Mohali are considerably smaller when compared to some of the other venues, and there is always a tad of extra bounce in the surface that helps batsmen execute the cut and pull with more confidence. Mumbai, who have been playing in sultry conditions at home and in Chennai over the last week or so, will be facing a different ball game at Mohali.

Mumbai’s Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh are the leading run-getter and highest wicket-taker at the venue, respectively, in one-day international cricket. Tendulkar broke Brian Lara’s record for most Test runs at this stadium a couple of seasons back against Australia.

With evening temperatures at Mohali settling around 18-20 degree Celsius these days, and humidity levels at a low, the batsmen are sure to enjoy the perfect batting conditions at the PCA stadium.

Key Players

Lasith Malinga bowled one of his best spells (4-22) when he came up against Punjab earlier this season. Also, the slinging quickie finished with economical figures of 1-28 during Sri Lanka’s one-off Twenty20 international at Mohali earlier this year. Malinga has 11 wickets this IPL season, at a startling economy rate of 6.90. With Zaheer Khan suffering an injury, Malinga’s role has become all the more important for the Mumbai Indians, as the knockout stages of the IPL draw closer.

Piyush Chawla has only five wickets from 10 IPL-3 games, at an economy rate of 8.33. However, the leg-spinner has enjoyed good success at the PCA Stadium. He has been instrumental in some of Punjab’s thrilling wins over Mumbai over the last few seasons, and Sangakkara would not hesitate to throw the ball at this spinner if a crunch situation arises on Friday.

Injury Update

A final call on Zaheer Khan’s availability for the game is to be taken on the day of the game. There could be a case for Mumbai to persist with young Abu Nechim, as they would require a fully-fit Zaheer going into crucial fixtures later in the tournament. Abhishek Nayar has just about recovered from his wrist injury and might make his way into the playing XI.

Team Update

There were a few question marks raised about the potency of Mumbai’s middle-order batting after the previous loss to Chennai. However, Harbhajan Singh reckons his side should be backing the batsmen. “We have to give them a lot of encouragement for what they have done (so far in the tournament). They have done a tremendous job and have won us a lot of games. It is just this one match (against Chennai Super Kings) that they have not clicked,” Harbhajan said on Wednesday.

For the Kings XI, S Sreesanth was fined 20 percent of his match fee for showing dissent in the game against Rajasthan, and could be axed for his indiscipline. Meanwhile, Brett Lee, who travels with the Australian side to the West Indies for the World Twenty20 later this month, is expected to make his comeback to the playing XI.

Kings XI Punjab: Kumar Sangakkara (capt/wk), Brett Lee, Adrian Barath, Vikramjeet Malik, Bipul Sharma, Manvinder Bisla, Yusuf Abdullah, Karan Goel, Ravi Bopara, Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, Shalabh Srivastava, Mohammad Kaif, Love Ablish, Amanpreet Singh, James Hopes, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Shaun Marsh, Mahela Jayawardene, Yuvraj Singh, S Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla.

Tendulkar: Was unable to hit the ball

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:45:28 GMT

Chennai: The chilling sight of Sachin Tendulkar squatting down, breathing heavily, and suffering from dehydration was distressing for any cricket fan in the world, leave alone fans of the Mumbai Indians. The maestro retired hurt because he “did not have the strength to hit the ball” at the end of the ninth over during his team’s run-chase against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on Tuesday night.

Tendulkar returned to bat in the fifteenth over, but the sluggish surface and a middle-order collapse meant Mumbai suffered a rare defeat this IPL season. The 36-year old reckons his decision to retire ill in the tenth over was the right decision. “I was struggling to run between the wickets, so instead of throwing my wicket away I thought I will come back later on. It was really exhausting in the middle and I was not able to hit the ball at all,” he said after the game.

With 7 victories from 9 games, the MI skipper feels his side still has the momentum. “This loss (against Chennai) has come to us as a good wake up call, having said that, one bad game will not take away the momentum from us. I thought our fielding was not up to the mark but overall it was not the best day. That can happen to anyone and we do not have to panic about that,” he said.

At Chepauk, Tendulkar averages 87 and 47 in Tests and ODIs, respectively. Opposition skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was aware of Tendulkar’s love for Chepauk, was glad that his side could come up trumps on Tuesday. “We only feared Tendulkar because he knows the wicket (at Chepauk) as good as anyone, but it was good that the heat got to him,” Dhoni said jokingly after the game.

MI succumb to the heat

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:36:29 GMT

Chennai: IPL Season-3 league leaders Mumbai Indians suffered a rare loss at the hands of Chennai Super Kings on a typically hot and humid evening at Chepauk here on Tuesday. Chasing a modest target of 166, the visitors managed to score 141-9, handing Chennai a comprehensive 24-run win.

Mumbai Indians openers Sachin Tendulkar (45) and Shikhar Dhawan (16) coasted to a routine 46-0 after six overs, before Sri Lankan seamer Thilan Thushara removed the latter just minutes after a refreshment break requested by the Chennai-heat exhausted Mumbai Indians captain. Tendulkar was seen sitting on his heels and breathing heavily very early into the run-chase, a sight that must have disquieted every Indian cricket fan. A few overs later, the high humidity level caught on with Tendulkar who continued to suffer from dehydration and eventually retired ill with cramps.

Tendulkar’s departure triggered a hitherto unforeseen collapse, as Ambati Rayudu (3), Dwayne Bravo (2), Saurabh Tiwary (14), Kieron Pollard (5), R Sathish (4) and Ryan McLaren (1) fell in a space of less than five overs. Harbhajan Singh’s late flourish of 33 runs gave but just a glimmer of hope to the MI Paltan.

CSK’s opening bowlers Doug Bollinger and Sudeep Tyagi initially pushed the MI openers on the back foot by extracting some good bounce, but paid the price when they pitched the ball up, as Dhawan released the pressure with two glorious cover drives in the second over. Cheered by the sporting Chennai crowd, Tendulkar also played some trademark shots to kick-start the run-chase.

The slow surface of pitch made the spin trio of R Ashwin (2-22), S Jakati (1-27) and S Raina (1-12) difficult to get away, as the MI middle-order kept finding the fielders in the inner-circle. The spinners varied their pace and trajectory with clever use of the crease. The heavy dew that fell on the Chidambaram Stadium did not help them grip the ball, but considerably slowed down the outfield as well. The turning point came in the tenth over when the in-form Rayudu danced down the track, looking to play an inside out stroke to a short ball off Raina’s, only to get stumped by Dhoni. Following him, Bravo and Pollard holed out at long-off to Thushara and Vijay, respectively, in a space of 15 balls, leaving MI in tatters.

Meanwhile, Tiwary who stayed put for 18 deliveries found Hayden at deep midwicket off Jakati. Tendulkar had to return to bat in the fifteenth over when McLaren was trapped leg-before by Ashwin, but the master’s valiant effort ended just two overs later when he found the safe hands of Vijay at long-on. Once again, it was impressive left-armer Thushara who delivered the goods for CSK.

Having won 3 of their 7 games batting second this IPL season, the odds seemed to be stacked in favour of the power-packed Mumbai Indians batting line-up. However, it proved to be one of those nights when batsmen succumbed to the mounting run rate, as they struggled to clear the boundary. In fact, Harbhajan’s strike off Bollinger in the eighteenth over was the first six of Mumbai’s innings.

The jam-packed audience at Chepauk was hoping for another high-scoring affair on a ground with a short boundary, fast outfield, and a game that saw a record 469 runs scored just three days prior to Tuesday’s clash. Earlier on, having elected to bat, Chennai were looking good to get past the 200-run mark at the halfway stage, being comfortably placed at 85-2, with Matthew Hayden and MS Dhoni at the crease.

The fireworks began when off-spinner Harbhajan Singh clinched the duel with in-form Murali Vijay. Vijay dragged one back to the stumps while attempting a cut, as the CSK opener failed to notice that Harbhajan had created the desired angle for his stock ball by releasing a touch wide off the crease.

Just when it appeared like Dhoni and Hayden were running away with the game, Lasith Malinga (0-36) bowled a crucial thirteenth over to pull things back for Mumbai. The pressure exerted by Malinga reflected in the next over, as Pollard removed Dhoni and Hayden in back-to-back deliveries. Tendulkar had praised Pollard’s smart variations at the end of the last game, and it seemed the Trinidadian was keen on repeating his performance. First, he removed the Indian Captain with a well-disguised slower bouncer, and then had Hayden hole out in the next ball to Sathish at long-on.

Young Abu Nechim, who made his debut for MI in the absence of Zaheer Khan, clocked the 140 KMPH mark on a consistent basis, but paid the price for drifting down the pads of the experienced Chennai batsmen. However, the young speedster from Assam demonstrated great potential.

Tendulkar kept the Chennai batsmen at bay with constant bowling changes, using as many as seven options. Chennai managed only 80 runs off the last ten overs. Badrinath played a few cheeky, yet innovative shots in the last over to help the hosts consolidate to a defendable 165.

Video analysis has helped me: Zaheer

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:59:20 GMT

Mumbai Indians vice-captain Zaheer Khan has acknowledged the growing importance of technology in cricket, stating that video analysis has helped players iron out flaws in their performance.

“Technology has a significant part to play in a game today. And for cricketers, introduction of video analysis into the game is perhaps the single most important innovation. In fact, it has become an integral part of our preparation, for both batsmen and bowlers. Apart from providing intelligence, we also use video analysis for corrective action, such as ironing out the flaws in the performance of a player,” the 31-year old told Tech2.com in an interview on Sunday.

Zaheer also emphasised the importance of video analysis for a fast bowler. “Dennis Lillie introduced us to corrective video analysis at the MRF speed camp in Chennai. He showed us how it works, and how we can use it to better understand a batsman’s game,” he said. “As fast bowlers, we run in to bowl fast, and we are often not aware of the mistakes that creep into our actions, such as the head falling on one side, feet landing, or even the positioning of the arm. These problems can be identified by studying a bowler’s action over a period of time and corrected accordingly,” the left-arm quickie said.

Zaheer reckons cricket video games have helped children get a better understanding of the sport. “Video games are helpful, because kids love video games. So that is one way for them to get interested in the sport. However, you really have to be passionate about the sport to become a good player. How far you go depends, to a large extent, on how passionate you are about the sport. Technology and video games are aides. Eventually you have to deliver results on the field,” he said. CKM Dhananjai is currently serving as the Video Analyst for the Mumbai Indians.

Mumbai Indians travel to Chennai for a clash against the Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.

Chepauk prepares for Super Tuesday

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:48:59 GMT

Chennai: Mumbai Indians’ hosts on Tuesday, the Chennai Super Kings have undergone a topsy-turvy ride this IPL season, registering 4 wins from 9 games. However, they come into this decisive contest as a rejuvenated outfit on the back of two emphatic wins, bolstered further by the arrival of a few Australian players.

The runners-up of the inaugural season, Super Kings were all but eliminated at the halfway stage, suffering four consecutive losses, including a 5-wicket drubbing during their visit to Mumbai, but have bounced back strongly since; thanks to opener Murali Vijay’s blazing form.

The onus is on Chennai to raise their game against a side that is all but through to the semi-finals. While Mumbai, who have seven wins from eight games, have the luxury of fielding players who have been on the bench this season, Chennai enter a do-or-die situation with three teams breathing down their neck for the fourth position in the standings. Can they prevail against the might of MI?

Batsmen must be smacking their lips coming to Chepuak, as it has already seen three totals in excess of 190 this season. The team batting first has gone on to win two-thirds of the times, making the toss crucial. CSK have to win at least four of their remaining five games to have a shot at the semis.

Head-to-Head

Mumbai’s batsmen made easy work of Chennai’s total of 180 earlier this season, taking a 3-2 lead in this rivalry. Mumbai’s five-wicket win was all the more credible considering the slow surface at the Brabourne Stadium, as Tendulkar and Dhawan scored half centuries to shut the Super Kings.

Chennai won by 6 runs in a thrilling contest at Chepauk during the inaugural season. Abhishek Nayar bludgeoned 45 runs off 20 balls to take Mumbai to 202, just 6 short of Chennai’s 208.

Tendulkar @ Chepauk

The maestro and the MA Chidambaram Stadium share a romance without a parallel for the last two decades. At Chepauk, Tendulkar has averages of 87 and 47 in Tests and ODIs, respectively. Who can forget the memorable paddle-sweeps against Shane Warne during the 1997-98 Season? Tendulkar needs 76 runs to eclipse Jacques Kallis in the tally for most runs this IPL season, and regain the Orange Cap.

Star off-spinner Harbhajan Singh too has fond memories of the venue, especially his match-winning effort against Australia during the historic Test series in 2001-02.

The Humidity

Most teams have gone to Chennai and felt the heat this IPL season. The humidity has soared to an incredible 65 percent, while the maximum temperature is threatening to cross the 40°C-mark. CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni recently said that his players had to change two sets of jerseys between innings, failing to cope with the immense heat. Will the Mumbai Indians too feel the heat?

Key Players

Muttiah Muraitharan has been at his miserly best for Chennai Super Kings this season. The wily old spinner has 12 wickets at less than 7 runs per over, averaging a wicket every 18 deliveries. He has bowled particularly well in Chennai’s home fixtures, and would be hoping to carry forward the rhythm.

Shikhar Dhawan was overlooked for Sanath Jayasuriya at the start of the season, but the young southpaw has made the opening position his own, since the away fixture against Delhi. Dhawan has 151 runs from 5 games, but more importantly has stood in three fifty-run stands with his skipper. He frustrated Super Kings with his immaculate stroke-play through the on-side during the previous clash.

Injury Update

Ambati Rayudu, who suffered a blow while keeping wickets against Deccan on Saturday, has been declared fit for the game. Rayudu was also involved in a collision with Adam Gilchrist but, fortunately for Mumbai, the in-form batsman will continue to don the role of the wicketkeeper. Abhishek Nayar could make his way into the playing XI, if declared fit on the day of the match.

Justin Kemp continues to sit out due to a back injury. Besides Kemp’s injury, Coach Stephen Fleming confirmed that his side is injury-free and raring to compete.

Team Update

Expect senior bowlers Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh to be rested soon enough. Domestic players Dhawal Kulkarni, Abu Nechim and Syed Sahabuddin could be getting a game at some stage. Graham Napier and JP Duminy could also make their way in place of Dwayne Bravo and Ryan McLaren.

While Tendulkar’s poise has allowed Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu to play freely, Mumbai must be hoping for Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard to find the same form going into the semis.

Chennai are likely to stick to Hayden-Muralitharan-Morkel-Bollinger as the international quartet. There is a case for Michael Hussey’s IPL-3 debut, but Morkel’s half-century against Rajasthan, and bowling attributes are likely to keep Hussey out for another game.

The march of the Blue Brigade continues...

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:47:13 GMT

Mumbai: Ambati Rayudu’s fluent half-century, and Zaheer Khan’s fiery spell inspired Mumbai Indians to an emphatic 63-run win over reigning IPL champions Deccan Chargers at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday. In the process, MI tightened their stranglehold at the top of the IPL Season-3 standings.

In an encore of last week’s clash at the DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai shot out Deccan for just 115, after posting a competitive total of 178-5. The stakes were just as high for both the sides, and so was the electricity in the arena. MI retained the same XI, and just when it appeared like déjà vu, Tendulkar said “we would bat first” after winning the toss. One may recall that MI had elected to field on three previous occasions after winning the toss. The experts watching the game felt it was a fifty-fifty decision, considering the track record, but Tendulkar had put his faith on the bowlers, exhibiting attitude that champions are made of.

Chasing 179, Herschelle Gibbs threatened to take the game away in the very first over with two back-to-back boundaries off Harbhajan but his brief cameo was ended by Zaheer Khan in the fifth over. Later, confusion between runner Ryan Harris, VVS Laxman and Gilchrist led to the dismissal of Laxman. There was a deliberate plan against Gilchrist to pack the off-side field to tempt the southpaw to swing through the on-side, and it succeeded when Gilchrist played across the line to a Zaheer delivery and lost his middle-stump. Arguably, this was the turning point of the night.

Suddenly, Deccan Chargers were in tatters at 39 for 3, with three big guns back in the dugout. Andrew Symonds (21), Mohnish Mishra (11), Rohit Sharma (5) and T Suman (20) tried to break the shackles in small bursts, but Mumbai’s potent attack proved a little too much to tackle, as the Deccan batsmen almost fell like a pack of cards.

Zaheer’s match-winning spell was strongly backed by Pollard (2-26), McLaren (2-28) and Malinga (1-20). Finally, Harbhajan Singh (2-16) cleaned up the tail to seal Mumbai’s handsome win.

Earlier, coming into the contest with four losses from seven games, Adam Gilchrist tried all possible combinations, opening the bowling with Rohit Sharma and introducing Andrew Symonds to the attack in the third over. The signs were ominous for Deccan when Tendulkar drove Ryan Harris through cover for a trademark boundary in the second over. Gilchrist tried his best to slow down the pace of the game, and the MI openers, Tendulkar and Dhawan, obliged with deft touches and quick singles, racing along to 53-0 after six overs, without any fuss or big shots.

However, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha’s introduction in the seventh over changed the complexion of the game. Ojha’s beautifully flighted first ball had Dhawan half way down the pitch, only to get stumped. Coming in at 3, Saurabh Tiwary tried to lift the tempo at once, and Tendulkar was quick to run up to his young soldier to give him a word of caution. In the next over, leg-spinner Rahul Sharma trapped Tendulkar leg-before with a slider, to celebrate perhaps the finest moment of his career. In the next over, Ojha teased Dwayne Bravo with two flighted off-breaks, foxing the Trinidadian with a quick arm ball and uprooting his middle stump.

Next in line, Ambati Rayudu whacked a full toss away from Rahul Sharma for a boundary in the tenth over to release the mounting pressure, as Deccan Chargers had done remarkably well until then. Mumbai had stumbled from 53-0 after 6 overs to 70-3 after 10 overs, as the four overs of spin from Ojha and Sharma yielded only 17 runs and, more importantly, three crucial wickets.

Tiwary injected some desired momentum into the innings in the 14th over with two back-to-back sixes through the on-side off Rahul Sharma. As luck would have it, both occasions saw fielders get their hands to the ball, only to cross the boundary line and add to Deccan’s woes. Sharma responded well with two deliveries at a flatter trajectory, but could not stop the onslaught that was to follow.

The duo of Tiwary (44) and Rayudu (55 not out) added 65 runs to keep Deccan at bay, until Tiwary holed out to Gibbs at deep midwicket when he tried to clear Ojha in the seventeenth over. Tiwary’s dismissal was immediately followed by two glorious strokes by Rayudu through the on-side. First, he pierced the gap between deep square leg and deep midwicket, and then swept the next one for a four, square of fine leg. Rayudu showed that his game was all about timing and placement, much like a Test match batsman. The youngster would have made Tendulkar proud with that sort of stroke-play!

Tendulkar praised the efforts of the two youngsters after Mumbai’s victory. “The partnership between Rayudu and Tiwary was most crucial. They have done us proud, and I hope this form continues until the finals. It is a great feeling to win seven games. This is a game of uncertainties. We do not want to relax, we want to keep winning. It has been fantastic with the kind of support we have received here,” he said.

There was drama in the penultimate over when Rayudu attempted an additional run, a desperate dive to the crease meant he received a new lease of life, but not before suffering a minor injury. Dhawan came out as a runner, and Rayudu brought up his fifty with a superb strike over the long-off. It was Jaskaran Singh who dearly paid for bowling full length deliveries at a well-set Rayudu.

Mumbai Indians scored 76 runs in the last 6 overs, a telling factor in the result. All in all, Mumbai Indians picked up 68 runs off the six overs from Jaskaran Singh and Ryan Harris, the two seamers. Meanwhile, the slower bowlers conceded 108 runs from 14 overs, proving relatively difficult to get away.

Mumbai will now travel to Chennai for a clash at the Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.

Preview: Will it be an encore?

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:01:19 GMT

Mumbai: Will the Mumbai Indians kickstart the second half of their IPL Season-3 campaign in an encore of last week’s match against reigning champions Deccan Chargers, at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday?

Deccan Chargers come into the contest with two back-to-back losses, while hosts Mumbai Indians take forward the momentum they have gained on the back of four consecutive wins. Deccan were on a high after they recovered from their loss to the Knight Riders in the tournament opener, winning three matches in a row and claiming the top ranking. But a loss to the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals at Ahmedabad last week seems to have triggered a slump for the Adam Gilchrist-led outfit. On Thursday, they suffered a 24-run loss at the hands of KKR.

While the Mumbai Indians seem to have found a winning XI, defending champions Deccan remain somewhat uncertain about their composition. For Mumbai, the trio of Tendulkar (314 runs @ 52), Dhawan (137 runs @ 34) and Tiwary (206 runs @ 29) have stood out with the bat, while Malinga (10 wickets @ 17), Harbhajan (8 wickets @ 19) and Zaheer (9 wickets @ 21) have expectedly starred with the ball.

The two West Indian all-rounders, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, have contributed with both bat and ball at different stages of IPL Season-3. R Satish has remained unbeaten in three successful run-chases thus far, playing out the role assigned to him of the finisher.

For Deccan Chargers, the international trio of Gilchrist, Gibbs and Symonds has exhibited flashes of brilliance, but have got only four fifties between them this season, a telling factor in their results. Also, the strike-rate of 123 and 119 by Gibbs and Symonds, respectively, has not augured well for the champs.

Kemar Roach, who made headlines at his sale at the IPL auction earlier this year, has been a let down for the Hyderabad-based side thus far. Roach has been wicket-less in his two outings, and has conceded 80 runs from 8 overs. These dismal figures may create a case for the return of Vaas.

Mumbai Indians Director of Cricket TA Sekar expects the Chargers to put up a solid fight. “They have a lot of pride to play for, and are just as eager to qualify for the semi-finals. They will come hard at us. We have to play good cricket to come out on top,” Sekar said on the eve of the game.

Captain Sachin Tendulkar could be facing a one-match ban, if Mumbai’s bowling falls behind the over-rate on Saturday. “We are not complaining about the rules. These are ICC rules and apply to the Twenty20 World Cup as well. We have to finish 20 overs inside 85 minutes, and that is certainly a challenge. There are 7 or 8 minutes of grace time given, considering injuries etc, but there is no reason why we should not finish our overs in time,” a confident Sekar said.

Head-to-Head

The Mumbai Indians have narrowed the gap to 2-3 with their overwhelming victory over Deccan at the DY Patil Stadium. Harbhajan Singh produced an 18-ball whirlwind of 49 runs when the two sides met earlier this week, and followed it up with an inspirational bowling performance. He took Symonds to the cleaners with the willow, and later removed the dangerous Gilchrist. Saturday presents an opportunity for all parties to set the record straight, and reignite the sparks.

Key Players

Harbhajan Singh ended wicket-less in the win against Punjab, but proved to be the inspiration behind Mumbai’s fight back in that contest. He has been a livewire in the field this season, and his contribution with both bat and ball have been crucial to Mumbai’s success. The off-spinner made a conscious effort of giving more air to the ball against KXIP. It would be interesting to observe his strategy when he comes up against a host of explosive Deccan batsmen, on a slow turner at the Brabourne.

Rohit Sharma started IPL Season-3 with scores of 13, 19 and 1, but has bounced back since with scores of 45, 49 not out and 45, until his most recent failure against Kolkata. Rohit has done particularly well against Mumbai in past encounters, and is set to play a crucial role once again. He has also played a lot of cricket at the Brabourne Stadium, as the elegant right-hander represents Mumbai in the domestic circuit. His nimble feet and ability to play the big shots make him a key player.

Injury Update

The four-day break has helped the Mumbai Indians recuperate after playing a series of games last week. They should be an energised outfit going into Saturday’s clash. Abhishek Nayar is on the fast-track to recovery, and should be available for selection in a week’s time, TA Sekar said on Friday.

RP Singh, who won the Purple Cap for Deccan Chargers last season, has been struggling with a persisting shoulder injury. The left-armer has conceded 9.6 runs per over this season, finding it difficult to strike a good rhythm. Meanwhile, veteran batsman and former captain VVS Laxman is still not fully fit after hurting his forearm in the game against Kings XI Punjab a few weeks back.

Team Update

Mumbai Indians’ team management has time and again said that the playing XI is not fixed forever. So, JP Duminy, Sanath Jayasuriya or Dilhara Fernando could be called up on the day of the game. Aditya Tare or Chandan Madan may also be considered in the playing XI.

Deccan Chargers may be tempted to include Australia’s Ryan Harris in place of Kemar Roach. Harris has joined the camp after Australia’s 2-0 win against New Zealand in the recently concluded Test series.

Deccan Chargers: Adam Gilchrist (capt/wk), Azhar Bilakhia, Andrew Symonds, Anirudh Singh, Arjun Yadav, Bodapati Sumanth, Chaminda Vaas, D Ravi Teja, Dwayne Smith, Harmeet Singh Bansal, Ashish Reddy, Herschelle Gibbs, Kemar Roach, VVS Laxman, Mohnish Mishra, Mitchell Marsh, Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, RP Singh, Ryan Harris, Scott Styris, T Suman, Venugopal Rao.

‘Nayar should be fit to play in a week’

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:49:42 GMT

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians Director of Cricket TA Sekar confirmed on Friday that injured all-rounder Abhishek Nayar should be fit and available for selection in a week’s time.

Nayar, who scored 193 runs from 13 games for Mumbai Indians last season, has missed all games this year due to a wrist injury. The Mumbai Paltan has been eager to find out the situation with Nayar’s injury, despite their team’s dream run in IPL Season-3. “He (Nayar) is recovering well at the moment. He has also been training with us recently, but it is a recurring sort of an injury, and we do not want to risk such a crucial player. He is one of our best batsmen and a key member of MI.”

Asked if Nayar would find a place in the playing XI after recovering, an assertive Sekar said, “Most definitely he will. Nayar will surely find a place in the team, provided he is completely fit to play.”

Sekar reckons two more victories should help Mumbai clinch the semi-final berth. “From what I have observed in the last two seasons, 14 points should get a team through to the semis. We are currently on 12, but we are not taking anything for granted. If you look at the table, all the other teams are closely matched, and any of them could rise quickly. So we need to win at least two or three more matches to feel secure at this stage,” the former India fast bowler said.

Speaking of Kieron Pollard’s performance thus far, Sekar says, “He is a match-winner. The 20 runs he took in one over against CSK, and his quickfire 20-odd against Punjab, are the sort of performances we are expecting from him.” “He is also a fabulous fielder and can be a useful bowler with his leg-cutters and off-cutters on these sort of surfaces. There are still 7 plus two games left in the tournament, so expect him to come up with a big knock soon,” he said.

Malinga’s best spell this season, says Sekar

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:19:59 GMT

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians Director of Cricket TA Sekar praised his star bowler Lasith Malinga for setting up the team’s thrilling 4-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab on Tuesday. The slinging quickie from Galle produced his trademark toe-crushers against the hapless Punjab batsmen, to finish with figures of 4-22, as the Mumbai Indians clinched their sixth win from seven games this IPL season.

The “Maaalinga... Maaaalinga...” chants are growing louder by the day, and Sekar acknowledged the importance of the fast bowler to his team. “He is our main strike bowler at the moment. This (performance against Punjab) has to go down as one of the best spells of this IPL by far. We have realised that it is important for us to use his overs judiciously and give him short and effective bursts,” the former India fast bowler said during the post-match press conference.

Skipper Sachin Tendulkar too praised Malinga’s efforts. “I thought Malinga was exceptional. It is terrific to have Malinga in the side. He is an asset and has proven that he is a world class bowler. Along with him, there are other bowlers who have really done a terrific job and supported him nicely, but he has been our strike bowler,” the little master said after his team’s victory.

Sekar also acknowledged the role of Saurabh Tiwary who played a resolute knock of 31 to take MI close to the eventual victory, until he fell to Ravi Bopara in the penultimate over of the thrilling run-chase. “I tried to stay unbeaten until the end to ensure we win, but unfortunately I could not. I felt better only after Sathish and Bhajji pulled us through,” he said after the game.

Sekar praised the efforts of the left-hander this season, “A lot of hard work has gone into his game, and that of all the other youngsters in the side,” he said. “We played a lot of practice games leading into the IPL, and Tendulkar personally spent time with each of the batsmen. Similarly, Zaheer spoke to the bowlers on an individual basis. Both have worked very hard on the youngsters,” Sekar said when asked about the reason for Mumbai’s startling success this IPL season.

Mumbai will next host Deccan Chargers on Saturday.

Malinga, Dhawan, Tiwary shine in thriller

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:28:52 GMT

Mumbai: Perchance a wee bit uncanny, but there is something magical about a contest between the Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab. Picture this: Three of the five encounters between the sides have been last-ball affairs. Fortunately for the Mumbai Paltan, their side pulled off a hard-fought 4-wicket win on Tuesday to end the jinx of losing close ties to Punjab. Chasing 164 runs to seal the halfway stage of IPL Season-3 with six wins from seven games, the hosts were guided home by the unbeaten pair of R Sathish and Harbhajan Singh who held their nerves against a resurgent Punjab side that was determined to pull the rabbit out of the hat at the Brabourne Stadium.

Rolling the fingers on the ball seemed to the order of the day for the Kings XI Punjab bowlers, as the sluggish pitch did not allow batsmen to free their arms at will. That is perhaps why MI opener Shikhar Dhawan’s fifty was one of the best of his IPL career, as he provided the middle-order a solid platform after the early dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar, who incidentally wore the orange cap at the end of the game, overtaking Bangalore’s Jacques Kallis in the tally of most runs this season. Even Dhawan found it difficult to pierce the inner ring, something he has done at will this year. The left-hander waited for the bad deliveries, and filled in for his skipper’s absence; playing the role of sheet anchor.

For Kings XI, Piyush Chawla got the ball to grip and turn sharply on a surface that was not allowing batsmen to play through the line. The young leggie has made a career out of dismissing Tendulkar in the past, and he enhanced that reputation in his very first over of the night. Tendulkar tried to clear the long-on boundary but the ball gripped on him, and he ended up holing out to Irfan Pathan. The capacity crowd that had come to watch the little master was obviously disappointed and tried to vent a bit of that frustration by shouting slogans when Chawla was fielding close to the boundary.

After Sachin’s abrupt departure, Kieron Pollard was promoted to number three, and the big Trinidadian blasted 20 off just 13 to inject some thrust into the run-chase. However, Pollard’s dismissal meant that the Mumbai Indians went through a spell of 27 deliveries without a boundary, and the mounting pressure was finally released in the 15th over, courtesy of a six and a four by Tiwary and Rayudu, respectively. The target was down to 46 runs off the last 5 overs – odds still stacked against the visitors.

Part-timer Ravi Bopara (3-31) certainly had other ideas – removing Dhawan, Bravo and Tiwary in quick succession – to bolster the visitors’ chances of pulling off a remarkable win. In fact, the crowd was quite dismayed in the penultimate over when Tiwary holed out to deep midwicket. Thankfully, R Sathish, who is fast building a reputation as one of MI’s best finishers, steered the ship to safety once again this IPL season.

“The track slowed down and made things a bit difficult. The ball was stopping and coming, and the batsmen had to work hard. All credit goes to the middle order. Tiwary and Sathish kept their nerve, and Bravo and Pollard played short, but important innings. Shikhar gave a good start and set the tone for us. I am quite happy with the performance on the whole,” a pleased Tendulkar said at the presentation ceremony.

Earlier, Mumbai quickies Lasith Malinga (4-22) and Zaheer Khan (3-34) restricted Kings XI Punjab to 163 through some deft bowling. Having won the toss, Tendulkar stuck to the tried and test strategy of fielding first, also citing the dew as one of the reasons for his decision. The humidity levels were very high, and it was not getting any easier to bat on the slow surface, but Tendulkar put faith in his batsmen to chase runs.

In just the second over, the in-form Ravi Bopara (1) played down the wrong line and got trapped leg-before wicket off Zaheer. A few overs later, Manvinder Bisla (11) checked his shot but ended up scooping the ball straight to mid-off where Zaheer took a neat catch. KXIP skipper Mahela Jayawardene (20) added 49 runs for the third-wicket with IPL Season-3 debutant Shaun Marsh (57) to consolidate the innings. Coasting at 85-2 after 10 overs, the Preity Zinta-owned team were looking good to post a total in excess of 180. The duo made a conscious effort of playing very late, and that helped them milk the bowling to some extent. Tendulkar was very proactive with his bowling changes, using as many as six bowlers inside the first eight overs, to ensure the batsmen do not get used any single bowler’s length.

Harbhajan’s return to the attack in the 11th over proved fatal for the visitors. The off-spinner ended the night with economical figures of 0-26 but was involved in at least three big dismissals. He gave the ball a lot of air, as compared to his quick yorker-length bowling in previous games, realising that the slowness of the pitch did not allow Punjab’s batsmen to the time the ball.

His miserly bowling and bustling presence caused a slight confusion between Jayawardene and Marsh, leading to the former’s dismissal. Yuvraj Singh stepped out to the middle to some not-so-friendly chants from the crowds – a novelty, to say the least. Harbhajan came around the wicket and created a difficult angle for the booming southpaw to swing his bat. The out-of-form Yuvraj succumbed to the pressure in the next over, mistiming a flick shot and finding Harbhajan at short fine-leg.

The next turning point came in the sixteenth over. The duo of Marsh and Irfan Pathan (18) had added 32 runs in a brisk partnership to get the KXIP innings back on track. Enter Lasith Malinga with his speedy toe crushers to spoil the party for the visitors in the space of two deliveries. First, the dangerous Pathan holed out to a diving Harbhajan at mid-on. The feisty offie ran backwards from midwicket, and got into a great position to take a tumbling catch. The next ball saw Marsh getting cleaned up by a trademark Malinga yorker, and these blows meant KXIP fell short of a winning score by 15-20 runs.

Zaheer took the short ball out of his repertoire for the night, bowling a lot of deliveries at a fuller length. He returned toward the end to remove Brett Lee and Vikramjeet Malik in quick succession. The Mumbai Indians vice-captain finished with figures of 3-34, taking his tally of IPL Season-3 wickets to 9.

During the presentation ceremony, Tendulkar acknowledged the value of the Man-of-the-Match Malinga. “As for the bowlers, I thought Malinga was exceptional. The over in which he got both Pathan and Marsh was the turning point. He is an asset and has proven to be a world class bowler. Along with him, there are other bowlers who have done a terrific job, but he has been our strike bowler,” said the MI skipper, after the game.

Mumbai will next host Deccan Chargers on Tuesday to kick start the second half of their campaign.

Preview: Humdinger of a match expected on Tuesday

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:10:35 GMT

Mumbai: IPL Season-3 league leaders Mumbai Indians return to the Brabourne Stadium to host the low-riding Kings XI Punjab on Tuesday, as the teams approach the halfway stage in the Twenty20 tournament, and it is expected to be a humdinger of a contest.

The hosts come into the game with the confidence of five wins from six games in the bag, and a healthy net run-rate to boot, the Kings XI Punjab would be crooning Kris Kristofferson’s ‘Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose’ while mounting their counter offensive. MI Director of Cricket TA Sekar and Captain Sachin Tendulkar are already on record that they would not take anyone for granted, so the crowds are guaranteed of wholesome entertainment.

The lone victory for the King’s XI came via the super over against the Chennai Super Kings. To cap it all, skipper Kumar Sangakkara is ruled out, as his team sustained a slow over-rate for the third occasion in IPL Season-3. But then, that is what T20 is all about.

Head-to-head

Players from the two sides who were involved in that exhilarating last-ball finish in the inaugural season must surely be feeling a chill down their spine when reminded of that game. Mumbai went into that contest at Wankhede with six consecutive wins in the bag and a thrilling final over – which saw a six, a four, a dropped catch and three run-outs – handing the Kings XI Punjab a 1-run win. The emotions displayed by Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh at the end of the game are etched in IPL folklore. Punjab’s 3-1 overall lead could have been 2-2 if it was not for a Jonty Rhodes-esque diving effort by Yuvraj in that cracking contest in Mumbai. On paper, they have their back against the walls come Tuesday.

Key Players

Most of Mumbai’s batsmen have had a decent outing this season, but none has maintained the consistency of Sachin Tendulkar. The MI skipper has four match-winning fifties already, playing the role of sheet anchor to great effectiveness. Tendulkar’s resilience and ability to bat 20 overs has given the younger batsmen around him the license to play a fearless and positive brand of cricket.

Brett Lee has suffered a series of injuries in the last twelve months but his raw pace and experience (besides he has to bowl only four overs) make him a dangerous prospect. Also, seamers have taken the bulk of the wickets at Brabourne Stadium thus far. Shaun Marsh, one of the most successful batsmen in IPL-1, is in line for his IPL-3 debut, if declared fit on the day of the game.

Injury Update

MI Director of Cricket, TA Sekar confirmed the availability of all players on the eve of the game.

Coach Tom Moody delivered a blow to KXIP fans with the news of Yuvraj’s injury. There was a slight concern about Yuvraj Singh’s availability for the game against Mumbai, after he skipped the nets because of a sore wrist, the former Australian all-rounder said on Monday.

Team Update

Sekar has acknowledged the nature of the Twenty20 format, saying that any team could win on a given day. “They (Kings XI Punjab) are a very good side. In this format of cricket, all eight franchises are capable of pulling off an upset at any time. We are not going to take them at all lightly.”

KXIP would be captained by Mahela Jayawardene on Tuesday. The Sri Lankan sounded positive about his team’s chances despite their poor run this year. “We need to get a few wins to get the momentum going. We need to get the combination going. I think the point table is still wide open.”

I used Sachin’s bat, says Harbhajan

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:38:25 GMT

Navi Mumbai: Harbhajan Singh thanked his captain Sachin Tendulkar for lending his bat with which he smashed 49 runs off just 18 deliveries to set up Mumbai’s overwhelming victory over defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Deccan Chargers at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday evening.

“The bat I used was given to me by Sachin. I want to thank him for allowing me to use his bat,” said Harbhajan, who was adjudged Man of the Match for his unbeaten 49, and bowling figures of 3-31.

Harbhajan conceded that he could do no wrong on the night. “It was probably my day. Every shot came off the middle. I know I can hit a ball and have played a few knocks for India, including an innings at Baroda against the Australians,” he said at the post-match press conference.

Defending a total of 172, Captain Tendulkar threw the ball to Harbhajan in the very first over, and the move paid dividends, as the off spinner removed the dangerous Adam Gilchrist on the very second ball of the match. “We had talked that I might have to start the bowling, and I have done it for India too. It is not easy to bowl during the power plays. But when it is your day, everything clicks and Sachin took a blinder. It was a very important wicket as Gilchrist is a dangerous player who can finish a match in 15 or 17 overs,” he said, acknowledging Tendulkar’s presence of mind during the pressure-cooker situation.

The 28-year-old said, he requested fellow Sikh bowler Jaskaran Singh to spare him an injury. Jaskaran bowled two back-to-back beamers in the last over, and was immediately forced out of the attack. “I told him please do not injure me. I have to go to the West Indies for the Twenty20 World Cup next month,” he said. Jaskaran was replaced by Rohit Sharma, and Harbhajan cracked three consecutive boundaries to finish Mumbai Indians’ innings on a high.

Harbhajan refused to jump and label Mumbai Indians as the favourites just yet. “I do not want to say whether we are favourites or any other team. Twenty20 is very funny. We need to play good cricket and our first goal is to become the first team to make the semi-finals,” he said.

The off-spinner also disclosed that he had personally requested Tendulkar to play in the forthcoming World Twenty20, a day before the team selection took place in Mumbai. “I feel that team would have become stronger with Sachin’s presence. Even the day before the selection, I asked him to consider his decision, but he said that he had already decided that T20 was not his game and that he did not want to play anymore. I am sure that if a player of Sachin’s calibre is present in the dressing room, it would have added to the confidence in the team,” Harbhajan said.

MI tighten grip over top spot

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:18:25 GMT

Navi Mumbai: The Mumbai Indians strengthened their grip at the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Season-3 standings with a crushing 41-run win over reigning IPL champions Deccan Chargers (DC) at the picturesque DY Patil Sports Stadium here at Nerul.

Fans watching Sunday’s game on TV or YouTube were probably a wee bit confused about the home team. However, the cheers that Mumbai Indians received from the 55,000 odd people must have firmly ended those doubts.

Put into bat by DC, Sachin Tendulkar’s fourth half-century this season, and a spectacular cameo of 49 runs from 18 balls by Man of the Match Harbhajan Singh helped Mumbai recover to a respectable total of 172-7, which was incidentally the highest-ever total at the state-of-the-art stadium in Navi Mumbai. Lasith Malinga (3-12), Harbhajan (3-31) and Zaheer Khan (3-21) ensured the Chargers were shot out for just 131. One could almost see palpable aggression in Tendulkar’s captaincy on the night, as he stood at the slip at most times, set attacking fields, ran hard to stop the boundaries, and asked his bowlers to invite the batsmen to go for the jugular.

In a surprise move, Tendulkar threw the ball to Harbhajan to kick start proceedings, citing that it was the Turbanator’s night and that he just could not go wrong. There is no secret behind Adam Gilchrist’s love for the short ball, and Tendulkar’s strategy played out beautifully. Harbhajan fired the ball flat from around the wicket, and Gilchrist, cramped for room, edged the ball to Tendulkar at the slip who made a fantastic dive to latch on to the offering. It set the tone for the rest of the match, especially as the DC captain carries a reputation of setting DY Patil ablaze. Gilchrist’s dismissal meant that DC had to do all the catching up, and that led to a series of casual dismissals.

The next major turning point came in the sixth over of DC’s run-chase when Malinga removed Mohnish Mishra (13) and Andrew Symonds (1) in a space of three deliveries. Harbhajan was the first to run up to Malinga when the slinging quickie from Sri Lanka removed Symonds. Some fans and a plethora of journalists at the arena were probably hoping for an encore of their battle, but would have happily settled to see the back of the dangerous Australian so early into the run-chase.

Some characteristic stroke play from Rohit Sharma (45) and Herschelle Gibbs (27) kept DC’s hopes alive, but the lack of substantial partnerships in their innings augured well for Mumbai. There was drama when Gibbs was caught off Zaheer by Kieron Pollard at gully. Gibbs refused to leave, claiming the ball was over waist high. Minutes later, the crowd burst into a state of euphoria.

Earlier, the Mumbai Indians’ innings was categorically divided into three parts. They were breathing easy at 78-3 after 10 overs with their skipper still at the crease, but stumbled to 100-6 at the 15-over stage, and eventually recovered strongly to post 172 with a last mile onslaught by Harbhajan. The 18th over saw Harbhajan take runs off his old nemesis Symonds, and those were most certainly the moments of the day for the 55,000 plus crowds to savour.

There were sparks flying around in the final over when fellow Sikh Jaskaran Singh bowled an unintentional beamer at Harbhajan! The young DC seamer was forced out of the bowling attack after bowling another beamer, and must have learned a thing or two about bowling under pressure. Rohit Sharma completed the over that saw ‘Bhajji’ strike 3 consecutive fours and power MI to a respectable 172.

Earlier on, Tendulkar held the innings together for Mumbai yet again. Only Dwayne Bravo proved some support to his skipper, with a breezy knock of 23. Shikhar Dhawan (8), Saurabh Tiwary (4), Ambati Rayudu (6), Rajagopal Satish (3) and Kieron Pollard (1) ended on the wrong side of a Deccan charge.

At the beginning, almost everything went according to plan for DC, as they had won the toss and were roaring with confidence. There was a lot of talk about their debutant Kemar Roach, and the fact that most teams batting second have dominated proceedings at the DY Patil stadium. A nice in-swinging yorker by Jaskaran removed Dhawan in the third over, and opened up the floodgates for Mumbai.

The curse of the strategic timeout struck in the eighth over, as Bravo holed out at the long-off to RP Singh. Saurabh Tiwary joined his skipper in the middle and suffered his first real failure in the series, but not before hammering a wide delivery through the extra cover boundary.

Harbhajan and Tendulkar have ensured Mumbai inch a step closer towards sealing a semi-final berth. The league leaders will host under-performing Kings XI Punjab on Tuesday.

Harbhajan: We want to be first to qualify for semis

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 21:15:47 GMT

Mumbai, March 27: Harbhajan Singh and the Mumbai Indians take their red hot rhythm to Navi Mumbai on Sunday evening for an encore of their clash in 2008 against reigning IPL champions, the Deccan Chargers. That game was predominantly dominated by Deccan, but ‘Bhajji’ feels a lot has changed since. Mumbai, already with 8 points, can inch a step closer towards booking a semi-final berth on Sunday.

It is well known that the off-spinner is at the peak of his game when the crowds get behind him. Harbhajan acknowledges the presence of the ‘MI Paltan’. “It is nice to have people cheering for us. I would like to thank them for supporting us.” However, Harbhajan reveals there are times when the contest between the bat and the ball overshadows even the presence of the cheering crowds. “The fans help me to be more aggressive, definitely. But sometimes I get into my own zone, and just concentrate on the ball and the bat. That is when it is purely a contest between me and the batsman. Sometimes, the crowd helps me perform better, and I like to be charged up more. It all depends on the situation really.”

Deccan Chargers will play hosts on Sunday, despite the game being staged in Mumbai’s newest venue. “The game is in Mumbai, so we will definitely get a lot of support. Deccan Chargers are a good side, have played good cricket so far. Hopefully we can beat them in Navi Mumbai,” Harbhajan said.

On the injury front, Harbhajan said, “Ryan McLaren has a niggling injury, but should be fit for tomorrow. If he misses out, we still have many options for his replacement. We have not decided on any playing combination just yet. We should be doing that on the day of the match.” For instance, Ambati Rayudu, who scored 95 runs from 3 games before sitting out injured, has been declared fit for Sunday’s game. “Rayudu is likely to be in for tomorrow. He will be batting in the nets today (Saturday) and should be fit.”

Most tabloids and newspapers have been keen on promoting the infamous duel between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds. However, the MI bowler has played down the hype. “So What?” he asked when a journalist posed the question about Symonds sharing the same stage. “It is just another game for me. I have played a lot of cricket against him. I am not looking forward to renewing any rivalries, whether it is with Matthew Hayden or Andrew Symonds. It is just a game of cricket, and I am looking to go out there and enjoy the game,” the turbanator said.

Harbhajan acknowledged the new and improved strategic time-outs. “The two-and-a-half minute timeout is a lot better than timeouts in previous years. This is a good concept. We get a chance to regroup to discuss lots of things, and strategies. Every team would want to benefit from that break.”

The off-spinner was also quick to send out a signal to the rest of the teams. “We can hopefully win on Sunday and go up to ten points. We want to make sure we are the first to qualify for the semi-finals,” he said. Recalling last year’s heartbreaking exit from the tournament, Harbhajan said his team wants to leave no stone unturned this time around. “We have learnt from our past mistakes. We were almost there last year, but just not there. This time everyone has taken the responsibility. Hopefully we can carry forward this momentum, and try and win each and every game,” he said.

Harbhajan credited Tendulkar’s form for Mumbai’s healthy position in the IPL-3 standings. “Hats off to Tendulkar for the way he is batting. He has been a great match-winner for both India and the Mumbai Indians. It helps to have a player like him leading from the front. We hope he can continue like this.”

With 5 wickets from 4 outings with the ball, Harbhajan is happy with his personal form in IPL-3. “I am always happy, whether I am bowling well or not. My job is to bowl well for the team and enjoy being out there. I am happy with my form so far, hopefully I can continue like this,” he concluded.

Preview: Heavyweights clash at D.Y Patil

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 18:36:04 GMT

Mumbai, March 27: Having played three successive home games, the jubilant Mumbai Indians are ready to get back on the road, travelling to Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium for their heavyweight clash against reigning Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Deccan Chargers on Sunday evening. While the Deccan Chargers are the official hosts, the MI Paltan would, in all likelihood, outnumber DC fans.

Adam Gilchrist’s Deccan Chargers have had a reasonable outing this IPL season, with three wins from five games, but they ended up on the wrong side of a Yusuf Pathan blitzkrieg on Friday evening. And pronto; question marks were raised about the team composition and potency of its bowling-attack.

Deccan’s four international players – Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Symonds and Chaminda Vaas – all veterans of at least 150 one-day internationals or more – have featured in all their five games thus far. More importantly, all four have risen to the occasion. However, domestic talents such as RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha – who were instrumental in their title win in South Africa last year – have not made their presence felt just yet. Similarly, T Suman and Venugopal Rao have not displayed the flashes of fearlessness they demonstrated in the previous seasons.

Meanwhile, almost every player in the Mumbai Indians squad is performing his role to perfection. Sachin Tendulkar’s playing XI was unchanged in the last two wins, but the team management has reiterated time and again that the composition of the side depends largely on the conditions, on the opposition, and a whole lot of other factors; effectively stating that the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, JP Duminy, Dilhara Fernando, or any other domestic player could be included in the playing XI on the day of the match.

Head-to-Head

Deccan Chargers boast of a 3-1 lead in this rivalry, but at least two of those victories could have gone in favour of the Mumbai Indians. Incidentally, the first-ever IPL game played at Sunday’s venue was between the same two sides, during the inaugural season in 2008. The hosts were blown away by an Adam Gilchrist century, as Deccan took a 1-0 lead in the rivalry. Tendulkar’s side was quick to return the favour a couple of weeks later at Hyderabad, thanks to Dwayne Bravo’s three-wicket haul.

The duel between old nemesis Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds is sure to spice up the contest. Harbhajan looks at it as “just another cricket match” but expect the crowds to erupt, if and when the off-spinner removes Symonds, just days after he removed another old rival Matthew Hayden. Symonds, who has 165 runs from 5 games, carries a reputation of being a solid player of spin.

The Venue – Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy

With a capacity of 55,000, it is the second-largest cricket stadium in the country. The Mumbai Indians came back strongly after their loss to Deccan here in 2008, winning their next two games against Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals, respectively.

A total of 155-160 is considered a par score here. In fact, the 164 posted by Rajasthan Royals in the 2008 Season of IPL final is the highest at the ground. It may also be a pointer to a riveting contest, considering the batting strength of both the sides. The pitch here has offered enough bounce for the fast bowlers, and a bit of movement under lights. Just for the record, the team batting second has won in more than 60 percent of the games here.

Key Players

There is a feeling in the air that this contest will be set up by the two legendary captains. Adam Gilchrist has not been at his sparkling best this season thus far, but his record at the Navi Mumbai ground is phenomenal. The explosive left-hander scored 109* and 54, the only two times he played here.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas has been Deccan’s most prolific bowler this season. The seasoned campaigner has 8 wickets from 5 games, at a miserly economy rate of 6.6.

Sachin Tendulkar could be wearing the Orange Cap – the prize for most runs in an IPL season – for the first time in his career. The little master is currently 62 runs short off Bangalore’s Jacques Kallis. Of the five IPL Man-of-the-Match awards he has won, the Mumbai Indians captain has three in this season alone. He is also just two runs short of 1,000 runs in IPL cricket.

Injury Update

Harbhajan has confirmed the availability of promising young batsman Ambati Rayudu for the game against Deccan. All-rounder Ryan McLaren was not seen practicing on the eve of the game, as he was carrying a niggling injury. However, McLaren should be fit for the game on Sunday, according to Harbahajan.

Deccan Chargers have been blessed with a fully-fit side this season. Most of their international players have been available since the start of the season, and Deccan could ring in a few changes, come Sunday.

Team Update

Chances are that McLaren’s niggling injury could make way for an additional all-rounder or batsman. Harbhajan said on the eve of the clash that his side was confident about a replacement option, just in case the South African is ruled out on the day of the game. He refused to comment on any specific replacement. Rayudu, who scored 92 runs from 3 games earlier this season, could find his way back in the XI.

The Deccan Chargers have the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Kemar Roach and Dwayne Smith waiting in the wings. There could be a case for Roach replacing Vaas, purely because of the raw pace he offers.

Deccan Chargers: Adam Gilchrist (capt/wk), Azhar Bilakhia, Andrew Symonds, Anirudh Singh, Arjun Yadav, Bodapati Sumanth, Chaminda Vaas, D Ravi Teja, Dwayne Smith, Harmeet Singh Bansal, Ashish Reddy, Herschelle Gibbs, Kemar Roach, VVS Laxman, Mohnish Mishra, Mitchell Marsh, Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, RP Singh, Ryan Harris, Scott Styris, T Suman, Venugopal Rao.

Harbhajan, Zaheer in World Twenty20 squad

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:55:44 GMT

Mumbai, BCCI Headquarters: Mumbai Indians’ star bowlers Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan were named in the 15-man squad for next month’s ICC World Twenty20 Cup on Friday, while Abhishek Nayar and Dhawal Kulkarni were left out.

The World Twenty20 Cup takes place in the West Indies starting April 30, just five days after the conclusion of IPL Season-3. Piyush Chawla and Vinay Kumar were the surprise inclusions in the side, while Nagpur-born Rohit Sharma retained his place in the squad. Chawla has not represented India since the 2008 Asia Cup in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Manish Pandey, Robin Uthappa and Pragyan Ojha were surprise exclusions. Saurabh Tiwary, who was not a part of the 30 probables picked last month, was also in consideration for a spot in the squad, following his impressive performances for the Mumbai Indians this season.

Although Zaheer was also a part of India’s World Twenty20 squad last year, he was recovering from a serious injury. Team India and the Mumbai Indians hope that the left-arm fast bowler leads the charge in the Caribbean next month.

World Twenty20 Squad: MS Dhoni (Captain and wicketkeeper, CSK), Virender Sehwag (DD) , Gautam Gambhir (DD), Yuvraj Singh (KXIP), Suresh Raina (CSK), Yusuf Pathan (RR), Dinesh Karthik (DD), Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan (MI), Praveen Kumar (BRC), Ashish Nehra (DD), Harbhajan Singh (MI), Piyush Chawla (KXIP), Vinay Kumar (BRC), Rohit Sharma (DC)

Dhoni: Bowling to Tendulkar is a mind game

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:05:25 GMT

Mumbai: Team India and Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has travelled and played along with Sachin Tendulkar for the last five years, is certainly a good judge of the master’s prowess as a batsman. The Mumbai Indians captain dished out his third Man of the Match performance in IPL Season-3 on Thursday evening, handing Dhoni’s side a convincing defeat.

Tendulkar struck eight boundaries and a six in his beautifully paced knock of 72, picking up the first 30 of his runs from 28 balls, the next 20 in 12, and the final 22 runs off his next 12 deliveries. “It is very difficult to stop him. The beauty of his batting is that even in this kind of a format he is not the sort of batsman who plays too many big shots, but plays proper ground strokes. He is very cunning, as he uses the pace of the bowler, and always bats on both sides of the wicket,” Dhoni said.

Dhoni reckons the use of variations and slower deliveries invariably backfires for the bowlers when bowling to the little master. “You can force him to play big shots, and try to entice him. But when somebody like Sachin Tendulkar is batting, you cannot bowl too many slower deliveries, as he can hit those for big sixes too,” the wicketkeeper batsman said.

The 28-year old feels it is a ‘mind game’ for a bowler who comes up against the little master. “It is more often a mind game between a bowler and Sachin Tendulkar. More often than not, it is Tendulkar who wins these battles,” he said during the post-match press conference.

There has been a lot of talk of Tendulkar reconsidering retirement from Twenty20 internationals, especially with the World Twenty20 looming large. Former cricketers and even a few current ones are keen to watch Tendulkar set the Caribbean ablaze next month. However, the Indian captain wants to respect Tendulkar’s decision. “It is his decision and we all have to respect it. He has even made it clear in a news channel that he is not keen on playing. I respect his decision,” Dhoni said.

Tendulkar is just 2 short of 1,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket – his first big milestone in the sport’s newest format, and has the opportunity of getting there against Deccan Chargers on Sunday.

‘Tendulkar at his best since 1998’

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:51:32 GMT

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians Director of Cricket, TA Sekar reckons Sachin Tendulkar’s batting in the last six months is worth comparing with the little champion’s glorious years of 1997-1998.

If numbers are anything to go by, here is an exercise. Since February 2009, Tendulkar has scored 1158 runs from 20 ODIs, at an average of 72, including the world record 200, and three other centuries. In Tests, in the same period, he has managed 1010 runs and 6 hundreds, averaging 78 runs per innings.

Tendulkar guided the Mumbai Indians to their fourth victory this IPL season on Thursday evening, and picked up his third Man of the Match award in the process. “He is growing like wine, and reinventing himself. In the last six months or so, he has been batting at his best. I could see flashes of Sachin playing in 1997-1998 in his batting. It is going to be very difficult for bowlers to bowl to him this IPL. He does not play big shots, but is still unable to score so quickly,” Sekar said after the game.

Tendulkar’s opening partner Shikhar Dhawan has made the position his own in the last two games, scoring a quick fire 24 on Monday, followed by a graceful knock of 56 on Thursday against CSK. “It is an absolute pleasure to bat with him (Tendulkar). These crowds at Brabourne are phenomenal,” said Shikhar after the game. “I was not setting any targets. Paaji (Tendulkar) was confident about giving me the strike, and luckily for me, I was able to play my strokes. He read the situation so well, and that helped me,” he added.

Sekar reckons the inclusion of a handful of youngsters for the 2010 season has gone a long way in contributing to Mumbai Indians’ success. “One of the best things to have happened to the Mumbai Indians is the inclusion of the ICL players and other youngsters this season. I believe Ambati Rayudu, R Satish, Shikhar Dhawan and Aditya Tare form the nucleus of the future Mumbai Indians team. We have put in lot of hard work, and they have responded really well,” he said.

The former India fast bowler acknowledged the influence of Tendulkar on the youngsters. “Working with Sachin Tendulkar is great education for them. They can pick up not only from his batting prowess but also how he conducts himself on and off the field. Playing with Sachin is a great feat for all these youngsters, and that is something none of the other teams have on offer,” Sekar concluded.

Skipper anchors another win

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:25:11 GMT

Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar anchored yet another Mumbai Indians victory with a resilient half-century against the Chennai Super Kings at the Brabourne Stadium on Thursday evening. Chasing a tough target of 181 on a slow surface, the little master paced his innings like only he can, and played around an array of stroke-makers to steer the ship home for the hosts. With the win, Mumbai regained the top slot in the IPL-3 standings, and also a 3-2 lead against CSK.

The captain was ably supported by Shikhar Dhawan who once again provided the early impetus for Mumbai, cracking five boundaries and three sixes in his knock of 56. The left-hander added 92 runs for the first-wicket with Tendulkar, and made life a lot easier for the batsmen to follow. It was a night when Tendulkar and Mumbai had simple, yet effective strategies in place; while the Chennai Super Kings, who were desperate for a win after suffering back-to-back losses, made too many costly experiments, and threw everything they possible could at MI’s batsmen, only to fall short in the end.

Defending a healthy total of 181, returning skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni tried his best to unsettle the batsmen with constant field and bowling changes, but the duo of Dhawan and Tendulkar was up to the task, averaging at least a boundary every over, and making easy work of an otherwise difficult target. Coach Stephen Fleming and bowling Coach Venkatesh Prasad would be keen on looking at their pitch maps, as most of their bowlers conceded far too many extras at the start of the innings, and landed the ball all over the place, allowing Mumbai batsmen to dictate terms through and through.

While Dhoni was keen that his bowlers bowled outside the off stump, and was packing the off-side field accordingly, the MI openers managed to keep the runs trickling in through a combination of innovative shots. Dhawan released the pressure by picking Joginder Sharma off his legs repeatedly and clearing the on-side at will.

Joginder was evidently unable to stick to the rather defensive game plan, bowling down the pads over and again, allowing the MI batsmen to dominate proceedings. Dhawan holed out to mid-wicket soon after bringing up his fifth IPL fifty, but deservingly received a pat on the back from his captain, and a standing ovation as he made his way back to the dugout.

The spin duo of Muralitharan and Jakati brought CSK back into the contest with the dismissal of Dhawan and Tiwary in quick succession, but Tendulkar denied them any more chances by playing the perfect sheet anchor. Tendulkar’s contest with Muralitharan added an extra flavour to the contest, as the former took 18 runs off 12 deliveries from the wily off-break bowler. It was best highlighted when Tendulkar danced down the track and cleared the long-on fence, at a time when Muralitharan had apparently applied the brakes on the scoring-rate. Incidentally, it was Tendulkar’s first six in this year’s IPL.

R Satish and Kieron Pollard added partnerships of 24 and 39, respectively, with their captain. Subsequently, the charismatic Dwayne Bravo sealed the victory with a few lusty strikes.

Tendulkar picked up his third Man of the Match award of IPL-3. "It is a wonderful moment for us. It was a big total to chase and Shikhar accelerated brilliantly to play some big shots. It was a well calculated chase in the end. I think I was trying to force the pace too much initially, before I decided to bat through the twenty overs,” the maestro said. Despite Mumbai’s incredible consistency this season, Tendulkar is not just thinking about the road ahead, “It is still too early to say anything about the tournament. You can never take anything for granted. I have never done that in cricket. It is a funny old game. Just when you think you are on top, things start going wrong," he said.

Earlier in the game, CSK appeared confident to force the opposition into errors with a respectable score of 180 - comprising Suresh Raina’s sparkling knock of 83 not out, and his record third wicket partnership with Subramaniam Badrinath (55 not out) - after Tendulkar put them to bat after winning the toss. For the Mumbai Indians, Harbhajan (1-25) and McLaren (0-23) were the most economical bowlers, while Zaheer, Malinga and Bravo conceded over 8 runs to the over.

Ryan McLaren opened the bowling, and shaped the ball away from the left-handed duo of Matthew Hayden and Parthiv Patel. Hayden struck Zaheer Khan for four consecutive boundaries in the second over and got CSK off to a blazing start. Hayden’s innings came to an end as soon as his old nemesis Harbhajan Singh was introduced into the attack in just the third over, which by the by proved to be a masterstroke by Tendulkar. The Queenslander was trapped leg-before by Harbhajan. McLaren removed Patel in the fifth over, but Suresh Raina kept the momentum going, hustling between the wickets and striking frequent boundaries. Badrinath played the role of sheet anchor, while the flamboyant Raina played shots to all possible parts of the Brabourne Stadium.

It appeared as if the strategies were well mapped for Mumbai’s bowlers. McLaren and Harbhajan contained the runs, while Zaheer and Malinga attacked. Bravo came in and bowled his variations and mixed things up. When in rhythm, this is arguably IPL’s most diverse bowling unit. Harbhajan continued with his tactics of firing the ball to a batsman’s foot, while Zaheer mixed it up with yorkers and bouncers. He also bowled a splendid penultimate over, conceding only 8 runs.

The Mumbai Indians will now travel to the D.Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai for an away fixture against the reigning Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, the Deccan Chargers, on Sunday.

Robin Singh: It is all about momentum

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:29:46 GMT

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians coach Robin Singh came out strongly in support of young wicketkeeper batsman Aditya Tare, and praised the efforts of his bowlers in the tournament on the eve of his team’s clash with Chennai Super Kings. With this encounter, Mumbai are vying for the top spot in the IPL-3 standings.

Ambati Rayudu, who has scored an impressive 92 runs from 3 games at a strike rate of 159, missed the last tie against Kolkata due to an injury. Robin confirmed his unavailability for Thursday’s match. “He will be back with us in a few days. In terms of fitness, he is doubtful for tomorrow’s game against Chennai. He should be fit for the game after that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings are awaiting the arrival of Michael Hussey and a few other international players to bolster the side. However, Robin reckons Twenty20 is all about momentum. “Some teams are short of international players. They will get stronger as the season goes on. This format is all about maintaining the momentum. It is up to us now to maintain our momentum and keep on playing well,” he said. The MI coach said he is least concerned about the CSK playing XI. “It depends on what combination they are playing. They would probably play the extra spinner, if playing at Chennai,” he said.

Robin played down the threat imposed by Chennai’s batting order comprising Matthew Hayden, Albie Morkel and the rest. “We have been studying most of the batsmen. It is up to our bowlers to figure out where to bowl, and where they are comfortable playing. This is quite a big ground, and it is not as easy to hit sixes here, as compared to some of the other grounds,” he said.

Though Aditya Tare was criticised for his glove-work in the last game, Robin was quick to back his young wicketkeeper. “As far as we are concerned, he has done his job really well. We have obviously used his batting, more than his keeping. In this format you get very little balls to keep, unless it is a bad wicket. He is quite an explosive player. This is almost international standards, so you have to give him some leeway. He has performed really well in whatever role we have given him,” Robin said.

Robin was also quick to appreciate the role played by star off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. “He bowled really well at Delhi. This wicket at Brabourne is not turning, and yet he did a fabulous job in the last match against KKR. The seamers set up that win, but Harbhajan was fabulous too,” he said.

The MI coach said the team has a strategy behind using the explosive Kieron Pollard. “The idea is to maximise his hitting abilities, and we have to do that by keeping wickets in hand. He has just walked into the tournament, and we all know what he is capable of when he gets a chance,” he said.

Preview: MI's chance to regain the top spot

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:49:11 GMT

Mumbai: The raging Mumbai Indians continue to stay at home, looking to regain the top spot in the IPL-3 standings. They will be challenged by a team weighed down by injuries to their skipper and a few other players, and two consecutive losses – the Chennai Super Kings.

The Mumbai Indians suffered a minor setback against Bangalore last week, but returned to winning ways by trouncing the Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday. While Mumbai’s two inaugural wins came thanks to the batsmen posting totals in excess of 200, the win against KKR was evidently set up by the bowlers, and followed up by an inspirational performance from their leader Sachin Tendulkar.

Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is expected to join the camp for Thursday’s clash, but his availability for the game remains uncertain. Of late, his deputy Suresh Raina has bared the brunt of captaining in the high voltage IPL, a competition that pushes an individual’s resilience to the limit.

Seeking revenge...

Ardent Mumbai Indians fans will remember the heart-breaking loss to Chennai at Port Elizabeth during last year’s IPL. Mumbai were restricted to 147, and later blown away by a Matthew Hayden half-century, as the Chennai Super Kings qualified for the IPL semi-finals. Mumbai were plagued by injury woes and other issues, but this year Tendulkar’s outfit is hungrier, fitter and raring to go.

Head-to-head

The Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have been on a level pegging thus far. Both teams have two wins apiece, with Mumbai registering wins at Wankhede (in 2008) and in the IPL-2 season opener at Cape Town (in 2009). The winner of Thursday’s clash takes a 3 to 2 lead in this rivalry.

Key Players

The old warhorses have come to the party for Chennai Super Kings this year. Muttiah Muralitharan (9 wickets, economy rate: 5.50) is currently the holder of the purple cap, for most wickets in IPL-3. Meanwhile, 38-year old Matthew Hayden has 176 runs from 5 games, at a healthy strike rate of 154.

For the Mumbai Indians, Sachin Tendulkar has already played two match-winning knocks this season. The Mumbai Indians captain has 176 runs from 4 games, at a staggering average of 59, and a strike rate of 156. Saurabh Tiwary, with 169 runs from the same number of games, has emerged the second highest run-getter.

On the bowling front, Harbhajan Singh’s spell of 4-0-17-1 on Monday evening was the highlight of Mumbai’s victory against Kolkata. The off-spinner admittedly was not going after the wickets, but was looking at restricting the batsmen. His economy rate of 7 this season reflects his control and determination. Lasith Malinga has been Mumbai’s most dangerous death bowler, a fine exponent of reverse swing.

Injury Update

Ambati Rayudu and Abhishek Nayar have not been training with the rest of the Mumbai Indians – a clear indication that the duo may miss Thursday’s clash. Head Coach Robin Singh confirmed on Wednesday that Rayudu would be ready to start training with the side in less than a week. For Chennai, Justin Kemp and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are expected to miss out once again.

Team Update

Chennai has enormously depended on opener Matthew Hayden to fire. Their brittle middle-order will be put to the test against Mumbai’s world-class bowling attack. The likes of Albie Morkel, stand-in skipper Suresh Raina, S Badrinath and Murali Vijay are yet to score a fifty this season. In fact, Raina, the team’s best middle-order batsman in the previous two seasons, has only 97 runs from 5 games. Chennai’s bowling has come under the hammer too, as L Balaji, S Tyagi and R Ashwin have all conceded over 8 runs per over consistently. Clearly, it is an embattled side that challenges Mumbai.

Tendulkar was quick to praise his new opening partner Shikhar Dhawan after the win on Monday. The young southpaw took Shane Bond to the cleaners in the very first over of Mumbai’s run-chase. Tendulkar, Dhawan and Tiwary are all in sparkling form, while R Satish is quickly becoming their most reliable finisher, and in all probability, the best fielder in the Mumbai Indians outfit. The two Trinidadian all-rounders – Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard – have not fired with the bat yet, but have made useful contributions with the ball. One can only imagine the strength of the MI middle-order once they start firing with the bat too.

There could be a tossup between Ryan McLaren, Sanath Jayasuriya and JP Duminy for the slot of the fourth international player. McLaren proved highly effective in the game against KKR for his ability to bowl yorkers at good pace, and the South African is also a useful lower-order batsman. However, there is also a case for Duminy’s IPL-3 debut, especially in the absence of an injured Rayudu.

Mumbai Indians squad: Sachin Tendulkar (capt), Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu, Chandan Madan, Syed Sahabuddin, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shikhar Dhawan, Graham Napier, Dilhara Fernando, Dwayne Bravo, Zaheer Khan, Ali Murtaza, Saurabh Tiwary, R Sathish, Aditya Tare, Ishan Malhotra, Rahul Shukla, Abhishek Nayar, JP Duminy, Sanath Jayasuriya, Harbhajan Singh.

Chennai Super Kings squad: MS Dhoni (capt), Muttiah Muralitharan, Manpreet Gony, Shadab Jakati, Arun Karthik, Thissara Perera, L Balaji, Suresh Raina, Michael Hussey, Makhaya Ntini, Thilan Thushara, C Ganapathy, Murali Vijay, Sudeep Tyagi, R Ashwin, Justin Kemp, Hemang Badani, S Badrinath, Matthew Hayden, Albie Morkel, Jacob Oram, George Bailey, Parthiv Patel.

Ganguly: Full credit to MI bowlers

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:50:39 GMT

Mumbai: Kolakta Knight Riders lost their third consecutive match of IPL-3 on Monday evening, going down to Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium. KKR are yet to defeat Mumbai in the three seasons thus far.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly showered lavish praises on Mumbai’s bowling attack for restricting his side to 154-3, especially Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh. “Full marks to the MI bowlers, especially Malinga and Harbhajan. We were confident with Gayle at the wicket till the end, but Malinga bowled really well in the death and Harbhajan was very economical, conceding only 17 off his four overs,” he said.

Chasing 155 for victory, Mumbai captain Sachin Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 71, his highest IPL score ever, as his side coasted home to a comfortable victory. Ganguly felt KKR lost the game in the first six or seven overs when Tendulkar and Shikhar Dhawan (23) went after the bowling. “I thought 160-170 was a good total on this wicket but we lost the game when we failed to contain their openers in the first six-seven overs. Tendulkar batted superbly,” he said.

Saurabh Tiwary continued to justify his selection with a brisk knock of 30. Ganguly acknowledged the southpaw’s efforts. “Tiwary was also outstanding. The pitch was playing slow, so I introduced the spinner, but he went after them right away” he said.

Mumbai Indians will travel to the Eden Gardens for a rematch of this contest on April 19.

Tendulkar powers MI to the top

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:48:39 GMT

Mumbai Indians roared back to winning ways with a convincing 7-wicket victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Brabourne Stadium on Monday evening. Chasing a moderate total of 155, the hosts romped home with nine balls to spare, and in the process regained the top spot in IPL-3 standings.

Shikhar Dhawan was handed the opportunity of opening the batting in the absence of Sanath Jayasuriya and the left-hander obliged with a brisk 23, including three boundaries off the very first over of Shane Bond, helping his side get off to a flying start. Meanwhile, Tendulkar continued to bludgeon his way through IPL-3, with yet another half-century. The jam-packed crowd at Brabourne was left in a deep state of euphoria when the master brought up his fifty with a commanding pull-shot off Ishant Sharma. It was a night when Kolakta’s much hyped ‘potent pace-attack’ came under the hammer thanks to a Tendulkar in murderous mood. Ishant was taken for three boundaries in his very first over by Tendulkar, and the seamer was left with an uphill task of regaining his confidence.

Kartik had Dhawan’s number in the seventh over, and that brought Saurabh Tiwary to the middle. The Jharkhand skipper added 57 runs for the second-wicket with Tendulkar, taking MI closer to the inevitable victory. A few quick scalps got KKR fans roaring again, but they needed to the see the back of Tendulkar, and that eluded them until the last over, as the MI skipper remained unbeaten on 71.

Delhi fast bowler Ishant Sharma was taken for 44 runs from his 4 overs but he was able to mend his figures somewhat with the scalps of Tiwary (30) and Kieron Pollard (7). Rajagopal Satish, who is fast developing a reputation of a formidable finisher, remained unbeaten on 21 as MI crossed the line. Satish credited Tendulkar for Mumbai’s win. “I got the confidence as Sachin was out in the middle. He told me how the wicket was playing, and asked me to play freely. I want to continue playing lots of such innings and win many more games for Mumbai Indians,” Satish said after the game.

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Sourav Ganguly credited Harbhajan Singh and Lasith Malinga for Mumbai Indians’ third win this season. “Full marks to the MI bowlers, especially Malinga and Harbhajan. We were confident with Gayle at the wicket till the end, but Malinga bowled really well in the death and Harbhajan was very economical, conceding only 17 off his four overs,” he said.

Defending a below par total, Ganguly felt KKR lost the game in the first six or seven overs. “I thought 160-170 was a good total on this wicket but we lost the game when we failed to contain their openers in the first six-seven overs. Tendulkar batted superbly. Tiwary was also outstanding. The pitch was playing slow, so I introduced the spinner, but he went after them right away” he said.

Murali Kartik bowled very slowly through the air and created a small obstacle for the MI batsmen, but his left-arm spin bowling was never going to be good enough to deny a victory for the hosts.

Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders paid the price for an overtly cautious start by the returning Chris Gayle and their skipper Sourav Ganguly. The left-handed duo crawled to 67 runs at the halfway stage, despite having all their wickets in the bag. Their go-getting approach of trying to gather the bulk of their runs towards the end of the innings backfired, and they managed just 154 on a flat deck, that proved to play lower and slower as the game progressed.

The evening’s entertainment began with Lasith Malinga opening the bowling to great ovation. He was struck for a boundary off his very first delivery by Gayle, but the fast bowler bounced back strongly, finishing with figures of 0-28 from his four overs. His new-ball partner Zaheer Khan finished with good figures of 2-27.

However, it was Harbhajan Singh that turned the tide for Mumbai Indians. He was introduced into the attack in the eighth over, and he made a telling difference immediately. The two left-handers struggled to get him away, eventually it was Ganguly who fell to the off-spinner. Tendulkar bowled out his star spinner at one go, and that worked in his favour. “I was looking to fire the deliveries to the batsman’s feet. I wasn’t looking for turn. It was a plan,” he said during the mid-innings break.

The sixteenth over of KKR’s innings, bowled by Zaheer Khan, saw Gayle inject some momentum with two back-to-back boundaries, but the left-armer recovered well and pulled things back. Dwayne Bravo bowled a tremendous 17th over, conceding only 7 runs, and eventually KKR stumbled to 154.

Clearly Gayle wasn’t the player the world associates with him. Despite his knock of 75 runs off 60 deliveries, the left-hander wasn’t able to take KKR to a winning total on this night. Sure, they got 62 runs off the last 6 overs, but going through a passage of 37 balls without a boundary earlier on in their innings didn’t help their cause.

Kallis hands MI maiden defeat

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:31:04 GMT

Mumbai: A charged-up Royal Challengers Bangalore side handed the Mumbai Indians their maiden defeat in the third edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in front of a jam-packed Brabourne Stadium on Saturday evening. It was a night when the wheels came off for the hosts, but not until they made a fight of it. With the victory, Anil Kumble’s Bangalore outfit rose to the top of the IPL-3 standings.

Defending a below par total of 151, there was a definite spring in the stride of the two Mumbai Indians opening bowlers – Zaheer Khan and Lasith Malinga – who ran in hard and kept the BRC openers in check. However, the experience of Jacques Kallis prevailed again, as the veteran South African paced his innings beautifully and steered the visitors to a comprehensive 7-wicket victory.

Kallis and Manish Pandey (40 off 27 balls) put the pressure on the Mumbai attack with some aggressive stroke play. The burly South African was particularly severe against Malinga, shifting his weight on the front foot, and stroking the ball through long-off and mid-wicket with ease.

Harbhajan Singh removed the dangerous Pandey in the tenth over to give Mumbai Indians a glimmer of hope. The wily off-spinner tried to spur his teammates on with some aggressive bowling and truckloads of pep talk, but the cool and composed Kallis remained unperturbed.

Zaheer Khan returned with an inspirational late burst but it all proved to be too little too late. Eventually, Bangalore romped home with five balls to spare as Kallis remained unbeaten on 66.

“We lost four wickets in two overs and it becomes very difficult to recover from such a situation,” said the Mumbai Indians coach Robin Singh after the match. “We started the season really well but we have realised that we cannot take anything for granted. There is no room for complacency and we have to start every match afresh,” he said.

Bangalore bowler Vinay Kumar – who triggered the Mumbai Indians’ collapse – said his team had particular plans in place for Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya. “We had specific plans for Tendulkar and Jayasuriya. I have realised that it is important to try variations in Twenty20 and that is how I got three wickets in one over. However, Steyn and Praveen Kumar set up the platform for me to come and bowl with freedom. We have a well balanced bowling attack,” he said.

Having posted totals in excess of 200 in their first two games, it appeared as if Mumbai’s top-order batting was being tested for the first time in the tournament. There were anxious moments in the very first over, as Jayasuriya played and missed a few deliveries, and nearly got caught at slip.

The initial pressure by Bangalore Royal Challengers paid off with the prized scalp of Jayasuriya. Steyn hurried Jayasuriya back with a few good length deliveries and eventually trapped him leg-before wicket. Young Aditya Tare, who has been in fine nick thus far, was also immediately tested by Steyn. Even the great Tendulkar found it hard to pierce the in-field. Three consecutive flick shots off his pads in the fourth over released the pressure and got the crowd buzzing for some time. However, it was the sort of night when Mumbai could not sustain the desired momentum to post a big total, and the disappointment of the Mumbai Indians Fans was palpably felt in the atmosphere.

After scoring just 1 run off his first 7 balls, Tare released the pressure on himself with a cracking cut shot off Kallis, only to be deceived by a fast bouncer by the old South African hand, just a ball later. Tiwary continued to justify his selection with an array of aggressive strokes, until an ambitious shot cost his wicket. The young southpaw stepped down the pitch to the old warhorse Anil Kumble, and lost his middle-stump. This triggered the Mumbai Indians collapse from 71-2 to 74-6.

Vinay Kumar’s triple strike meant Mumbai were struggling at 76-6, and the duo of Rajagopal Satish and Kieron Pollard was left with the task of steering the hosts to a reasonable total. Satish displayed an excellent cricketing brain, hustling between the wickets with quick singles and two, and putting pressure on Pollard. A 102-6 at 15 overs did not make great reading but with Pollard at the crease Mumbai could still hope of posting a total in excess of 150.

The next turning point of Mumbai’s innings came in the 18th over when Kieron Pollard mistimed a full toss from Dale Steyn and holed out to Virat Kohli at deep extra cover. Four balls later, Satish was the next to go, thanks to a stunning one-handed catch by Rahul Dravid. Clearly, the rub of the green was never going the Mumbai Indians’ way.

Some lusty hitting in the last over by vice-captain Zaheer Khan gave Mumbai Indians something to bowl at. A score of 150-plus, with a quality spinner like Harbhajan Singh in the team kept Mumbai in the hunt until the conclusion. However, the clinical proficiency of Kallis once again proved just about enough for BRC.

'We are taking one step at a time'

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:21:09 GMT

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians vice-captain Zaheer Khan is happy that his team is hitting all the right notes this season, but is not willing to jump the gun yet. The left-arm fast bowler says the team is concentrating at one match at a time, and reckons the level of competition in the IPL is extremely high. He says that his team will not be taking any team lightly in the rest of the tournament.

“We are happy to have begun well but importantly we need to maintain the momentum. We have to focus on each game, take a small step at a time. The aim is obviously to do well," he told reporters at the Brabourne Stadium on the eve of Mumbai’s clash against Bangalore Royal Challengers.

The 31-year old reckons it is important for his side to keep the juggernaut rolling. "Twenty20 cricket is like that. It is important to maintain the momentum. You have to keep doing the right things and can not afford to slip up,” he said. Zaheer feels MI has found a good composition but acknowledges the unpredictability of the format. “In this format, it is important to keep focus. Any team can prevail on a given day. The idea is to concentrate on the process in place and execute the plans.”

Zaheer played down the threat of injuries due to the intensive schedule of the IPL. “Injuries can happen to anyone at anytime. It is something you cannot control. There are experts out there who can assess the seriousness of these injuries. Given a choice, I want to play lots of matches, and that is how fitness levels improve. Last year, I was so desperate to play the entire IPL but things were not in my control,” he said.

Mumbai square off against Zaheer’s former team Bangalore Royal Challengers on Saturday. “I have some good memories playing for Bangalore, but Mumbai is my hometown and I am very happy to be here. We have gelled really well as a unit,” he said.

Zaheer acknowledges the contributions of ‘the young brigade’ in the Mumbai Indians squad. "I’m happy with the way the younger brigade of Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu has performed. And a guy like Abhishek Nayar has not got a game yet. Then there is R Satish who has not had a good opportunity to show how good a finisher he is. He is another player to keep an eye on," he said.

Preview: Clash of the chart leaders

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:34:05 GMT

It is the clash of the Season-3 heavyweights – a contest between two sides coming off back-to-back victories. Both Bangalore and Mumbai have gathered significant momentum, and perhaps even the desired balance in their respective sides. Now, they lock horns for the top spot in IPL Season-3 standings, even as Mumbai Indians return home to the Brabourne Stadium after their biggest victory ever at the Feroz Shah Kotla earlier this week.

One striking difference in the two sides from the last season is in the composition of the teams. While the core elements of the Bangalore side remain the same, the Mumbai Indians are fielding a new-look side, with youngsters like Ambati Rayudu, Aditya Tare, Rajagopal Satish and Saurabh Tiwary who have all but sealed their spots in the playing XI with highly successful performances. Last year, JP Duminy and Abhishek Nayar were the two most consistent batsmen in Mumbai’s middle-order. Neither southpaw has featured in a game this year, and yet the Mumbai Indians have posted totals above 200 in both outings so far.

Mumbai’s brand of ‘fearless cricket’ this season has also helped the franchise develop a new fan base. Experts and commentators alike have appreciated the team management and the captain for encouraging youngsters like Tare, Rayudu and Tiwary play their natural game. Their promotion in the batting order ahead of Bravo and Pollard must have surely boosted their confidence levels.

Captain Tendulkar’s form has been the greatest positive for the Mumbai Indians. He has maintained a strike rate of 186 from the two games thus far – better than almost anyone else in the league. The bowling is in the safe hands of the reliable trio of Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh, while Bravo, Pollard, Satish and Jayasuriya have also done exceedingly well as support bowlers. Saurabh Tiwary has been the other standout star for the Mumbai Indians this season.

Bangalore Royal Challengers too boast of a potent bowling attack that comprises hat-trick man Praveen Kumar, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, and skipper Anil Kumble. It should prove to be an intriguing contest between Mumbai’s attacking batsmen and Bangalore’s crafty bowlers.

The visitors’ biggest worry could be its untested middle-order, as their two victories thus far have come from contributions from the top-order. Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, Eoin Morgan and Mark Boucher are yet to make an impact in IPL-3.

Key Players

For Bangalore, there is one name that easily comes to mind – Jacques Kallis. The veteran all-rounder has 198 runs and 3 wickets, from his three IPL-3 games. The South African is the first-change bowler for captain Anil Kumble, and also opens the batting with explosive youngster Manish Pandey. His contributions to the success of the Bangalore Royal Challengers are beyond measure.

Trinidad’s Dwayne Bravo has been the most consistent all-round performer in the last two seasons for the Mumbai Indians. A hustling individual with great charisma, Bravo is invariably in the thick of the action. He made a telling impact on his IPL-3 debut, with his customary variations and clever bowling, claiming figures of 2-11 in Mumbai’s win over the Delhi Daredevils a few nights ago. After the game, Tendulkar appreciated the value of the all-rounder, saying, “Bravo was outstanding, as usual.”

Head-to-head

In previous editions of the IPL, four close shaves witnessed the two sides sharing two wins each. The Bangalore Royal Challengers enjoyed a five-wicket win at the Wankhede Stadium in 2008, but were thumped by nine wickets when the Mumbai Indians travelled to the Chinnaswamy Stadium later that season. Subsequently, both sides won a game each during last year’s IPL in South Africa.

The Venue

The Brabourne Stadium gets set for another high-scoring encounter. The only international Twenty20 here saw scores in excess of 160, while the only IPL game it hosted saw Yusuf Pathan bludgeon his way to the fastest century in the league’s history. If past matches here are anything to go by, neither side would feel secure, even with a 200-plus total, come Saturday night. MI Fans would be hoping for the new signee KIeron Pollard to free his arms and delight them. One can expect at least 30,000 screaming fans to pack the historic Cricket Club of India on Saturday.

Team Update

Both teams are expected to field unchanged sides from their last wins. Unlike some others, both Bangalore and Mumbai have squads of fully-fit players.

Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar (capt), Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu, Chandan Madan, Syed Sahabuddin, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shikhar Dhawan, Graham Napier, Dilhara Fernando, Dwayne Bravo, Zaheer Khan, Ali Murtaza, Saurabh Tiwary, R Sathish, Aditya Tare, Ishan Malhotra, Rahul Shukla, Abhishek Nayar, JP Duminy, Sanath Jayasuriya, Harbhajan Singh, Ryan McLaren.

Bangalore Royal Challengers: Anil Kumle (capt), Jacques Kallis, Shrivats Goswami, Bhuvanesh Kumar, Eoin Morgan, Abhimanyu Mithun, Virat Kohli, Robin Uthappa, Dale Steyn, Cameron White, Kevin Pietersen, Rahul Dravid, S Sriram, Manish Pandey, R Vinay Kumar, KP Appanna, B Akhil, Steven Smith, Praveen Kumar, Mark Boucher, Dillon du Preez, Ross Taylor, Roelof van der Merwe.

Scaling new heights

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:48:36 GMT

New Delhi: The Mumbai Indians are on a new high after the Sachin Tendulkar-led team posted the largest IPL Season-3 total of 218 and then went on to register a clinical 98-run victory, their biggest ever, over the Delhi Daredevils at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Wednesday. In the process, the team also scaled to the top of the IPL Season-3 charts.

The Delhi Daredevils won the toss and invited MI to bat first. Thereafter, almost every moment of the one-hundred-and-eighty-minute session belonged to Tendulkar’s side. The living legend led the charge himself with a blistering knock of 62 runs off 37 balls, and was ably supported by the in-form duo of Saurabh Tiwary (61 off 37) and Ambati Rayudu (34 off 21), as the Mumbai Indians posted their second consecutive total in excess of 200.

“Everyone has chipped in and it is working out well for us. My body is coping up well, and I am pacing myself well. We have a terrific blend of seniors and world class young players, and I am enjoying leading this side,” the Mumbai Indians skipper said after his team’s thumping victory.

Mumbai’s overwhelming victory also notably marked the arrival of the two charismatic all-rounders – Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard - from Trinidad. While neither Pollard nor Bravo got the time to explode with the willow, their contributions with the ball were crucial, following an explosive start for the Daredevils by Tillakaratne Dilshan (17 off 12) and Virender Sehwag (26 off 16).

Chasing 219, Dilshan, who opened in the absence of injured skipper Gautam Gambhir, was foxed by a slower delivery off fellow Sri Lankan Malinga. Tendulkar realised that the quick outfield and pace of Zaheer Khan (0-20) and Malinga (1-22) were helping Sehwag score briskly, and was quick to introduce the slower bowlers and medium-pacers with great effect. Bravo’s (2/11) introduction tilted the balance in Mumbai’s favour. First, the dangerous Sehwag holed out to the safe hands of Ambati Rayudu at long-off. Two balls later, AB de Villiers (11 off 11) chopped one back onto his stumps, and that meant the Mumbai Indians could call all the shots.

Stand-in captain Dinesh Karthik announced his arrival with three consecutive boundaries, but the wicketkeeper batsman could not sustain the thrust, as he lost partners at regular intervals. Karthik’s cameo ended soon, thanks to some fabulous glove work from Aditya Tare in Harbhajan’s first over this season.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Farveez Maharoof used the long handle to great effect but his knock of 28 was never going to be enough for the hosts. In fact, Sehwag and Maharoof were the only two Daredevils batsmen to score beyond 20. Veteran spinners Harbhajan Singh (2-23) and Sanath Jayasuriya (2-17) proved difficult to get away, while Pollard finished with neat figures of 1-24 from his four-over spell. The pressure proved too much for the Daredevils, as they were shot out for 120 in 16.3 overs.

Earlier, the master brought up his half-century with merely 23 deliveries. Dirk Nannes, who came into the contest with a great reputation, was caressed through backward point and to the cover point in just the second delivery of the match. The finest display came in the fourth over when he cracked four boundaries off Farveez Mahraoof, two driven past cover and point, one a sneaky edge, and finally when he danced down the track. Tendulkar and Sri Lanka veteran Sanath Jayasuriya put on 38 in less than four overs for the opening stand, the latter scoring seven of them before substitute fielder Yogesh Nagar took a fine catch at mid-off to end his innings.

Tiwary and Rayudu continued to impress their captain, as both were involved in productive partnerships with Tendulkar. Tiwary justified his selection with his second consecutive half-century, a knock that included five explosive sixes. Much like their exploits at the Brabourne Stadium last Saturday, Rayudu and Tiwary added 71 at over ten runs an over. It made the difference between Mumbai making a good score and a secure one. “So far so good, the batting from Tiwary and Rayudu has been special,” Tendulkar said, acknowledging the efforts of the duo after the game.

‘We are riding high after our victory’

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:38:03 GMT

New Delhi: Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar reckons the nail-biting victory against Rajasthan Royals last Saturday has helped the team gather the required momentum going into the remainder of Indian Premier League (IPL) Season-3.

Tendulkar’s outfit clashes with the undefeated Delhi Daredevils at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Wednesday evening. “When you win close matches, it certainly boosts the confidence of the players. The team is riding high after the victory (against Rajasthan),” he told reporters on Tuesday.

Tendulkar reckons momentum will be a key factor against Daredevils. “Momentum is the key factor. There is not much to think in a 20-over game. In fact, momentum will count in every game,” he said.

In the first encounter, Ambati Rayudu, Saurabh Tiwary and Rajagopal Satish had starred in Mumbai’s win. Talking about the youngsters, Tendulkar feels the IPL has given him a good opportunity to work with youngsters. “I am always willing to help youngsters. I feel that the inputs of younger players are also important. And I have learnt a lot from them. The more you talk with them, the more you learn,” he said.

“We have a number of good and promising players. They have talent and I am pretty comfortable having them in my team,” Tendulkar said when asked about the ex-ICL players joining his squad in 2010.

The Mumbai Indians captain has confirmed the availability of all players for the clash against Delhi.

Daredevils host hungry Indians

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:31:14 GMT

New Delhi: It is said that encountering difficult obstacles early on helps teams get into rhythm later. The thesis will be tested this evening for the Mumbai Indians who face some tough tests in the very first week of IPL Season-3. First, they had to deal with the greatest knock in IPL history (by Yusuf Pathan), and now they are set to face the formidable Delhi Daredevils.

The undefeated Daredevils may boast of a superior head-to-head record, but will come up against a new-look Mumbai Indians side, bolstered by always-hungry-for-more performers. Captain Sachin Tendulkar would be pleased that Mumbai posted a 200+ total in their opening tie against Royals, even without the services of Nayar, Pollard, Duminy and Bravo.

Experts reckon that the Daredevils have the best batting line-up in the IPL today, with four international stars at the top of the order. The likes of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Tillakaratne Dilshan and AB de Villiers have enjoyed enormous success in the previous two editions. However, today they will come up against the most lethal pace bowling duo in the IPL – of Zaheer Khan and Lasith Malinga.

Talking about the IPL campaign thus far, Tendulkar said the Mumbai outfit was high on confidence and they would look to keep the momentum going, with as many victories as possible. "The team’s confidence is very high. And we have been preparing well,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

The Pitch

The Ferozshah Kotla was banned from hosting international cricket until the 2011 Cricket World Cup, following the disrupted one-day international between India and Sri Lanka three months back. Incidentally, 10 of 22 players - Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan – who figured in that abandoned one-day international are back at the Kotla.

The pitch does not have a single blade of grass and was left to bake in the sun all Monday. Chief curator Venkat Sundaram has promised a high-scoring encounter. "There is no need to worry about the pitch anymore. It is playing well, and the bounce is nice and even. I do not think there will be much of a difference batting first or second because the pitch is rock-hard and will hold through the game," Sundaram said in an interview to The Indian Express on Monday.

Tendulkar gave his thumbs up for the wicket. "It is a good track, a typical Delhi wicket, which looks bare with no grass cover on it," Tendulkar told reporters. “It looks like a good wicket. At this stage, there are no apprehensions," the Mumbai Indians skipper said.

Key Players

The likes of Dirk Nannes and Lasith Malinga have mastered the Twenty20 format. The fast bowling duo has challenged the popular perception that it is a batsman’s game. Nannes has figures of 4-0-12-2 and 4-0-27-1 in his two games thus far, while Malinga finished with 4-0-22-2 against Rajasthan.

In fact, it was Malinga’s penultimate over that helped Mumbai clinch the thrilling tie against Rajasthan. He bowled five yorker-length deliveries at good pace to deny Shane Warne’s side a credible victory. The Sri Lankan bowler was a hot favourite amongst the crowds at Brabourne Stadium, with almost everyone chanting his name in tandem.

Injury Update

Harbhajan Singh, who did not take the field against the Rajasthan Royals last Saturday, was seen doing stretching exercises at the Kotla on Monday. He is expected to return as the solitary spinner in the side, as left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza is set to make way for South African JP Duminy.

Also, Abhishek Nayar is set to make a comeback to the playing XI. Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar declared the availability of all players on Tuesday.

For Delhi Daredevils, Ashish Nehra will continue to miss out due to a rib injury.

Team Update

Explosive Australian wicketkeeper batsman Luke Ronchi has joined the squad recently, but Aditya Tare’s brisk knock of 23 could help the youngster retain his place in the playing XI. The Trinidadian duo of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard joined the team in Delhi on Tuesday. For Wednesday’s clash, Tendulkar and the Mumbai Indians will have a full squad of players to choose from.

South African all-rounder Wayne Parnell joined the Daredevils squad earlier this week. He could be replacing Farveez Maharoof for the game against the Mumbai Indians. Pradeep Sangwan is expected to retain his place. If that be the case, the Daredevils would be playing as many as three left-arm seamers in Dirk Nannes, Pradeep Sangwan and Wayne Parnell.

Rayudu, Tiwary and Satish star in MI win

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:09:27 GMT

Mumbai, March 13: The Mumbai Indians held their nerves until the last over to emerge victorious over a formidable Rajasthan Royals side in Game 2 of the 2010 Indian Premier League (IPL). Even as Yusuf Pathan scored the quickest IPL century and the second quickest in Twenty20 cricket for the chasing side, the efforts of the Rajasthan Royals all-rounder proved inadequate in overcoming the might of the Mumbai Indians.

On Saturday, the city of Mumbai appeared painted in Blue, as fans of Mumbai Indians spilled over in droves at the Marine Lines, the Churchgate Railway Station, and other parts of South Mumbai. And they were not disappointed, as their favorites held together to clinch a four-run victory at the Brabourne Stadium in a run-scoring feast.

The Mumbai Indians dominated proceedings for the most part, posting a formidable total of 212-6, and later restricting Rajasthan Royals to 69-4 at the halfway stage, until Pathan’s blitzkrieg helped the visitors bounce back in the contest. It required a masterly piece of death bowling from veterans Zaheer Khan and Lasith Malinga to ensure Mumbai kicked off their IPL-3 campaign on a high.

Sachin Tendulkar (17) and Sanath Jayasuriya (23) got Mumbai off to a flying start after the former won the toss and chose to bat. The express pace of Shaun Tait worked in the duo’s favour, as they waited on the back-foot, picked their spots and found the boundary with ease. Jayasuriya was trapped leg-before wicket by Amit Uniyal (2-41) in the fourth over and the veteran southpaw’s dismissal brought promising young wicketkeeper batsman Aditya Tare to the middle. Tare ran briskly through the wickets and displayed enormous calibre in caressing Tait for two boundaries in an over.

The frequency of boundaries and a lightning fast outfield at the Brabourne Stadium left Shane Warne pondering his next move. Dmitri Mascarenhas (2-34) answered his skipper’s call, removing Tare (23) and Tendulkar in the same over, and suddenly the inaugural IPL champs were on top.

The middle-order of the Mumbai Indians is set to feature the likes of Abhishek Nayar, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and JP Duminy at a later stage in the tournament, and the absence of these star players had opened the doors for youngsters, such as Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu. The duo pounced at the opportunity, putting together a partnership of 110 runs off just 63 balls – to power MI to a healthy total of 212. "Both of them batted very well and more importantly stayed almost until the end. Both are talented players. Tiwary was with us last year too. It was Rayudu’s first game for us. I had heard about him and his exploits as an India under-19 player," Tendulkar said after Mumbai’s victory.

Warne tried to alter the pace of the game with the introduction of a few slow bowlers. However Rayudu and Tiwary were relentless, stepping down the pitch and clearing the fence with ease. Rayudu was particularly severe against former ICL colleague Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, smashing the off-spinner for three consecutive boundaries, two fours and a six in the 15th over.

Rayudu (55) and Tiwary (53) received tremendous applause from the crowd at the Brabourne Stadium and it was now the turn of the bowlers and fielders to turn up, as far as the hosts were concerned. Rajagopal Satish, another ICL import in MI squad, would have made fielding coach Jonty Rhodes proud, with a one-handed pick and throw from backward point to get rid of Swapnil Asnodkar in the first over. He continued his exploits in the field with a stunning catch off his bowling to dismiss Graeme Smith (26).

The Royals were almost in tatters at 40-3, requiring 168 runs off just 81 deliveries when the “boom, boom” Pathan joined Jhunjhunwala at the crease. Pathan struck a brutal 100 off just 37 balls, with a whopping eight sixes and nine fours, a knock that went a long way in delighting MI fans too. His sensational knock came to an end when he backed up too far at the non-striker’s end to Satish’s bowling, and the latter flicked the ball back on to the stumps to send Pathan back into the dugout. At this stage, the Royals needed 40 runs from 17 deliveries, but to their misfortune Tendulkar had saved up his two premier bowlers Zaheer Khan and Lasith Malinga for the nail-biting climax. "Yusuf (Pathan) played a special innings. It was an equally special effort too to end it. Satish showed good presence of mind," said captain Tendulkar referring to Satish’s effort in running out Pathan.

Zaheer (0-27) and Malinga (2-22) were simply outstanding, as Mumbai romped home to victory, even without the services of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who did not take the field due to an injury. "We had planned to have Zaheer and Malinga bowl the last four overs, but the way Pathan went about it, I had to give them an over each in the middle which left them to bowl only one over at the end. Harbhajan Singh’s injury was unfortunate, as we lost a bowler who could bowl four overs well. We had to make up for it by using others," the Mumbai Indians captain said after the nerve-racking encounter at Brabourne.

Yusuf Pathan was adjudged the Man of the Match despite ending up on the losing side. The Mumbai Indians will now travel to Delhi to play the Delhi Daredevils on Wednesday.

Preview: Mumbai Indians host Royals

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:33:05 GMT

It may be a different rendezvous, platform, set of teams, but the electricity generated by the co-existence of Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne on the same 22-yard stretch guarantees to thrill all cricket lovers alike, as the Mumbai Indians begin their IPL-3 campaign by locking horns with the champions of the inaugural IPL, Rajasthan Royals.

The core facets of the Mumbai Indians remain untouched, but a host of new recruits could bring in an ideal team composition. The likes of Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sanath Jayasuriya, Lasith Malinga and JP Duminy are available for most of the third season, barring injuries. Also, new recruits such as Ambati Rayudu, Rajagopal Satish, Ali Murtaza and Syed Sahabuddin, who bring in a rich wealth of Twenty20 experience from the ICL, are expected to feature in the Mumbai Indians XI at different stages of the tournament.

While Tendulkar’s outfit will heavily rely on veteran performers like Sanath Jayasuriya, Lasith Malinga, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and the master himself, it will also hope for the younger players to make a mark. Abhishek Nayar has been the most consistent middle-order batsman for MI over the last two seasons and is heading into the third season with a bagful of runs in domestic cricket. Shikhar Dhawan, who did wonders for Daredevils in IPL-1, will hope to recreate some of that form; the left-hander has scored heavily for Delhi in the domestic circuit.

Robin Singh is not setting any target for Season 3. “We have kept an open mind and have not set a benchmark yet. We are open to feedback from senior players and the management, and will be reviewing our strategy match-by-match,” Singh said. The Mumbai Indians coach has welcomed the return of the IPL to India. “India is India – playing cricket here is awesome and totally exhilarating. The passion for the game here is unmatched. I am glad it is back in India, and with the World Cup coming up next year, it will help Indian cricket enormously,” the 46-year old said.

Director of Cricket TA Sekhar reckons Tendulkar’s form will help the side excel this season. "Sachin is in tremendous form and is in great touch, which is a very good sign for us. There are lessons to be learned by the youngsters in the team by watching how he manages himself,” the former India fast bowler said.

The most successful IPL stories have come from home grown talent. Fielding coach Jonty Rhodes echoes that sentiment, claiming that it is the Indian players who have to deliver the goods for Mumbai Indians this season. “You need contributions from the local players. Last year, at times, we fell back (on that count). We relied heavily on our international players. Abhishek Nayar played some fantastic knocks towards the end. But not enough of the younger players performed,” he said.

The two sides have clashed thrice in the previous two seasons of the IPL, with Warne’s Royals picking up two victories thus far. MI fans will remember the overwhelming 7-wicket victory against Royals at the D.Y Patil Stadium during the inaugural season. The trio of Dwayne Bravo, Dhawal Kulkarni and Rohan Raje ensured the Royals were shot out for 103. The first of the two games in South Africa last season was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Injury Report

Last year’s leading run-scorer JP Duminy split the webbing in his hand on the recent Test tour of India. The stylish southpaw joined the MI camp on Thursday night and has been spotted training at Brabourne Stadium, in the capacity of coaches Robin Singh and Jonty Rhodes.

Zaheer Khan’s return is set to bolster the pace-attack for Mumbai Indians. The left-arm seamer missed most of the last season.

For Rajasthan Royals, opener Graeme Smith is likely to miss the opening game due to a finger injury. Michael Lumb, who has played a lot of his cricket with Shane Warne at Hampshire, is most likely to make the cut in the playing XI.

Key Players

Mumbai Indians
Tendulkar is coming off the back of four consecutive Test centuries, a world record ODI double century, and a blazing knock at the Bombay Gymkhana. "I think the makeup of the Mumbai Indians team for season number three is looking really strong and positive. Anybody who comes off a double century in a one day international 50-over game must be in very good form," MI fielding coach Jonty Rhodes said.

Graham Napier has more Twenty20 experience than most players in the IPL. He has the ability to change the course of a game with a few fiery overs, or a few lusty blows with the bat. Napier will look to grab on to the opportunity, considering that he’s set to play in the absence of Bravo.

Rajasthan Royals
South Australia’s Shaun Tait, who recently clocked the 160 KMPH barrier, boasts of a phenomenal Twenty20 record. In 23 games, the express bowler has taken 42 wickets at 14.78. He will lead the pace-attack, alongside Kamran Khan and Munaf Patel. Yusuf Pathan has been their biggest match-winner in the last two seasons. He recently scored a sparkling double century in the Duleep Trophy final.

The Venue

The Brabourne Stadium will make its IPL debut, though it has hosted the first-ever international Twenty20 in India a couple of years ago. The dry surface here usually helps batsmen dominate proceedings, but the cool breeze due to the proximity of the sea will provide some encouragement to seamers. The average first innings total here is 166.

Surprise Package

Chadan Madan was the Man of the Tournament in last year’s Corporate Trophy. He has received a heavy backing from the Mumbai Indians think-tank. This wicketkeeper batsman could provide the much need firepower in the lower middle-order for Mumbai Indians.

Michael Lumb is yet to play for England but is widely respected for his antics in Twenty20 cricket. Lumb has maintained a strike rate of close to 150 from 58 games, including an unbeaten century. Warne rates this young southpaw very highly, and is most likely to back him, to deliver the goods.

Team News

The Mumbai Indians seem to have all aspects covered going into the season. Captain Sachin Tendulkar is in fine form, Zaheer Khan has declared himself fit to play, and a host of quality all-rounders will bring a lot to the table for them. The Trinidad duo of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard are expected to be available for the second game - against Delhi Daredevils.

There will be a toss-up for the slot of wicketkeeper-batsman between new recruits Chandan Madan and Aditya Tare. Madan has been in sparkling form in the practice games and could therefore seal a place in the playing XI. However, Jonty Rhodes and Robin Singh have been impressed with Tare’s glove-work.

Rajasthan Royals await the arrival of the Man of the Tournament for Season 1, Shane Watson who is slated to join the squad during the second half of the season. Ravindra Jadeja, who was their leading run-scorer last season, will miss the bus due to disciplinary reasons.

All-rounder Dmitri Mascarenhas is likely to edge out Australian veteran batsman Damien Martyn, as the fourth international player. Australia’s Tait and Warne will lead the bowling attack.

MI Squad: Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Rahul Shukla, Murtaza Ali, Dwayne Bravo, Shikhar Dhawan, Jean-Paul Duminy, Dilhara Fernando, Harbhajan Singh, Sanath Jayasuriya, Zaheer Khan, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ryan McLaren, Chandan Madan (wicketkeeper), Ishan Malhotra, Lasith Malinga, Graham Napier, Abhishek Nayar, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu, Rajagopal Sathish, Syed Sahabuddin, Aditya Tare (wicketkeeper), Saurabh Tiwary

RR Squad: Shane Warne (captain), Damien Martyn, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Abhishek Raut, Faiz Fazal, Amit Paunikar, Amit Singh, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Shaun Tait, Yusuf Pathan, Swapnil Asnodkar, Naman Ojha (wicketkeeper), Johan Botha, Michael Lumb, Shrikant Wagh, Sumit Narwal, Syed Quadri, Kamran Khan, Graeme Smith, Morne Morkel, Siddharth Trivedi, Mahesh Rawat, Munaf Patel.

Match Start Time: 15:00 HRS

Sachin Tendulkar named UN Goodwill Ambassador

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:03:39 GMT

Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar has been named a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Tendulkar, the most popular Indian sportsperson in the last two decades, will use his global popularity to raise awareness and harness support for environmental action in India and around the world, the UNEP said in a statement on Thursday.

"I have played and enjoyed my cricket across the planet. Now it is also time to do something for the planet, which is our only home," he said.

"Being part of the effort to save the planet is an immense undertaking but it is a challenge I am ready to undertake. Working with UNEP and cricket fans across the globe, I am in good company. Together we can do it."

The agency’s Executive Director, Achim Steiner, said that Tendulkar’s "character, personal integrity, intellect and profile will catalyze widespread environmental action."

Year 2010 is the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity, and Tendulkar will work with the agency to boost the global and grassroots response to the loss of animal and plant diversity worldwide.

Tendulkar will lead a Green Pledge to save the planet when the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off its third season in Mumbai on Friday. The vow that he will make in front of the millions of fans reads, "The Earth is our home and together we must conserve our precious wildlife, forests and oceans. I am proud to pledge that I will play my part in caring for our natural heritage."

The master batsman is no stranger to the work of the UN, having lent his voice to a UNICEF campaign in India on the importance of personal hygiene.

'Looking to play all 16 games'

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:23:28 GMT

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians vice-captain and fast bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan, who missed the three-match ODI home series against South Africa last month after picking up a leg muscle injury in the second and last Test at Kolkata, has declared himself fully fit for the third season of the IPL.

“It was not a serious injury, but it was important that I do not aggravate it. It was a Grade-1 muscle tear in the quadriceps. I knew it was not serious but I was frustrated since I could not bowl in the nets,” the left-arm fast bowler told journalists at the Trident Hotel on Wednesday.

The Mumbai Indians fans must have breathed a sigh of relief when Zaheer Khan bowled his full quota of four overs in the practice game at Bombay Gymkhana on Tuesday. Last week, he was in and around the camp but was not seen bowling much in the nets. “I have dealt with injuries in the past, so I was not worried about it. I knew I had to put the required work so that I would be fit to play,” he said.

Zaheer reckons the importance of a genuine fast bowler in Twenty20 was underlined during the IPL players’ auction. “I think the teams are now realising the importance of bowling in Twenty20. In the last auction, you saw lots of teams opting for genuine fast bowlers. It is important that a fast bowler gets the early breakthroughs – especially in the first six overs, the power-play period. It also ensures that the fielding side can contain the opposition total,” the 31-year old said.

This season, both bowling and batting sides will have an option of deciding on the two-and-a-half minute strategic time-outs during every innings, in each of the 60 games. The bowling side can take it from overs six to eight while the batting side can opt for their time-out between overs 11 and 16.

‘Zak’ came out strongly in support of the revised time-outs. “It is good that the captain is in a position to call the time-out. It is very interesting. We have to get used to the fact that now captains have the option of taking time-outs. Even in the last IPL, statistics prove that there was always a good chance of getting a wicket after a strategic time-out,” he said.

He feels the strategic time-outs can change the momentum in a game. “Twenty20 is so dynamic and most bowlers are looking to rush through their overs. There is hardly any reaction time. So these time-outs will definitely help the teams regroup. It can definitely change the momentum,” he said.

Zaheer, who is enjoying the added responsibility of vice-captaincy, said he was looking forward to opening the bowling alongside Lasith Malinga. “I have bowled with him in the past but could not do too much of that due to injury last year. I am very excited and have enjoyed bowling with him in tandem before. He is one of those guys capable of getting us early breakthroughs,” he said.

He also hailed the arrival of Kieron Pollard in the team. “He is definitely an exciting prospect. He has really developed his game, and everyone in the cricketing world recognises him. He is a really exciting talent, a big hitter of the ball. I am looking forward to playing with him. I hope he wins lots of games for Mumbai Indians this season,” Zaheer said.

Zaheer was glad that Paras Mhambrey was recruited as the bowling coach for the third season. “He is assisting Robin Singh, who is our head coach. There are lots of players in the camp and it is difficult to co-ordinate during sessions. His role is as important as Robin’s,” he said.

The Mumbai Indians will host inaugural IPL champions Rajasthan Royals on Saturday. “It is the opening game of the IPL for us, so obviously we are all very excited. Every IPL is important and this one is no different,” he said. “I want to give it my best and the team is prepared to put up a good show.”

The ICC World Twenty20 follows soon after IPL season 3. However, Zaheer’s focus right now is on taking a bagful of wickets for the Mumbai Indians. “I am not looking at it as 14 games, I want to play 16 this season,” he said, indicating that his side has the required ammunition to qualify for the semis.

Tendulkar delights fans at Bombay Gymkhana

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:29:48 GMT

Emotions were riding high at the Bombay Gymkhana Club on Tuesday, as Sachin Tendulkar played at the historic club after a long gap. The Mumbai Indians captain picked up from where he had left since his world record feat of 200 not out, albeit in a practice game, clobbering his way to 78 runs off just 33 balls, as his team gained valuable match practice going into the third season of the IPL.

The Bombay Gymkhana was the first venue in India to host a full-scale cricket match featuring an Indian cricket team. This was between the Parsis and the Europeans in 1877. The Gymkhana was also the first stadium to host a Test match in India in 1933, the only Test it ever hosted. The significance of the club to cricket in Mumbai, and to the old-timers, is simply overwhelming.

The Mumbai Indians were divided into two sides – MI ‘A’ and MI ‘B’ – that were captained by Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan, respectively. The bustling streets of Azad Maidan, off the pedestrian fashion street, had almost come to a standstill, as hundreds of people gathered around the barricades to get a glimpse of Tendulkar and the rest. The master’s blitzkrieg was the icing on the cake for the onlookers.

Zaheer Khan was smashed straight back past his head for two sixes – shots that brought back memories of Tendulkar annihilating Michael Kasprowiz and Damien Fleming at Sharjah a decade back. Tendulkar was severe at anything short from Zaheer and Dilharo Fernando, hooking and cutting at ease, finishing with a tally of 10 boundaries and 5 sixes, until he was run out.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians ‘B’ won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Aditya Tare (14 runs, 10 balls) and Sourabh Tiwary (7 runs, 8 balls) fell early, after which Rajagopal Satish (34 runs, 21 balls) and Sanath Jayasuriya (50 runs, 28 balls) got together and stitched a breezy partnership of 113 runs for the third-wicket. The Matara Mauler looked in sublime form, despite lack of match practice. The southpaw clobbered three huge sixes, two of which landed on the Mahatma Gandhi Road.

All-rounder Abhishek Nayar scored a brisk 28, and Stuart Binny chipped in with 14, as MI ‘B’ scored 221 after 19.3 overs. Lasith Malinga was the standout bowler for MI ‘A’ – finishing with figures of 4-24 in his four overs. Ryan McLaren (2-35) and left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza (2-9) chipped in with a few wickets. Graham Napier (0-36), Sahabuddin (0-19), Ishan Malhotra (0-25) and Nadeem Shahbaz (1-15) were the other bowlers used by MI ‘A’. Ambati Rayudu must have impressed Jonty Rhodes for his outstanding fielding, claiming two catches and saving a handful of runs.

Ishan Malhotra (18) and Tendulkar kick-started the MI’ ‘A’ innings with a partnership of 104 runs. Malhotra was content to rotate the strike, as his captain kept bludgeoning the bowlers. Ambati Rayudu (29) and Graham Napier (50) also earned useful batting practice, as MI ‘A’ ended with 217 after the twenty overs. Zaheer Khan removed both Rayudu and Napier off successive overs.

Fernando (0-13), Abu Nachim (1-27), Rakesh Patel (0-35), and Jayasuriya (0-19) were the other bowlers used by Zaheer Khan. Overall, players from both teams found invaluable match practice.

The members of the club felicitated the little champion after the game. There were children and their mothers craving to get a photograph, an autograph or even just a glimpse of Tendulkar. The fortunate few who gathered at the ‘maidan’ on this day would cherish the memories forever.

Dhawan, Madan and Tiwary shine

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:00:23 GMT

Mumbai: Brisk half centuries by the left-handed duo of Saurabh Tiwary and Shikhar Dhawan steered Mumbai Indians ‘A’ to a convincing 8-wicket victory against Mumbai Indians ‘B’ in the pre-IPL practice match at the Brabourne Stadium on Wednesday.

There was added motivation for the young MI stars, as Captain Sachin Tendulkar, vice-captain Zaheer Khan and Team Owner Mrs. Nita Ambani were overseeing proceedings at the Cricket Club of India grounds. The Mumbai Indians had kicked off their final preparation-cum-conditioning camp ten days earlier, under the guidance of Robin Singh, TA Sekar, Jonty Rhodes and Paras Mhambrey.

Electing to field first, the R Satish-led Mumbai Indians ‘A’ restricted Mumbai Indians ‘B’ to a modest total of 153-5 in the allotted twenty overs. Explosive wicketkeeper batsman Chandan Madan top-scored with 56 runs off 63 balls, while all-rounders Graham Napier and TP Singh chipped in with 27 and 18, respectively.

Mumbai Indians ‘B’ struggled to find momentum in their innings until Napier and Madan added 47 runs for the second-wicket and resurrected their innings. The spin bowling duo of Ali Murtaza (0-24) and Chetnya Nanda (1-13) maintained pressure, while captain R Satish bowled two economic overs.

Rohan Raje bowled a stunning 18th over for Mumbai Indians ‘A’ with a variety of yorkers and slower deliveries, until Madan responded with two back-to-back sixes and a half-century.

Madan’s noticeable knock ended in the final over, courtesy a run out. The pace bowlers Abu Nachim Ahmed (0-35) and KS Sahabuddin (1-33) were well supported by the spinners and medium-pacer R Satish (0-8), Stuart Binny (1-12) and Rohan Raje (1-20).

In response, Mumbai Indians ‘A’ scored 225 runs and lost just two wickets from 23 overs, as play was extended after Director of Cricket TA Sekar asked for the game to be continued, despite Mumbai Indians ‘A’ clinching victory in the fourteenth over of their run-chase.

Pawan Suyal and Mohammed Noman bowled with heart, beating the batsmen on a few occasions but Tiwary and Dhawan were almost unstoppable on the night. Dhawan smashed 64 runs off just 47 balls with ten boundaries, while Tiwary scored 60 runs off just 46 balls, including three sixes and eight boundaries. Both the batsmen retired early to let other batsmen in the Mumbai Indians ‘A’ line-up get some batting practice.

Tiwary’s performance was particularly pleasing, as the Jharkhand Captain was suffering with back spasms during the preparation camp last week. His great knock establishes his good form, and fitness.

R Satish came into bat at one down and continued the fireworks, smashing 38 runs off just 23 balls, before being beaten by a well disguised slower delivery from Noman. Stuart Binny (19), Sahabuddin (19) and Aditya Tare (10) also got a hit-out in the middle, as Mumbai Indians ‘A’ wound up at 225 for the loss of two wickets at the end of 23 overs.

Commenting on the preparations, Robin Singh, Head Coach, Mumbai Indians said, “We are satisfied with the progress made during the first phase of the camp. We were concentrating on skill enhancement and team building, apart from the usual fitness drills, nets and practice sessions. We are now looking forward to the final phase of the camp with our Captain Sachin Tendulkar, and vice-captain Zaheer Khan joining us, along with other international and national players.”

T. A. Sekar, Director of Cricket, Mumbai Indians, said, “Our boys are putting in hard work and have really tuned well over the past ten days. I am impressed with the way they are shaping up, especially Ambati Rayudu, Shikhar Dhawan, Saurav Tiwary, and R Sathish. Robin Singh, Paras Mhambrey and Jonty Rhodes have been working hard on every aspect of the training sessions.”

Brief Scores:

Mumbai Indians ‘A’: 153-5 (20 overs) (Dhawan 64, Tiwary 60, R Satish 38, Noman 2-38)

Mumbai Indians ‘B’: 225-2 (23 overs) (Madan 63, Napier 27, TP Singh 18, S Binny 1-12, Nanda 1-13, Sahabuddin 1-33)

MI camp kicks into high gear

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:49:58 GMT

Mumbai Indians’ preparation-cum-conditioning camp kicked into high gear last week. Jonty Rhodes, Paras Mhambrey , Robin Singh were all at the Brabourne Stadium to oversee rigorous net sessions, and practice games as the kick off to the 2010 Indian Premier League (IPL) Season inched a step closer.

Jharkhand captain and batsman Saurabh Tiwary was given special attention by the Mumbai Indians’ Fitness Trainer. It appeared as if Tiwary was suffering from a stiff back, as the batsman stayed away from the net sessions, and was being treated. Later, wicketkeeper batsman Chandan Madan was seen attended to by physiotherapist.

Abhishek Nayar and Sachin Tendulkar were missing due to international commitments, while Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh were missing due to other exigencies. Dhawal Kulkarni was not spotted too. The likes of Ishan Malhotra and Pritam Das were seen doing most of the bowling. Chetanya Nanda was bowling his leg breaks on the second strip to the likes of Ambati Rayudu and Sarabjit Singh.

Jonty Rhodes conducted thorough fielding drills. The pick up and underarm drills were followed by the chase and throw drill. After that, the legendary fielder concentrated on catching, and dedicated considerable amount of time to help improve the catching ability of Sushant Marathe.

Bowling coach Mhambrey was seen working with the likes of Abu Nechim, Ali Murtaza and Pritam Das. He was seen giving them tips on seam position and placement.

The video analyst was seen working with Shikhar Dhawan after the left-handed batsman finished a long net-session. The interaction interrupted by Robin Singh and Jonty Rhodes, who came into the discussion with their inputs. Dhawan was seen carefully gazing into the laptop for quite a long time at the end of the net session.

The players and coaches left the ground and marched off to grab some food from the lounge area of the Cricket Club of India (CCI). Meanwhile, members of the CCI started to walk around the ground with their children and wives, soon after the players left the premises.

The ongoing camp will continue until the Mumbai Indians kick off their IPL campaign against the Rajasthan Royals on March 13.

Desire 200!

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:19:06 GMT

Mumbai Indians captain and living cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar continues to defy the concept of age. It is said that desire condenses with passing time, but the theory is conflicting for the great man. With over 20 years of international cricketing experience in the bag, he continues to hanker after runs like a teenager.

One-day cricket’s greatest batsman fittingly became the foremost to score a double century during his masterpiece in the second ODI against South Africa at Gwalior on Wednesday. The whole nation witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime performance – a classic exhibition of artistry, endurance and desire – as Tendulkar rewrote the history books yet again!

The little master’s unbeaten knock of 200 passed the previous best ODI performance of 194, set by Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar in 1997 and Zimbabwe’s Charles Coventry last year. He passed the previous best score in ODIs off 140 deliveries, before taking his time over the final six runs, completing his double century with a single off Charl Langeveldt four balls from the end of the innings. Despite suffering with cramps towards the end of his magnum opus, Tendulkar was not to be denied and the packed Gwalior crowd were in raptures as he brought up the record.

Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten knock comprised of 25 boundaries, 56 singles, 13 twos and 3 massive sixes as India amassed a massive total of 401-3. He was in his element, flicking the ball off his pads with ease, and driving through the line without any fear. Tendulkar was particularly aggressive against Dale Steyn – pulling deliveries from the fast bowler over midwicket and cutting through point – displaying flashes of his performances against Australia in the late 1990s.

"From the age of three I’ve loved this sport and I’ve never thought about scoring the most number of centuries or runs in international cricket. Everyone enjoys breaking records, I’m enjoying it too, but that is not the reason for playing cricket," Tendulkar said in the post-match press conference.

Tendulkar averages over 70 in both Tests and ODIs in the last twelve months. Mumbai Indians fans are surely in for a treat as their captain carries this incredible form into the third season of the Indian Premier League.

"When I started playing, I always wanted to be regarded as one of the best and the idea was that when I stopped playing, people would remember my name. Being regarded as one of the best players is always a good feeling, and that drives you, it refuels you completely. You want to be on top of your game all the time and push yourself harder and harder. There’s a huge responsibility and it is a great challenge. I love that, he said after his epic knock.

Aged 36, are you sure? Tendulkar’s stats in the last twelve months (24-02-2009 to 24-02-2010):-

ODIs
Matches: 20, Runs: 1158, HS: 200*, Ave: 72, 100: 4

Tests
Matches: 10, Runs: 1010, HS: 160, Ave: 78, 100: 6

Final camp underway

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:45:42 GMT

Mumbai Indians kicked off their final preparation-cum-conditioning camp for the forthcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at their home ground, Brabourne Stadium on Monday.

Head coach Robin Singh, assistant coach Paras Mhambrey and fielding coach Jonty Rhodes supervised the camp that largely comprises of the domestic players, with the international cricketers slated to progressively join the team on completion of their respective international commitments.

“The boys will undergo rigorous training to achieve physical fitness and mental strength during the camp, besides receiving intensive practice at the nets, fielding drills and a few practice matches,” former India all-rounder Robin Singh said.

TA Sekar, Director of Cricket, Mumbai Indians, said, “The camp is one of the several initiatives undertaken by the Mumbai Indians to strengthen the team over the past six months. Mumbai Indians, on previous occasions, have had three such successful camps in Mumbai, Vadodara and Jamnagar, for skill enhancement and team building. I am confident that our boys will gain a lot from the camp to prepare for the fast paced game.”

Mumbai Indians kick off their IPL campaign on March 13th against inaugural IPL champions, Rajasthan Royals.

Dhawal, Nayar shine in Duleep Trophy

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:09:07 GMT

A power-packed West Zone side lifted the Duleep Trophy last week, with stellar performances from Mumbai Indians players Dhawal Kulkarni and Abhishek Nayar in the lead-up to the final stages. A consolidated effort helped the West Zone chase down an improbable target of 536. It surpassed the previous highest first-class chase of 513-9 between Central Province and Southern Province in the Sri Lankan domestic season in 2003-04.

In fact all four Mumbai Indians in the West Zone side made significant contributions. In the only match that he played, Abhishek Nayar scored 276 (HS: 259) runs and took a wicket. Dhawal Kulkarni played a match winning innings with a five-wicket haul in the finals to help the West Zone capture the trophy. He also contributed with the bat, scoring a 50 not out. In all, he took seven wickets in the two matches he played. Ajikya Rahane also contributed 34 valuable runs in the only match he played. Pinal Shah made his presence felt by staying on for 116 deliveries on the fifth day of the match to steady the innings and made 35 runs.

With the IPL-3 season barely a month away, the Mumbai Indians are getting into top gear whilst playing in various competitions. Abhishek Nayar also registered his top first-class score when he came up against North Zone in the first semi-final in the last week of January. The breathtaking Duleep Trophy final was a fitting follow-up to the classic Ranji Trophy final, which was clinched by Mumbai in a nail biting finish.

Nayar returns to India's ODI squad

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:46:19 GMT

Abhishek Nayar has been selected in India’s 15-man squad for the 3-match ODI series against South Africa. The Mumbai Indians all-rounder has struck three consecutive first-class centuries earlier this year, including a mammoth double century in the Duleep Trophy semi-final, and a gritty century for Board President’s XI against the visiting South African side. The southpaw was also an integral part of the Mumbai side that clinched the 39th Ranji Trophy title earlier this year.

The 26-year old played the last of his three ODIs against West Indies in last year’s ICC Champions’ Trophy. This is his first call-up to the Indian side since the tournament in South Africa. The first ODI takes place at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday.

Harbhajan spins a web of victory

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:36:41 GMT

Harbhajan Singh added another leaf to his Eden Gardens folk tale on Thursday, as India defeated South Africa by an innings and 58 runs to square the two-match Test series and, more decisively, retain their numero uno position in the ICC Test Rankings.

Fittingly, it was Harbhajan who snared the last South African wicket and performed his customary “catch me if you can” boogie as the jam-packed audience in Kolkata exploded into high spirits. The hosts just about managed to end the stubborn resistance from Hashim Amla (127 not out) and the tail-enders, as the Test match lurched into its final nine balls, and the Kolkata weather got murkier.

"Eden has been special to me. I do not know what it is but I have always done well here. We wanted to be at the top of the table; we know we got the players to keep being No 1. We are very happy and it is fantastic to win the way we did. The heart was pumping in the end,” an emotional Harbhajan said after India emerged victorious at Kolkata. Harbhajan also acknowledged the fact that India pulled off a stunning victory without the services of pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, who was out of action on the final day of the Test due to a muscle strain.

South Africa’s final three partnerships lasted for 53.3 overs and the final pair of Amla and Morne Morkel frustrated India for 77 minutes. However, Harbhajan’s relentless aggression, with able support from Ishant Sharma (2-84) and Amit Mishra (3-78), saw India get past the line in the last stages.

Resuming at their overnight score of 135/3, South African batsmen Amla and Ashwell Prince battled hard in the morning session, with the latter surviving for over 100 minutes until he was done in by the guile and flight of Harbhajan. The wily off-spinner enticed Prince to drive at him as the ball ballooned to mid-off and the Indians finally broke through.
Prince’s dismissal opened the gates for India and South Africa collapsed from 158-3 to 180-7, as Harbhajan and Mishra tore into the visitors’ middle-order. Amla lost partners at regular intervals as India inched closer to a series-levelling victory, until Wayne Parnell (22 runs, 64 balls) and Morkel (12 runs, 60 balls) held their own and took the Test down to the wire.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians’ splendid bowling duo of Zaheer Khan (4-90) and Harbhajan Singh (3-64) restricted the strong South African batting line-up to 296. Having secured a 1-0 lead in the series, the Proteas were coasting along on 218-1 and the situation was getting out of hand for India. However, Zaheer’s inspirational spell with the old ball triggered a collapse, and the spin duo of Harbhajan and Mishra took control of the proceedings, restricting South Africa to a passable total.

Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar continued his purple patch by bringing up his fourth consecutive century (in consecutive Tests) to power India to a commanding position in the Test. Tendulkar added 249 runs for the third-wicket with Virender Sehwag to power India to 643-6 (decl).

Day four of the Kolkata Test was interrupted by rain and bad light. However, the heavens were cooperative on Friday, as the Indians woke up to a bright and sunny day and got the job done.

Zaheer Khan has also been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against South Africa due to his injury.

Stay tuned to this space for the latest on his recovery as the Mumbai Indians prepare for IPL Season 3!

Abhisheks return to form

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:19:17 GMT

Mumbai Indian Abhishek Nayar returned to top form during the Mumbai – Delhi Ranji Trophy semi final at the Brabourne Stadium on January 2, 2010.

Abhishek has been plagued with strained tendons in his right wrist since October and has been going through a slow patch, having scored only 89 runs in five Ranji Trophy games. Banishing his demons, he struck eight fours and three sixes in his 154-ball stay on the first day. His partnerships of 143 runs with Onkar Khanvilkar, and 107 runs with Ajit Agarkar proved to be crucial, helping Mumbai beat Delhi with an innings to spare.

If his final match score of 156 off 244 balls is anything to go by, Abhishek can indeed look forward to a great year ahead.

Mumbai Indians in action at the Jaypee Cup

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:52:37 GMT

The Jaypee Cup held between India and a visiting Sri Lankan team saw the return of Mumbai Indians pace bowler Zaheer Khan to the national side. The other 2 Mumbai Indians players of course remain a constant- Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh who did not disappoint through the series.

1st Test – Ahmedabad

Zaheer struck quickly, claiming the wickets of Dilshan and Sangakarra in Sri Lanka's first innings. It seems that going through surgery and extensive rehab and physio have only served to strengthen him. Harbhajan also finished his bowling spell with 2 wickets under his cap.

Though Sachin was bowled early in the 1st innings, he came back and showed the world exactly why he is called ‘Master Blaster’ scoring a blistering 100 not out off 211 balls.

Match figures:

Harbhajan Singh Batting 1st Innings: 22(54) / 2nd Innings: DNB
Bowling 48.4-4-189-2 / DNB
Zaheer Khan Batting 1st Innings: 12(29) / 2nd Innings: DNB
Bowling 36-6-109-2 / DNB
Sachin Tendulkar Batting 1st Innings: 4(3) / 2nd Innings: 100*(211)
Bowling 7-0-20-0 / DNB

2nd Test – Kanpur

India’s 100th test win was recorded at Kanpur with considerable style and flamboyance.
Sachin Tendulkar contributed 40 runs off 91 balls in India’s first innings. Zaheer struck a blow to Sri Lanka’s bowling line up, getting Dilshan out for 0 in the 1st ball of Sri Lanka’s innings. Harbhajan was excellent, getting two important wickets of Angelo Matthews and Welegedara. Sri Lanka were all out for 229 and India enforced the follow on.
Harbhajan’s 3 wickets and Zaheer’s 1 helped bring the game to an early close, allowing India to revel in its victory.

Match figures:

Harbhajan Singh Batting 1st Innings: 5(14) / 2nd Innings: DNB
Bowling 21-5-54-2 / 22-2-98-3
Zaheer Khan Batting 1st Innings: 1(12) / 2nd Innings: DNB
Bowling 17-5-51-1 / 11-0-63-1
Sachin Tendulkar Batting 1st Innings: 40(91) / 2nd Innings: DNB
Bowling DNB / 1-0-6-0

3rd Test – Mumbai

It was the first test match to be played at the Brabourne in 36 years. Fans were witness to the magic the Indian team is capable of performing with a most satisfying end result.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Harbhajan was responsible for taking out the opening pair of Dilshan and Paranavitana while Zaheer was handy in taking out Kulasekara. Sri Lanka ended their innings with 393 all out.

The Indian batting innings is one that will be talked about for a long time. Sachin Tendulkar did not disappoint his Mumbai fans, scoring a quick 53 in his innings. The Indian side reached 726-9, giving Sri Lanka 2 days to make the total.

Zaheer proved his mettle with a 5 wicket haul (Sangakarra, Jayawardhane, Samaraweera, Kulasekara and Herath) while Harbhajan bagged

2. India won the test by an innings and 24 runs. This historical win at the Brabourne has taken India to the world no. 1 in Test rankings.

Match figures:

Harbhajan Singh Batting 1st Innings: 1 (3) / 2nd Innings: DNB
Bowling 32-3-112-4 / 34.4-5-80-2
Zaheer Khan Batting 1st Innings: 7 (51) / 2nd Innings: DNB
Bowling 19-2-70-1 / 21-5-72-5
Sachin Tendulkar Batting 1st Innings: 53 (103)

Duminy Shines Again

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:49:09 GMT

Mumbai Indians J P Duminy played an integral part in crushing Zimbabwe in the 2nd ODI between South Africa and Zimbabwe. With 111 not out off 126 balls, Duminy scored his maiden ODI century at Centurion on November 10, 2009.

Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field, leaving South Africa to set an impressive target of 332 runs to win.

Bravo in Adelaide

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:47:51 GMT

Mumbai Indians Dwayne Bravo scored his third test century at the Adelaide Oval on December 4th 2009, the first one in the last 4 years! His nerve wracking hundred included being dropped three times on 46, 46 and 59.

Playing his first test series after Australia’s tour of the West Indies early in 2008, Dwayne Bravo is proving to his critics that he is maturing into a cricketer capable of contributing to a win and inspiring the next generation of cricketers to come. He is an all rounder with more than enough talent to be a valuable addition the any side for a long time to come.

West Indies are currently in Australia playing a series of tests and one day internationals that will last till mid February.

Ajinkya Strikes!

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:10:00 GMT

The Ranji Trophy brings out the best in some people, and Mumbai Indians player Ajinkya Rahane is definitely one of them. In one of the best innings he has played, Ajinkya scored a whopping 265 runs in 382 balls against Hyderabad. Winning the toss, Team Hyderabad chose to bat first, making 266 all out on the second day of the game. Coming in one-down for Mumbai, Ajinkya was 89 not out at the close of 2nd day’s play. Getting to his first hundred took 206 balls, the second much less with 124 balls, and the final 65 only 52.

It was a decisive win for Mumbai against Hyderabad, with Ajinkya contributing more than half in Mumbai’s first innings score.

Shikhar hits big

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:27:50 GMT

Mumbai Indians batsman Shikhar Dhawan has a lot to be proud of. He hit his maiden first class double century in style on the 2nd day of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group-B match against Baroda on November 3.

Delhi made a huge total of 591 runs against the home team, batting for almost two days. With 23 fours and two sixes, Shikhar scored this amazing feat in 413 balls, taking Delhi to an unbeatable position.

Ryan Mclaren debuts for South Africa

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:26:20 GMT

Mumbai Indians player Ryan Mclaren has been released from his county cricket contract, and is now eligible for international duty for South Africa

With commendable performances for the Eagles during the Champions League, Mclaren earned a call up in the 2-match series against Zimbabwe this November. He struck quickly in the first overs of the innings, getting Chamu Chibhabha out lbw for 21 and Tatenda Taibu caught behind for 21 runs. He was also useful in the death, bowling Stuart Matsikenyeri for 86 in the 48th over. As debuts go, Mclaren will be happy with his figures of 10-0-3-51

BOND, PLAY & WIN

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:22:21 GMT

As the time for IPL 3 draws closer, it is time to gear up for it, as new seasons bring new changes, innovative thinking, and new approaches.

Mumbai Indians held a camp in October ’09 for that very purpose. This conditioning-cum-cricket camp played host to a number of Mumbai Indians hopefuls, as well as to some of the older members of the team in terms of interacting with each other. The 5-day camp had divided the various aspects of cricket, each of which was evaluated by the coaches. A combination of practice matches, training drills, fitness tests and sessions with coaches set the tune for the camp.

The first few days consisted of drills at MCA’s indoor nets in Mumbai. Looking over practice was Captain Sachin Tendulkar who spent a considerable amount of time with the boys, talking to them, instructing them and helping them with their batting. He was even spotted laughing and joking with them towards the end of the second day, playing with a practice stump! Lead bowler Zaheer Khan was also present at MCA. Eager to get back in form, he had started bowling in the nets from the first day. While the camp had been originally scheduled for Mumbai at the Cricket Club of India, it was later shifted to Vadodara due to heavy rains that made the wickets unplayable.

Zaheer Khan accompanied team owner Mrs. Nita Ambani to Vadodara where they watched several practice matches. While he did not play the matches, he was present throughout, encouraging the bowlers and offering advice to them while bowling in the nets.

The practice matches saw some spectacular performances by the local boys; there is great untapped talent lying dormant, ready to explode in the next season. Some promising ICL players were also included in the practice sessions.
The camp was a great success, with a few of the players celebrating their birthdays. The small birthday parties did a lot to help the boys get to know one another and increase the feeling of camaraderie on and off the playing field.

Another Day, Another Record

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:54:26 GMT

On November 5, 2009, in one of the best innings he has played, Sachin Tendulkar became the first man in cricketing history to score 17,000 ODI runs.

He achieved this incredible feat with 7 runs off 17 balls in the 5th ODI between India and Australia at Hyderabad. This was the 435th ODI game that Sachin played and he did not disappoint his fans. Millions of people all over the world watched spell bound as Sachin put bat to ball, and helped India chase a mammoth total of 350 runs.

Not only did Sachin reach 17000 runs, he scored his 45th ODI hundred, the fastest century by an Indian against Australia making 100 off 81 balls. With nineteen fours and four huge sixes, his innings finally ended on 175, made off just 141 balls. He was befittingly chosen as the Man of the Match, even though Australia won the match. He also recorded the highest individual score against Australia.

In League with Champions

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:03:03 GMT

It has been an electrifying season for some of Mumbai Indians’ star players. For JP Duminy and Dwayne Bravo the Champions League was a dream that became reality, taking them to new heights in their international careers.

In the opening match of the Airtel Champions League Twenty 20, JP Duminy, playing for the Cape Cobras, set the standard for all batsmen for the rest of the tournament. At the same venue that Brendan McCullum showed his mettle during the opening match of IPL I, JP Duminy struck a thrilling 99 not-out off 52 balls to take Cape Cobras to a last over victory. It is no surprise that he was named Man of The Match for the first game of the Champions League.

Robin Uthappa and Ross Taylor made a strong case for the Bangalore Royal Challengers, but provided no match for JP Duminy’s 5 sixes and 8 fours. Once Duminy finds his range, he is an unstoppable force. With outstanding figures throughout the tournament, JP Duminy has proved that while he has taken South Africa being knocked out of the Challengers Trophy to heart, it has only bettered his game and furthered his determination to succeed. With figures of 224 runs off 160 balls, and a strike rate of 140, he has certainly proved that he can handle playing in Indian conditions.

Dwayne Bravo too has reveled in his role as all rounder for Trinidad & Tobago, besides being the most experienced player in Indian conditions on his squad. Hailed as the underdogs of the tournament, this team wasted no time in showing everyone that they were here to stay. They were in fact the only team that made it through to the finals undefeated.

Bravo played a crucial role in opening Trinidad & Tobago’s Champions League campaign with a flying start. Playing against Somerset, he took 2 early wickets, of Marcus Trescothick and Craig Kieswetter, and 2 more in the death, of Max Waller and Charl Willoughby. Though he did not perform with the bat, he finished the match with figures of 4 – 0 – 23 – 4.

The 2nd semi final match between Cape Cobras and Trinidad & Tobago was nothing short of a nail biting thriller, with JP Duminy playing against fellow Mumbai Indian Dwayne Bravo. Half centuries by both these men contributed to a screaming, gasping and groaning crowd that moved as one. Duminy finished Cape Cobra’s innings with 61 not out off 40 balls, and Bravo 58 not out off 34 balls.

Cape Cobras won the toss and chose to bat. JP Duminy came in two down in the 10th over and played the anchor role for his side, as he guided the Cape Cobras to a total of 175/ 5 at the end of 20 overs.

Cape Cobras kept the run rate down for the West Indian side, and there were no boundaries for 31 balls, until Dwayne Bravo hit Justin Ontong for 6 in the 13th over. Trinidad & Tobago could not be held back long and a 4th wicket partnership between Darren Ganga and Dwayne Bravo of 93 runs won the match for Trinidad & Tobago with 4 balls to spare. Bravo was dropped by Justin Ontong on 17 and quickly replied by scoring his half century in just 31 balls. He was awarded Man of The Match for his unbeaten knock with the bat.

With superb performances by both these men in the Champions League, there can be no doubt that we expect to see big things in the months to come and valuable contributions to the team when IPL III begins.

Duminy picks up prestigious CSA awards

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:52:26 GMT

The Mumbai Indian’s prolific South African pick JP Duminy received three prestigious awards at the 2009 SA Cricket Awards ceremony held in Johannesburg on June 30. Duminy was voted as Pro20 Cricketer of the Year, SA Players' Player of the Year, and KFC Taste the Action Performance Winner for his performances since his international debut in Australia. The awards covered the period from the start of the tour of England up to the end of the home series against Australia, and thus do not include the recently held ICC World Twenty20 for rating the players.

Cricket South Africa (CSA), the apex organization controlling cricket in South Africa, has instituted the prestigious awards to honor the country’s outstanding cricketers every year. According to newspaper reports, Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola said that the awards were a reflection of how well the team had performed. “The awards take note of an impressive crop of young stars whose outstanding achievements on the international stage have ensured the continued success of the Proteas,” he said.

After nearly a year of touring with the team as the 12th man, Duminy got his first international game in the first test against Australia in Perth, when Ashwell Prince was injured. He marked his entry to the side with a match-winning half-century in the Perth Test, and followed it up with a brilliant century in the second test at Melbourne, as South Africa recorded a historic 2-1 series win in Australia. His form continued in the limited overs matches, and he was rated as one of the most valuable players during the tour of Australia.

The Mumbai Indians bid for the talented youngster for a whopping US$950,000, and he proved to be their best batsman in the second edition of the IPL held in South Africa. In 19 ODIs over the last 12 months, Duminy has made 476 runs at an average of 36.61. He also scored two half-centuries in the Twenty20 games in Australia.

Mumbai Indians to play for India

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:48:20 GMT

Three Mumbai Indians have made it to the Indian team for the prestigious Emerging Players’ Tournament to be played in Australia from July 20. The team announced by the selectors in Chennai features Abhishek Nayar, Ajinkya Rahane and Dhawal Kulkarni from Mumbai’s IPL franchise.

Two from this trio have already had a taste of international action. While Dhawal Kulkarni was a part of the test squad for the New Zealand series, Abhishek Nayar was part of the squad for the recently concluded ODI series in West Indies. Unfortunately, Abhishek’s debut in the last ODI was washed away, even as India won the series 2-1. Now, Ajinkya will be keen to make a mark in this tournament to earn a place in the national team.

The quadrangular tournament, which runs from July 20 to August 1, will be played across different venues in Brisbane. The other teams comprise the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), and the emerging players from South Africa and New Zealand.

This will be the fifth edition of the tournament, and India will be looking to improve on their third-place finish last year. The New Zealanders are the defending champions, having beaten AIS by three wickets in the final at the Allan Border Field last year.

The trio was also named in the first 30-man list of “probables” for the Champions Trophy to be held in South Africa in September this year.

India Emerging Players squad: S Badrinath (captain), Virat Kohli (vice-captain), M Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Manoj Tiwary, Ishank Jaggi, Abhishek Nayar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Pankaj Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni, Pradeep Sangwan, Sudeep Tyagi

The end of a mixed season

Fri, 22 May 2009 12:50:38 GMT

The last match of the Mumbai Indians in this edition of the IPL was against the Delhi Daredevils, arguably the best team of the tournament thus far. Delhi had lost two matches on the trot before this one, but had nonetheless remained the most consistent side and the favorites to lift the trophy.

For the Mumbai Indians, Dwayne Bravo’s absence gave Mohammad Ashraful his first game in the IPL. Rahil Shaikh replaced Chetanya Nanda, while Pinal Shah reclaimed the gloves from Yogesh Takawale. Sachin and Sanath once again walked out to bat, after Sehwag won the toss and chose to field. Nannes took some time to fire up, bowling in succession two out-swingers, which went wide, but followed up with a perfect inswinger to trap Jayasuriya lbw for a golden duck. Duminy looked ready to play one last anchor innings this season but was dismissed trying to hit Nannes for a third consecutive boundary, edging a sharply rising delivery to the keeper. Ashraful walked in and, after a brief period in which he looked very rusty, departed following an edge, taken by the keeper off Pradeep Sangwan.

His dismissal brought Tendulkar and Ajinkya Rahane together. Both were determined to make this match count. Rahane had his early rush of blood but was fortunately dropped by Rajat Bhatia on 3. The batsmen cut loose shortly after that, successfully hitting boundaries off Sangwan and Bhatia, after Nannes finished his first spell. They were cautious in the overs immediately before and after the strategic break, but looked to attack after that. Mishra bore the brunt in the 12th over when he was struck for three fours. But Bhatia ended the 73-run partnership, uprooting Sachin’s off stump with a slow off cutter when the batsman was on 46. Abhishek Nayar did no lasting damage, out lbw for 4 in the next over to the bowling of another Mumbaikar, Aavishkar Salvi.

Thereafter, Pinal Shah and Rahane put together a swashbuckling 43-run partnership in just a little over 4 overs, as Rahane brought up his second fifty of the IPL. Mumbai Indians looked set to post a 170-plus total, before Nannes returned and dismissed Pinal Shah with a bouncer, which he hit in the air within the circle. Rahane’s counter attacking 56 off 41 balls, with 2 sixes, ended in the next over with a drive landing straight in the hands of de Villiers, while Malinga perished running a second run, as Mumbai reached a respectable total of 165/8.

Sehwag chose to send David Warner as Gambhir’s opening partner. The southpaws immediately declared their intent when Gambhir pulled Malinga for a four off the last ball of the first over. Gambhir followed that by walking out against Kulkarni and scoring boundaries off him. Rahil Shaikh’s first over in the IPL went for 11 runs, as the bowler only ended up serving full tosses against batsmen who came after him ball after ball. Kulkarni got the wicket of Warner when the batsman made room to hit a delivery but could not manage to time his shot well. Ashraful took the catch at extra cover, and Warner was on his way out after making 15 off 9.

Malinga was reintroduced to get Sehwag as early as possible, but the batsman played out his over waiting for easier pickings. Kulkarni provided him the opportunity, and the Delhi skipper took 14 off him, hitting him for three fours. Harbhajan came in and applied the brakes, but the batsmen ran their runs against nayar who was introduced into the attack at the other end. Nayar’s over just before the tactical break was dispatched for 16 runs, as Sehwag slammed it for two fours and a six.

Some rusty bowling by Jayasuriya and keeping by Pinal Shah saw Delhi getting extra runs in the 11th over. Sachin brought back Malinga into the attack and immediately claimed the wicket of Gambhir who went for 47. Sehwag did not let down his pace however, and even Dilshan, the new man in, started batting in the fifth gear from the beginning, using the pace of Malinga to flick and hook for boundaries. Sehwag’s fifty came off a drop and a scrambled single in the 15th over with the total at 144, and it seemed that Delhi would blast their way to victory within an over. But Harbhajan added a few more twists in the tale by removing Dilshan and Sehwag off successive balls. Duminy heightened the tension by giving away just 2 runs in the next over and almost ran de Villiers out, until Harbhajan came back and struck to dismiss de Villiers for 6 in the following over. He dismissed Bhatia off the next ball and was on a hat-trick for the second time in the match. Mishra denied him a hat-trick with a single, as Harbhajan finished his overs with figures of 4/17.

When Duminy came on to bowl to Amit Mishra, 12 runs were required off 3 overs. But Mishra crashed the dreams of Mumbai fans, scoring the required runs off just 3 balls, with a double, a four and a six. With that, Delhi had denied a consolation victory to their arch rivals from the Ranji circuit and ended the under-par campaign of the Mumbai Indians. Hopefully Mumbai will address its problems by the next season.

Heartbreak at Port Elizabeth

Tue, 19 May 2009 11:39:44 GMT

After their loss in the cliffhanger against Rajasthan Royals, the Mumbai Indians were in a do-or-die situation in their match against the Chennai Super Kings.

They had a good record against Chennai, having defeated them twice in their last two encounters, including their win in the opening match of this season at Capetown. However, Mumbai had been down with a severe case of Murphy’s Law since then. Almost everything that could go wrong for them went wrong. Injuries, loss of form, tactical gambles going wrong and pressure all colluded to stall Mumbai’s campaign.

The Mumbai Indians began with some much-needed aggression at the top after choosing to bat first. Jayasuriya and Bravo started cautiously, but after Bravo fell early, the Lankan cannon let loose. He was helped by Duminy’s positive approach of at the other end. The pair punished both Morkel and Tyagi, taking Mumbai from 8/1 after 3 overs to 49/2 after 6 overs, with Jayasuriya falling for 30 off 17, while trying to go for another six.

Tendulkar and Duminy then consolidated to set up Mumbai with a good base total before they began the slog. The pair progressed somewhat slowly, adding just 25 runs in 5 overs, as the slow track helped the Chennai spinners. Tendulkar was dismissed in the over immediately after the strategy break, reaching out to Raina to loft him straight but ending up paying with his costly wicket. With Tendulkar gone for 11 and Mumbai at 74/3 in the 11th over, Nayar walked in to bat. The two batsmen ran brilliantly between the wickets to exploit the weak Super Kings’ fielding, which failed to complement the effort by their bowlers. Anything full was put away by the batsmen with ease, but there were very few loose balls for Mumbai’s liking.

It seemed that the batsmen were ready to launch themselves into the bowling when Duminy stepped out against Jakati and drove him for a six over cover in the 17th over and brought up his fifth half century of the tournament. Some tight bowling in the next over by Balaji saw them score just 5 off it, and they lost the crucial momentum, standing at 136/3 with just one over to go. The last over saw Duminy being run out after having backed up too far, an indiscrete paddle for a six by Nayar, and Harbhajan getting run out on the second run off the last ball of the innings, as the Mumbai Indians set up a total of 147/5.

The defending of the total began with a bang when Malinga trapped Parthiv Patel plumb lbw with the very first ball. Hayden almost followed in the next over, but it was always tough for Malinga who had to run a long way and then time a difficult dive.

Suresh Raina threatened to make short work of the chase but Bravo repeatedly tested his ability against the short ball and got him with a short one, despite having been hit for a six off a similar delivery in the same over. Chennai were in dire straits 24/2 in the fourth over and the bowlers were doing a good job of not feeding Hayden any easy deliveries. The burly Australian had been on top of bowling throughout the tournament, but the Mumbai Indians managed to trouble him consistently and the batsman had to trudge his way, while Badrinath kept the scorecard ticking at the other end. Badrinath started off ominously hitting twice in the first over he faced but settled down thereafter, as Chennai went without a boundary from overs six to ten.

Badrinath broke the drought by hitting the first ball after the tactical break for a six but he lost his wicket before the end of the over, as Dhawal Kulkarni got his revenge with a short ball, which Badrinath edged to the keeper. Duminy and Harbhajan had been crucial in tying down Hayden earlier, and Chetanya Nanda was brought in to keep the momentum, as Chennai required 84 runs from 9 overs. He bowled well, the batsmen could not take any boundaries off him, but they did manage to get the crucial singles to keep themselves afloat. The pacers, Kulkarni and Bravo, were brought in to attack along with Nanda, but the batsmen Hayden and Dhoni managed to play the field for runs.

The runs the batsmen had run had kept them in the reckoning. The exhaustion among the Mumbai Indians became apparent when they let a few boundaries slip by. The partnership between Dhoni and Hayden had already reached 50, and 27 were required off 3 overs when Harbhajan was brought back into the attack. A misfield, a bad ball and some luck for Dhoni whose lofted shot landed in a safe place, while Hayden notched up his fifty led to Chennai scoring 17 runs off that over. When Malinga came back to bowl his last over, it seemed to be going well till Hayden managed a boundary off the penultimate ball of the over to leave Chennai requiring just 3 from the last over. Bravo began with a bye, as the keeper Yogesh Takawale fumbled, and the batsmen took two to level the scores. A four off the next ball put Mumbai all but out of the tournament, as they lost by 7 wickets.

Mumbai Indians pushed into the corner

Fri, 15 May 2009 17:44:09 GMT

Rains had doused the first scheduled encounter of IPL 2 between the Mumbai Indians and the Rajasthan Royals in Durban, and this was the chance for those who wanted to see Sachin and Sanath take on Shane at the same venue. The two teams had played two memorable games last year, one a demolition job by Mumbai, and the other a nail biting finish, which had swung Rajasthan’s way. With both teams on equally slippery ground in this tournament, this match was crucial to both and a hard fought contest was expected. And what a humdinger of a contest it was!

The Royals have shown remarkable resilience in tight games and perhaps that is what inspired their choice to bat first. Mumbai brought in Chetanya Nanda to replenish their spin attack on a bouncy track, while Rajasthan made a few changes of their own, surprise inclusion being the former Mumbai Indian Siddharth Chitnis.

Mumbai’s pacers kept it tight and were helped by Team Rajasthan’s cautious beginning. However, they could not make inroads and the spinners were brought in the sixth over. Harbhajan immediately removed Smith when he tried to seize an opportunity to score a boundary after a few tight overs. The batsmen reverted to caution against the spinners, but Malinga’s reintroduction into the attack saw him being hit for three boundaries by Yusuf Pathan. Chetanya Nanda justified his spell by claiming Yusuf Pathan’s wicket just before the strategy break.

The Royals resumed on 66/2, and decided to go on the offensive against the spinners. Quiney and Jadeja played fluently, hitting thorough gaps and over the fielders. The batsmen tried to hit a boundary at the end of each over, and were often fortunate. Bravo was hit for two sixes and a four in an over, which went for 19 runs. The runs were coming in fast for the Royals when Malinga returned and suddenly applied brakes to their innings. The pressure built up in just a few deliveries, and Quiney was dismissed with a superb yorker, after he had made 51. Dhawal returned and bowled a very tight over giving away just 4 runs. Malinga finished his quota, and Bravo returned to claim the wicket of Chitnis. Jayasuriya throttled the Royals in the last over, dismissing Jadeja and Naman Ojha, while Warne ran himself out, as Rajasthan set Mumbai a target of 146 to chase.

Yogesh Takawale was promoted to open the innings with Bravo, perhaps keeping in mind the cameos he had played last year, especially against Rajasthan. Pathan opened the bowling for Rajasthan on a spin-friendly pitch but Takawale played him well. The pacers came in, and Munaf Patel immediately accounted for Bravo. Bravo was enticed into pulling a short ball but it swung and was miscued inside the circle where three men got under it, including the bowler who eventually caught it. Rahane came in and the pair played cautiously, the new batsman rotating the strike, while Takawale took the chances. They could not get the boundaries though and the pressure was building up, when Shane Warne brought himself into the attack. Rahane was done in by the flight and the turn, and only managed a top edge to Abhishek Raut at mid on. Takawale too was caught off guard by the bounce managed by Siddharth Trivedi, and edged it to the keeper, as Mumbai found themselves at a tricky 23/3 in the sixth over.

A somewhat uncharacteristic partnership of 33 runs from 5 overs followed between Sachin and Sanath, a spell in which the batsmen did not manage a single boundary, squandering even a free hit. The scoreboard kept ticking slowly, as the two veterans kept their wickets in hand to set up a delayed assault for Mumbai. Pathan and Johan Botha tied the batsmen up, and Jayasuriya fell trying to sweep Warne in the 12th over. Tendulkar took charge and played with total control, attacking both Warne and Pathan, but Duminy was unlucky to play a short ball by Trivedi onto his stumps at the other end, as Mumbai reeled at 76/5 in the 14th over.

Depsite the big setback, Sachin decided it was time and launched a methodic assault against Jadeja, hitting three consecutive fours in an over, which yielded 18 runs. Warne brought himself into the attack and the little master tried to navigate him by a paddle and sweep. Warne then fired one straight, which was also quicker and lower, and found him plumb lbw to the dismay of the crowd at Kingsmead. Sachin departed for 40 off 30, but Nayar fought on. Botha came back and began brilliantly, but Nayar stayed put and hit two fours off him and Patel in the next over to bring the equation down. With 12 required off 10, Nayar struck a meaty blow, which went for a six, and Mumbai almost had the match in their hands.

However, in the T20 format, no match is won until it is won. Nayar dug out the next ball, a yorker, and set off for a quick single, unawares that the ball was still in the crease. He was promptly run out by the keeper. A wide followed and Dhawal took a single off the last ball, as Mumbai required 4 from the last over. All the fielders came inside the circle to stop the singles in the last over, determined to make Mumbai fight for every run. Munaf Patel got swing and bounce, which Dhawal unsuccessfully tried to direct towards third man for a single. A toe crusher of a yorker trapped Dhawal lbw next ball, and in walked Nanda. An edge went towards mid-off and an attempt to steal a run ended with a direct hit by Pathan, running Nanda out at the non striker’s end. Harbhajan next managed a single. Malinga faced a yorker for a change but did well to dig it out towards cover. In the frenzy of things, he set off for a suicidal single. Munaf made no mistake in collecting the ball and ran him out to clinch victory for the Royals by 2 runs. Mumbai’s impressive net run rate still leaves them a chance to qualify for the semis, but it would call for some exceptional effort. Will they manage to avoid the heartbreak of the past season?

Kings bow to the Indians

Wed, 13 May 2009 18:00:15 GMT

On Tuesday, the Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab faced each other in the 42nd match of the IPL 2 at SuperSport Park in Centurion, South Africa. Both teams were separated by just one point, with Kings XI ahead with 10 to 9 of the Mumbai Indians. The Mumbai Indians needed the win to keep them in the fray for a place in the semi-finals and Kings XI needed it to take them closer to a spot in the semis. The Kings XI had history behind them, and with three victories in three matches against the Mumbai Indians, they were seen as a formidable opponent.

The track definitely had something for batsmen, and the passage of play was expected to throw up something for the bowlers too. Dhawal struck in his very first over, as Katich edged one to Harbhajan at mid off, to put Punjab on the back foot. Sunny Sohal on the other end showed composure, and gradually accelerated though he failed to receive constant support from his partners. Dwayne Bravo was brought in the fourth over, and accounted for Irfan Pathan with some smart thinking and agility. Pathan tried to fend a back of length ball, which he inside edged onto his pads and the ball rolled along the pitch. Pathan tried to steal a single but Sohal was having none of it. In the midst of the confusion, Bravo fielded the ball on his follow through and threw it onto the stumps to run Pathan out for a duck.

Sohal looked in great form, reaching 43 off just 23 with 3 sixes and 5 fours when lax running cost him his own wicket. He broke the cardinal rule of not taking a run off a mis-field, when Tendulkar fumbled a Sangakkara prod at extra cover. He was sent back but a direct hit by Sachin caught him a few paces short and undid his brilliant knock against the Mumbai pace attack until then. The spinners, Harbhajan and Duminy, were brought in from both the ends after the power-play restrictions were over and Harbhajan removed Sangakkara in the over just before the strategy break. He beat him with flight and turn to bowl him, and leave Punjab tottering on 70/4.

The spinners came back even stronger after the tactical timeout, as Duminy removed both Mumbaikar Wilkin Mota and the big hitter Yuvraj Singh in the 12th over. The hard hitting Pomersbach made no use of his reprieve when Rahane bowled a peach of a delivery to bowl him in the 15th over. Malinga bowled a nine-ball over in which he gave away 11 runs but also claimed Brett Lee’s wicket, brilliantly caught by Raje at long off. With Piyush Chawla running himself out with a misguided attempt at a cheeky single, Punjab finished at 119/9.

The Mumbai Indians must have had on their mind their narrow defeat by 3 runs while chasing the same total against the same opponents in their previous encounter at Durban, and were resolved to make amends this time around. Bravo was sent in to open with Jayasuriya, and survived a dropped caught and bowled against Irfan Pathan. The fielders had done a good job until then, and Jayasuriya felt the need to go after the bowling. He slashed hard at a wide one outside off and the ball went towards third man where Wilkin Mota took a commendable catch. This did not deter Bravo who immediately launched into Sreesanth, slamming him for two sixes and two fours in an over, which cost Punjab 21 runs. Spin was brought into the attack and Piyush Chawla succeeded in removing a scratchy looking Ajinkya Rahane, trapping him LBW in the sixth over.

Sachin came in and played himself in, while Bravo continued going after the attack from the other end. The improvisations and quick running paid off as Bravo reached his fifty off 35 balls, with Mumbai’s score on 62. Scoring progressed at a brisk rate and Mumbai went into the strategy break, comfortably perched at 74/2 with both batsmen settled in.

Sachin began to open up on the other side of the strategy break as Yuvraj shuffled his bowling to try and get a breakthrough. Lee, Goel and Chawla all suffered, as Tendulkar bled them with his precise cuts, while Bravo hammered them with his powerful flicks and pulls. With just 11 runs required after the 13th over, Irfan Pathan came back and provided some fight with his disciplined line and length, giving away just four. Lee brought his full experience into play to delay the inevitable, peppering Bravo with the short stuff and giving away only 4 in an eight-ball over, which included a free hit ball. Bravo then ended the game with a fierce pull through midwicket to hand Mumbai an 8-wicket win, with 22 balls to spare. He remained unbeaten on 70 while Sachin was 41 not out on the other end, as Mumbai leapfrogged over Punjab to go to the fourth position in the points table.

Back on track in the nick of time

Mon, 11 May 2009 18:24:55 GMT

Before this match, the Mumbai Indians could find themselves at the seventh position in the charts. To make it to the semi finals of IPL 2, they had to win most of their remaining games, and needed a few other results going their way. The biggest challenge for them was to put behind their past losses and get on with the tournament.

Jayasuriya made it back to the team in place of Luke Ronchi, while Chetanya Nanda and Yogesh Takawale replaced Rohan Raje and Pinal Shah, respectively. Mumbai won the toss and out walked the opening pair of Sachin and Sanath to set a formidable target for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Disaster struck in the second over itself when Sachin edged a delivery by Vinay Kumar, which was moving away outside off. Mark Boucher pouched it, as the Mumbai Indians skipper departed for a duck.

Ajinkya Rahane, despite nervous shows in his previous games in the tournament and a top score of only 12, was promoted to no. 3. He justified the faith by playing sensibly, along with Jayasuriya who too had dropped anchor, cut out the risky shots, and was satisfied with the odd boundary in each over. The two went after Abhimanyu Mithun, the debutant for Royal Challengers, taking 13 off his first over, as the scoring progressed at a cautious rate, despite the restrictions of the power-play overs.

The spinners came in as soon as the power-play restrictions were over, and Roelof van der Merwe struck by claiming the wicket of Jayasuriya. He bowled a tight over, and finished it with a straight delivery just outside off. Jayasuriya tried to hit it over midwicket, swung across the line, missed it totally, and was rapped on the pads. Duminy walked in to a familiar position, and set about building the Mumbai innings with Rahane.

The next couple of overs on either side of the strategy break were tight, as the batsmen were made to run their runs instead of getting them with boundaries. The batsmen took all the singles and doubles they could, before they upped their scoring by taking a boundary off each over. Mithun was the first bowler to be targeted in the 16th over and the Mumbai Indians managed to hit a six or a four in every over after that. Duminy neared Rahane’s score in the matter of just a few balls, as the young Mumbaikar reached his first fifty of the tournament off 47 balls. Duminy brought up his fourth fifty of the tournament off just 37 balls. They ended the innings on 157/2, somewhat less than the score they hoped to achieve, but nonetheless a respectable score after losing Sachin so early in the innings. Rahane and Duminy remained unbeaten on 62 and 59, respectively, as the two put together the highest partnership of the tournament for the third wicket, a stand of 104.

Kulkarni opened the bowling, with Malinga bowling from the other end. Bangalore’s new opening combination of Kallis and Virat Kohli, however, were good at negotiating the bowlers and scored at a fair pace off them. Bravo came into the attack and tested Kallis with some short pitched balls. Kallis tried to upper cut but ended up giving an easy catch to Dhawal running in from the third man. In the next over by Dhawal, Uthappa survived a shot, which went just past Harbhajan at mid-on, but his luck lasted only until the next ball. He tried the same shot and was caught by Sachin at mid-wicket this time. Kohli was disdainful at the other end, hitting two fours off Bravo, which prompted Sachin to bring in Chetanya Nanda into the attack. The leg spinner from Delhi immediately dismissed his Ranji state mate Kohli who was surprised by the bounce on a delivery, hitting it straight to Duminy. Bangalore’s biggest trump card Rahul Dravid was in the middle with Ross Taylor, and it seemed that the two would revive the innings after the time out. But Dravid was run out on the last ball of the 10th over, and Bangalore went into the break at 58/4 with their top batsmen back in the pavilion.

Malinga was brought in early after the break, having bowled just one over in his opening spell and removed Ross Taylor with his trademark yorker, which uprooted his middle and off stumps. Nanda managed to keep his end tight but was hit for a six each, by Taylor and Boucher. Harbhajan was reintroduced, and responded with the wicket of Roelof van der Merwe who stepped out to flick a ball on the leg side, lost his balanced and failed to make it back to the crease before being stumped by Takawale. Malinga, Bravo and Dhawal continued to apply a tight hold, as the equation went to an improbable 45 off 18 balls, before Harbhajan came back into the attack. Vinay Kumar was out stumped when he charged down the wicket, and Bangalore crashed to 114/7 in the 18th over. That over, and the penultimate over of the innings, yielded just 12 runs in all, as Harbhajan and Bravo stuck to a tight line and length. Malinga came back for the last over in which Boucher went ballistic and hit 16 runs with a four and a six. But it was still too little, too late. Mumbai Indians had managed to keep alive their chances of going into the semis with a 16-run victory. They also inched above Bangalore in the points table. Duminy picked up yet another man of the match award for his superb batting, which took Mumbai to the safe total that they successfully defended.

Defeated by the Devils

Mon, 11 May 2009 18:17:47 GMT

Of late, the Mumbai Indians have had a losing streak after recording initial wins. And this inconsistency has hurt their chances of making it to the semi-finals. Their adversaries on Friday evening were presumably the strongest team of the tournament and, right from the beginning, it was a tall task to overcome them and get back on track.

There were multiple problems for Mumbai that could not be pinpointed. The batting had failed to set defendable targets, and the bowling had been unsuccessful while defending. So the management had decided to test a new XI for the match, hoping for the new faces to fire. Sanath Jayasuriya was replaced at the top by the explosive Australian Luke Ronchi. JP Duminy was promoted to the opening slot to see if he could hold up one end at the top. But fine fielding and fortune both favored Delhi, as Mumbai lost their openers in the very first over. Ronchi just poked one towards cover and set off for a single, while David Warner collected and knocked the stumps at the non striker’s end. On the last ball of the over, Duminy got a thin edge onto a ball, which moved away ever so slightly and the keeper made no mistake, as Mumbai slumped to 2 for 1 in the first over.

Tendulkar came in to join Pinal Shah and the two staged a revival, putting together a run a ball, 24-run partnership, before misfortune struck again when Tendulkar failed to ground his bat in time to beat Dinesh Karthik’s shy at the stumps, after he had set off for a single but was sent back. Tendulkar was dismissed for 15, and Shah holed out an over later to long on as Mumbai’s scorecard read 36/4 after eight overs.

Nayar and Bravo then built a crucial partnership with not many risky shots, as they focused on keeping their wickets in hand for a late assault. They tackled well until the tactical time out and the batsmen broke free in the 16th over, which was struck for a six and two fours. The over ultimately ended with the dismissal of Bravo whose 57-run partnership with Nayar ended with a tame edge to the keeper. Nayar followed immediately afterwards, as AB de Villiers took a brilliant catch at midwicket. Bravo made 35 and Abhishek 18 in their stand. Ajinkya Rahane and Harbhajan swung their bats and enjoyed a few dropped catches, while some hits also found the boundary, as they took the score to 114/7 in the 19th over. The 20th over by Rajat Bhatia, however, saw three wickets fall for 2 runs, as Mumbai were dismissed for 116 in their innings.

Kulkarni and Malinga bowled well in the beginning, not giving the batsmen any width to work with but the batsmen utilized the fielding restrictions to get vital boundaries and ran brilliantly between the wickets to keep the runs coming. Duminy came into the attack, after Bravo and Harbhajan were tried, and immediately made up for his batting show with the wicket of Warner. The ball was pitched up, and enticed Warner into stepping out to dispatch it over the ropes. It spun away at the last moment to leave Warner stranded, while Pinal Shah dislodged his bails. With Warner gone for 21 and Delhi at 42 in the ninth over, Mumbai had their first breakthrough.

Their second breakthrough came in the very next over when Gambhir drove a ball off Harbhajan straight into the hands of Luke Ronchi at deep cover to be dismissed for 19 and leaving two new batsmen at the crease. AB de Villiers and Dilshan played safe and negated the period after the tactical time out well, while the spinners Harbhajan and Duminy operated in tandem. They kept the runs tight, as the asking rate touched 8. For the second time in the tournament, however, Sachin found himself overburdened with bowling options and decided to bowl himself. Delhi seized this chance and took 19 runs off the over, striking a six and three fours to bring the equation down to 24 required off 24. Raje was brought back into the attack and began well with three dot balls but his next three balls went for 11 and handed Delhi the upper hand. The Mumbai Indians were not done with their fight though, and Malinga bowled a brilliant over in which he conceded only three runs and took the wicket of Dilshan. Dilshan had enjoyed quite a number of edges, which eluded the keeper but this time he was taken by Pinal to bring to an end the partnership of 61 with de Villiers. Delhi however knocked off the remaining 10 runs in just five balls, as Dinesh Karthik and de Villiers took a boundary each off Raje to win the match by 3 wickets, with 7 balls to spare.

Mumbaikar trips the Mumbai Indians

Fri, 08 May 2009 11:30:59 GMT

The IPL is a great opportunity for cricketers to play without the pressure of playing for their country or domestic teams, or, for that matter, against players they would normally not face in a competitive atmosphere.

Rohit Sharma plays for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and would have normally fancied his chances as a batsman against bowlers like Zaheer and Dhawal. What he would not have thought is his chances as a bowler against Mumbai batsmen like Sachin and Abhishek Nayar. Throw in the wild swing of Harbhajan, and the calculated assault of Duminy in a tense IPL match, and what you will get is a hat-trick.

Adam Gilchrist’s decision to bat first seemed to have backfired when Herschelle Gibbs picked up his second duck in three games, courtesy a poor drive off Dhawal Kulkarni. Dhawal replaced Zaheer Khan who had injured his shoulder in the match against the Royal Challengers of Bangalore while fielding, even as Rohan Raje came in to bolster the bowling in place of Ajinkya Rahane. Malinga and Kulkarni opened the bowling well, and the early fall of Gibbs gave a shot in the arm to the Mumbai Indians.

The introduction of Harbhajan within the power-play saw him being hit for two sixes by Deccan youngster Tirumalasetti Suman but Bravo got the better of him when the batsman’s attempt to back away and hit the ball over cover kissed the edge before settling in Pinal Shah’s gloves. Rohit Sharma came in and took all the brisk singles he could to settle down. Gilchrist and Sharma struck a six each off Harbhajan and Rohan Raje, respectively, to keep the run rate healthy. Rohan Raje came back in his second over strongly to dismiss Gilchrist just before the strategy break when the batsman tried to swing a straight ball across the line. The Aussie missed and the Mumbai lad struck, as Deccan went into the strategy break at 62/3.

Dwayne Smith came out fighting when play commenced but Jayasuriya removed him before he could do any major damage. Venugopal Rao came in and along with Rohit briskly scored to set up the Deccan Chargers for the slog overs. Rohit however could not capitalize on his start and fell in the beginning of the 18th over for a score of 38 with a mistimed hit off Malinga. Rao struck two more fours before being run out in the last over, as the Deccan Chargers scrambled a competitive score of 145/5 for Mumbai to chase.

It was indeed a good chance for the Mumbai Indians to grab their fourth win of the tournament. The Mumbai Indians started with an early set back when Jayasuriya furiously flashed at a wide offering by Ryan Harris, which went over cover for a four. In the very next over, RP Singh outfoxed him with a shorter length when he went charging down the pitch, and the slash went over gully where Ryan Harris ran in from the third man position to take a great catch. Next, RP got a two-in-two when he swung a ball into Sachin and uprooted the captain’s middle stump. Pinal Shah was promoted up the order to see if he could do a Naman Ojha, while Duminy walked in to a now-familiar situation for him.

A nervous period followed where the batsmen prodded, poked, swung and ran risky singles. RP’s next over saw Duminy brush one past his pads, which Gilchrist pouched safely. However, RP’s celebrations ended when umpire Benson signaled a wide. Having spent an over getting accustomed to the conditions, JP started accelerating the chase with a hook and swat against RP, and the two boundaries considerably eased the pressure, which the two early wickets had led the team into. Pinal Shah got into the spirit of things too and unfurled a range of strokes, walking down the track to execute a paddle shot, using wrists to flick a half volley, slogging across the line and reverse sweeping with superb confidence. He hit two sixes off a Dwayne Smith over in which Mumbai plundered 14 runs. His cameo of 29 off 19 ended when a slog across the line only managed to go as far as wide long on, where Smith rather gratefully held the catch.

Thereafter, Bravo and Duminy built a partnership, thriving on the weakened bowling of the Deccan Chargers who were without the services of Fidel Edwards (national duty) and Pragyan Ojha (ankle injury). Harmeet Singh, Syed Shoaib and Ryan Harris were easy pickings for the Mumbai Indians duo that put up a quick 37-run partnership. The partnership was cruising along well when Bravo felt the need to go for a big hit off Suman who was being reintroduced into the attack. He got the elevation but just fell short on the distance and was caught by Ryan Harris within inches of the boundary.

It was at this stage that Rohit Sharma was brought into the attack and the youngster from Mumbai responded brilliantly, thanks to some poor shot selection by the Mumbai middle order. Duminy reached his third fifty of the tournament with a single, which handed the strike to Nayar. First Nayar and then Harbhajan tried to sweep him only to end up being bowled. Rohit finished the over on a hat-trick, and Suman dropped a caught and bowled chance in the following over handing Saurabh Tiwary a reprieve. Duminy, now on 52, tried to sweep Rohit but Gilchrist anticipated the shot and moved suitably to take the faint edge, as Rohit took the second hat-trick of the second IPL. He picked up his fourth wicket in five balls when Tiwary walked out too far of his crease and was stumped by Gilchrist. Dhawal and Raje scratched around for singles, making room, swinging and missing in the remaining two overs, as Mumbai’s chase fizzled out. The tight fielding and sharp bowling kept them from getting any easy runs, and the Mumbai Indians fell short by 19 runs to slip to seventh place in the IPL tables.

The resulting rankings have not left much room for the Mumbai Indians to maneuver. They have to win most, if not all, of their matches going forward. One can only hope for the best, and wish them the best.

Royal Challengers trump Mumbai Indians

Tue, 05 May 2009 11:40:52 GMT

At first glance, the Mumbai Indians line up would speak of their batting prowess. But it was their balanced bowling attack, which gave them the distinct edge. With two excellent pacers in Zaheer and Malinga, spinner-pinch hitter Harbhajan and the all-rounders Nayar, Bravo, Duminy and Jayasuriya providing options for Sachin, himself a part time spinner, chasing even a low total would be a task against Mumbai. But it was not to be – at least on this day.

It was their bowling that let the team down in their tie against the Royal Challengers of Bangalore at Johannesburg. The teams were meeting with a 1-1 record.

The plan that has worked so long for the Mumbai Indians is that one of the senior openers drops anchor if the other one departs early. Jayasuriya started off shakily, as Praveen Kumar slipped a maiden past him and Sachin at the other end tried to get the innings started. But it was Sachin who fell chasing a ball, which pitched wide outside off and edging it in the process. Ajinkya Rahane who showed promise in the last match was promoted to number 3, but he lasted just one ball with a shot similar to Tendulkar’s. Dillon du Preez, the local boy in his IPL debut for RCB had two wickets in two balls when Duminy walked out to the middle. The diminutive South African had played two vital innings for Mumbai in their two previous matches and would have been looking for a hat-trick of fifties. But RCB, with all four of their playing foreigners being South African, managed to rattle him with some short stuff, removing him for a score of just 1, as Mumbai slid to 23/3 in the sixth over.

From there, both Bravo and Jayasuriya played restrained knocks, as they resurrected the Mumbai Indians innings. The two like to deal in boundaries but tight fielding by the opposition meant that the two had to work hard for their runs. The run rate suffered as they tried to get Mumbai to a decent score before going for an all out attack. They kept their wickets after the strategic time out but the pressure of a low run rate meant that they had to take whatever chances they could. Jayasuriya perished soon after bringing up an out of character fifty, trying to go for a boundary in the fifteenth over with the score at 83. Bravo then tried to go for the shots, as Nayar got his eye in but both batsmen were repeatedly frustrated by Bangalore’s fielders at the ropes. The duo notched up the singles and doubles but the lack of boundaries applied a brake on the scoring, which affected them badly. Some risks paid off toward the end, as Bravo galloped towards his fifty. The quick running and boundaries in the last five overs saw Mumbai go from a dangerously low 84/4 to a fighting total of 149/4.

Bombay boy Wasim Jaffer opened with Jacques Kallis for the Royal Challengers and their intent was clear in the very first over, in which Kallis neatly scored 9 runs. Kallis had injured his left knee while fielding and limped off the field brought all his experience into play against the dangerous Mumbai bowlers. The bowlers were punished for the slightest of errors, and the South African cleverly played even good length balls. Zaheer Khan made an inroad into the lineup when Jaffer’s innings ended with a tame flick straight into the hands of the fielder at square leg for just 7. Malinga’s introduction to try and unsettle the new batsman was superbly handled by Kallis who took 17 runs off that over. Malinga however came back strongly in his next over against former Mumbai Indian Uthappa who had been scratchy in the tournament so far. Uthappa looked uncertain and could only swing and miss, as Malinga delivered a maiden over. Harbhajan and Nayar slowed the proceedings down, as the batsmen toned down the aggression and seemed content with the singles and occasional twos. Kallis brought up his fifty as the partnership took Bangalore closer and closer. Bravo came in to prevent them from settling down against the slower bowlers. Mumbai had their share of misfortune when Zaheer injured his shoulder while fielding and had to leave the fielding in the 13th over. Running out of options, Sachin himself came into the attack.

Uthappa, by now a bit more comfortable took this opportunity to up the scoring for Bangalore and managed three boundaries in Tendulkar’s over. The chances he took against Bravo in the next over paid off, as Duminy failed to time his jump well at backward point, and Uthappa celebrated his success by going all out. He struck a huge six and a four to bring up his first fifty of this season before sobering down against Jayasuriya and Malinga who were introduced and reintroduced into the attack, respectively. The two Lankans kept it tight and some good fielding in the deep made sure that the Royal Challengers did not get any easy runs. Jayasuriya had his share of misfortune when a wild swing by Uthappa resulted in an inside edge, which narrowly missed the stumps. The match could still have gone anyway but Uthappa sealed it with a six and a four off Jayasuriya’s second over at the end of which the scores were level. Kallis finished the match with a single off the first ball of Malinga’s over to end on 69 off 59, while Uthappa was on 66 off 42 balls at the other end. Royal Challengers won by 9 wickets with 11 balls to spare and upset the points table by leapfrogging from the 7th place to the 4th while Mumbai Indians found themselves in the 6th place, although their net run rate is quite good and could help them as the tournament progresses.

A combination of factors saw the Mumbai Indians bowling fail to click for the first time in this IPL. However, their strength lies in not just their skill but also in their ability to learn from their mistakes. They have come back strongly after previous defeats in the tournament, and they will certainly look to do so in their match against Deccan Chargers on the 6th.

Duminy and Zak bring Mumbai back

Sat, 02 May 2009 18:56:13 GMT

The Mumbai Indians played yet another closely contested match in the IPL but this time they came out on top. JP Duminy had played a good knock against Kings XI Punjab but he could not see his team through the last time, as Punjab managed to snatch the game by 3 runs. However, this time he stuck around till the end to make a stunning difference, as Mumbai won the match by 9 runs.

Mumbai did not have the best of start, as Jayasuriya fell early. The batting order was shuffled, by bringing Harbhajan up the list, but this did not work out as well as the Mumbai Indians would have liked it to. Sachin held fort but his efforts to accelerate ended on 34 when he drove Agarkar straight into the hands of McCullum at short cover. Duminy who was on the other end took up responsibility. He absorbed all the pressure and let Abishek Nayar go after the slow bowlers. Nayar however completely misread the line of a Brad Hodge delivery and came down the track to edge it on to his leg stump.

Graham Napier came in and rotated the strike with Duminy, as the two kept the scoreboard ticking. He too tried to break out but ended up top edging a quicker, short one by Chris Gayle. Ajinkya Rahane in his debut match continued where Napier left off. Duminy dominated the partnership, as Ajinkya focused on giving Duminy the strike and let him thrash the living daylights out of Kolkata boys. With the score reading 97/5 at the end of the 16th over, Duminy decided to go all out and attack the bowling. Both managed boundaries but Rahane’s innings ended with a cheeky paddle, which landed straight in the hands of Chris Gayle. Duminy then brought the climax of his brilliantly paced innings, as he launched into Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Ashok Dinda hitting them for two sixes each. He finished unbeaten on 52 from 37 having bought up his fifty with a six, off the last ball of the innings, as Mumbai Indians posted a respectable total of 148/6.

Zaheer Khan opened brilliantly and removed Ganguly with the first ball that he played. Chris Gayle, who looked very scratchy in his brief stay was removed for just 7 in Zaheer’s second over and the pressure was put right back on Kolkata. Morne van Wyk and Brad Hodge consolidated to build a 91-run partnership and give Kolkata a winning chance. While Kolkata tinkered with their batting line up by keeping McCullum down the order, Sachin held back his main bowlers Zaheer and Malinga. But the other bowlers kept Kolkata from taking too many runs, assisted by good fielding, although they could not break the partnership. Graham Napier bowled well in his debut IPL match, getting Mumbai through the crucial middle overs economically and breaking the threatening Hodge-van Wyk partnership in the 15th over.

Zaheer and Malinga were brought back. Zaheer gave away a few runs but removed Laxmi Ratan Shukla. Malinga was economical and the increasing pressure led to Brad Hodge getting run out. Brad Hodge had asked for a runner but, following a brief hold up, continued without one. The decision immediately cost him his wicket as he was run out. Duminy at long on was quick to throw the ball to keeper Pinal Shah who flicked the bails, as Hodge ran across instead of running straight. But Hodge’s late innings assault in his innings of 73 meant that Kolkata still had a chance to win the match. Abishek Nayar was brought in for the last over with Brendon McCullum on strike. Kolkata required 19 runs to win. His stifling middle-stump line won the battle, as McCullum made room but failed to smash a low full toss over the extra cover boundary after having come in much lower in the order than usual. Nayar bowled well and gave away just 8 runs as Mumbai sealed a 9-run victory, propelling them to the third spot in the table. JP Duminy was named the ‘Man of the Match’.

Duminy stands tall in close encounter

Sat, 02 May 2009 15:17:54 GMT

The Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab played two of the most high profile matches last season. The first one at Mohali was ridden by controversy, while the second game saw an electrifying thriller at the boisterous Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. This one at Durban was like a sequel, with Malinga poised to bowl for a hat-trick before the match began. Both teams were beginning on even points, and the tension to go one up was clearly felt in the atmosphere.

On a pitch which threatened to slow down as the match progressed, Kings XI won a crucial toss and decided to bat first. They started safe, and the Mumbai Indians immediately began to shuffle their bowling. Harbhajan came into the attack in the fourth over and beat Karan Goel with his flight to hand the Mumbai Indians their first breakthrough. Another bowling change yielded the wicket of Ravi Bopara in the next over when Bravo had him caught at slip by Sachin. Yuvraj and Sangakkara then buckled up to consolidate and rebuild the innings but their budding partnership was cut short by some brilliant fielding by Zaheer Khan. Zak ran and dived to take a catch at long on, a shot off Duminy on which Yuvraj could not get the desired elevation.

The other side of the strategy break saw Jayasuriya removing compatriot Jayawardene in the 11th over, as Punjab slid to 52/4. Sangakkara then stitched two crucial partnerships with Irfan Pathan and Ramesh Powar, even as the Mumbai Indians bowlers struck from time to time, to take them past the 100-figure. All bowlers enjoyed some measure of success, as Kings XI set a modest target of 120 for the Mumbai Indians.

The reply hit the first roadblock when Jayasuriya departed meekly off the first legal delivery of the innings, poking at a sharply rising one and edging it to the slip. Sachin Tendulkar followed in the next over when he slashed at a short and wide one, which flew into the hands of Jayawardene at point. The Mumbai Indians were in a situation alien to them in this tournament having lost both openers early, when JP Duminy walked in to join Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan showed nerves, and expectedly did not last long. The Mumbai Indians had slid to 12/3 in the fifth over when he was out lbw to a yorker by Abdulla.

Dwayne Bravo walked in, and for a brief while it appeared that the Dwayne-Duminy combination would take Mumbai across. The duo steered, drove, pulled and came down the track to build a 32-run partnership. Bravo’s fluent innings was cut short when an attempt to clear the boundary was deposited in Wilkin Mota’s outstretched hands at long on.

Duminy showed his prowess in the 49-run stand with Abhishek Nayar thereafter. The duo ran every single there was, and some which were not. They milked the bowling, as well as their luck, as Duminy survived a missed stumping and a run out. Irfan Pathan’s reintroduction in the attack immediately saw the back of Nayar, as the southpaw tried to get under a full ball to try and heave it out of the ground. He missed, and Pathan had struck. Harbhajan came in and managed a four to keep the runs flowing. With 19 required from 12 balls, Piyush Chawla came into the attack. Harbhajan’s attempt at a big hit ended in him holing out to Karan Goel at long off. Duminy was still in the middle but struggled to get boundaries, thanks to some tight fielding by The King’s XI Punjab fielders. With 12 required from the last over, Yusuf Abdulla effectively sealed the match when Duminy hit one straight to the fielder positioned at deep midwicket to fall for 59. Five runs were required off the last ball but athletic fielding from Ramesh Powar saw to it that Saurabh Tiwary and Zaheer Khan could manage only 1, as the Mumbai Indians fell short by an agonizing margin of just 3 runs.

The moral of the story? As Sachin said, “You cannot take even a single match for granted.”

Mumbai Indians take Kolkata for a ride

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:39:32 GMT

The opening bowlers of various IPL teams must be given credit for giving it a sincere try even when the odds are stacked against them. And when the odds are of the magnitude of a combined international experience of 20 years, 1138 international matches and nearly 50,000 runs in international cricket, there’s not much one can be expected to do.

Kolkata’s woes began in the first over when Anureet Singh twisted his ankle while fielding and had to be carried off the field leaving them a bowler short. Sachin and Sanath needed no time to get their eye in; they immediately began middling the ball.

Ishant and Dinda kept it tight but the Mumbai openers broke out with innovative shots to get the score going. A brutal assault followed, in which Ganguly, Gayle and Mendis were all carted around the ground for boundaries and sixes, as the pair steamrolled their way to 111 for no loss at the strategy break. Deft touches and powerful strokes enthralled the crowd who voiced their approval loudly.

Mendis in particular received a severe thrashing and conceded 28 runs in his first spell of two overs. Ganguly and Gayle were taken off the attack after conceding 16 and 14 runs, respectively. Kolkata regrouped after the strategy break with Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Brad Hodge being brought into the attack. The two bowled an economical over each and immediately bagged results. From overs 12 to 17, Mumbai lost a wicket in each over, as Kolkata managed to restrict them to a total less than the 200 they were set to get. A cameo from Harbhajan and Duminy holding up one end sensibly, saw them post an imposing 187/6 in their 20 overs.

Gayle and McCullum are the other dream opening pair of the tournament and their display in the rain-curtailed game against Kings XI was proof. The onus was on the Mumbai Indians bowlers to not allow any of the two to get going, because if they did, then no total would have proved big enough.

Zaheer bowled a miserly opening over before Malinga came in to bowl his first. His slinging action and low point of release prompted the Kolkata openers to request umpire Brian Jerling to change the color of his white hat, as they were losing sight of the white ball in the background of white. Malinga finished the first over with the wicket of Brendon McCullum who tried to hit out but only succeeded in finding Duminy at point. Bravo was then introduced into the attack, and he responded to being hit for a six by Gayle, by bowling him a short one which took the edge, making its way to Sachin’s hands at wide slip.

Ganguly joined Hodge in the middle and the two launched an offensive, taking runs off Harbhajan and Bravo with alarming ease. But then Zaheer and Nayar were brought into the attack and they manage to stifle the batsmen. Sachin himself bowled an over and gave away only five runs, as Kolkata went into the strategy break requiring a further 118 runs from the 10 remaining overs. Nayar’s straight, choking line earned the young all-rounder three wickets, as the Kolkata batsmen tried to break free, even as Sachin plugged the run scoring with his bowling from the other end. First Hodge, then Ganguly and Arindam Ghosh lost their wickets trying to catch up with a rising required rate. Sachin brought in Bravo who got Yashpal Singh to edge one to the keeper.

Laxmi Ratan Shukla who played well as a pinch hitter for the Knight Riders in the previous season kept the fight alive with a boundary but his next attempt to clear the ropes landed in the hands of Jayasuriya at long on, just inside the boundary. At 91/7 and with Anureet Singh out of the line up with his injury, Mumbai needed just two wickets to seal their second victory and Sachin brought back Malinga to go for the kill. He needed just two balls to remove his compatriot Ajantha Mendis and pacer Ashoke Dinda with yorkers on the leg stump, as Mumbai Indians grabbed a 92-run victory.

Sachin received the man of the match award, as Mumbai Indians went to the third place in the standings, behind Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils. Lasith Malinga will be the bowler to watch in Mumbai’s match against Kings XI Punjab, if the Lankan gets a wicket with his first ball of the match, he will have claimed the first hat-trick of the second edition of the IPL.

Deccan Chargers thwart the Mumbai Indians campaign

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:17:51 GMT

The Mumbai Indians seemed in fine nick and on course to their second victory in IPL 2 before the Deccan Chargers fought back to emerge victorious in their match at Durban.

Rain had washed away the Mumbai Indians’ second match of the tournament against Rajasthan, and they were eager to get back on the field to carry forward the momentum from their opening match win against Chennai. Deccan in the meantime had looked convincing in their wins against Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore with both their international and national talents firing.

Adam Gilchrist of the Chargers backed his decision to bat first by taking the score to 63 in just 6.5 overs, with Herschelle Gibbs who made 58 from 44. After his departure, Gibbs stitched another tidy 61-run partnership with former Mumbai Indian Dwayne Smith, as they tried to set up a final overs blitz. But tight bowling by Mumbai in the final overs saw the Deccan side going from 124/2 in 13 overs to 168/9 after 20 overs.

Bravo and Malinga picked up three wickets a piece, while Jayasuriya and Harbhajan snared one each for Mumbai. Zaheer and Bravo collaborated to run out the Deccan top scorer Gibbs.

Mumbai steadied their chase after Jayasuriya fell early to RP Singh. Sachin and JP Duminy were explosive and brilliantly paced their innings as Mumbai reached 84/1 when the strategic time out arrived. But it went downhill from there when Sachin fell in the first over after the break for 36. Shikhar Dhawan followed without scoring many runs less than two overs later, as Deccan Chargers made a comeback in the match riding on the young spinner Pragyan Ojha. Duminy, who had been promoted up the order, looked like reaching his first IPL fifty with Dwayne Bravo holding up one end when he fell to Ojha on 47. As the Deccan bowlers succeeded in not letting partnerships flourish, the pressure got to Bravo and Nayar who were dismissed by Fidel Edwards while trying to go for shots. Harbhajan swung at a few balls successfully and the equation came down to 15 runs from 4 balls. A mighty heave from Harbhajan off RP Singh followed but ended in disappointment when it landed in the hands of Dwayne Smith at long on.

Both teams bowled well at the death. Malinga with his double wicket maiden was especially impressive, but Deccan’s early containment of the devastating Jayasuriya gave them an edge. The strategic timeout neutralized the steam Mumbai had built up in their first ten overs, and they failed to recover adequately as Deccan seized a fiercely competed contest.

Turning 16 after 20 years

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:36:17 GMT

Batting maestro and Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar celebrated his 36th birthday at the Southern Sun Elengani hotel in Durban. Sachin, the leading run scorer in both the test and ODI formats of the games, is regarded as the best batsman ever to have graced the game.

Apart from the Mumbai Indians, he was joined by Indian national squad members MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and National Chairman of the Selectors’ Committee, Krishnamachari Srikkanth who was his captain when Sachin made his debut in 1989 as a 16-year old. Sunil Gavaskar, the Little Master of Indian cricket, and Niranjan Shah, Vice Chairman of IPL, were also present to bless the batting maestro. The surprise party was thrown by his Mumbai Indians teammates, which includes India nationals such as Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh. A number of media persons also joined in the celebrations.

His wife Anjali, daughter Sara and son Arjun left from Mumbai in the early hours of the morning to be with him in South Africa though they did not get to join him in the party. Speaking about his distinguished career spanning 20 years, Sachin said that he still had one target in his mind: to win India the cricket world cup, which will be held on the sub continent in 2011.

His birthday was also celebrated in London where a wax figure of him was unveiled at the famed Madame Tussauds after having been launched by the master himself in Mumbai a week ago.

“I feel like 16. I think it is the good wishes and blessings that count,” Tendulkar said after cutting his birthday cake. As Zaheer grabbed the maestro from behind, both Yuvraj and Harbhajan smeared some cake on Tendulkar’s face. Later, the guests enjoyed a DJ music and dance party too.

Asked how he felt after crossing his many milestones, Tendulkar said: “It is not about breaking records. It is about winning matches. It is a terrific feeling to win and that is what matters. Statistics are merely a reflection of an individual’s contribution to the team. Ultimately, it is a team sport and though individual performances matter, it is more about winning matches.”

Well begun is half done!

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:30:55 GMT

On April 18, the Mumbai Indians had certainly decided to put the past season behind them. If the resoluteness with which they made a fresh start in the opening match of the second edition of the DLF Indian Premier League in Cape Town is anything to go by, there are only brighter innings ahead.

Playing the Mumbai Indians were the runners up of the first season, Chennai Super Kings. The seamer-friendly pitches of South Africa and the rain had made the conditions trickier than those in India for batsmen used to slogging everything out of sight. On winning the toss, Dhoni expectedly put in Mumbai to bat, hoping to extract venom out of the pitch. But Sachin had something else in mind.

The Super Kings’ bowlers started off well but Jayasuriya and Sachin drew upon their reserve of experience to play themselves in. The tentative pokes and wide slashes were kept in check. The shots began to unfurl only as the pitch dried up a little.

Jayasuriya departed for 26 when an apparently well timed shot off Sri Lankan compatriot Thilana Thushara was neatly taken by Hayden at midwicket. Shikhar Dhawan showed nerves early on. An unexpected break due to pitch invasion by a dog halted play for nearly 11 minutes. A quick talk with Sachin ensued, post which the youngster showed more purpose. The batsmen kept the Super Kings busy with their field settings, as they repeatedly stole singles by playing the ball within the inner circle.

Sachin gradually freed his arms with superb boundaries off Oram. Gony struck from the other end by removing Dhawan who top edged to Dhoni near mid wicket. Local boy Duminy walked in to a raucous crowd and hit a sublime boundary, before Gony pulled off a brilliant caught and bowled to dismiss him for just 9. A wide slash by Bravo ran away to fine third man boundary but Joginder Sharma deceived him with a slower one on which an attempted pull landed in the hands of Hayden at deep square leg.

The Chennai bowlers were keeping it tight, managing to stifle even Tendulkar who had to make do with singles and doubles. However, Abhishek Nayar was not ready to settle for a below par score, and tore into Andrew Flintoff, hitting him for three sixes in four balls, as the Mumbai run rate suddenly shot up in the 18th over. Oram banged one short to derail the rampaging Nayar who managed to hole out to Thushara at long off, departing for a match winning 35 off just 14 balls. Harbhajan and Zaheer played cameo knocks, as Tendulkar brought up his second IPL fifty with a boundary off Oram. Mumbai had set a challenging total of 165/7 on a pitch where 140 would be looked at as a decent score.
Malinga needed just two balls to announce his return to top flight cricket. Parthiv Patel edged one to Sachin Tendulkar at slip to depart for naught, and Suresh Raina almost followed when Shikhar Dhawan nearly pulled off a superb catch running backwards at deep midwicket.

Raina and Hayden looked ominous with three boundaries in the next over by Zaheer. Making things worse, Pinal Shah dropped a thick top edge by Hayden, off Dwayne Bravo. Bravo however got Raina with his next ball, as Rohan Raje took a brilliant catch at deep square leg just inches inside the boundary.

Flintoff looked a bit suspect but was lucky with the edges and the lofted shots, which landed in the unmanned areas, as the Super Kings built a steady partnership. The bowling was tight and the fielding sharp, as the Mumbai Indians made the batsmen work for runs. The boundaries were not easy to come by and the Super Kings were made to take chances. One such chance paid off as Flintoff tried to loft Harbhajan over long on, but ended up giving him an easy catch to depart for 24 instead.

Hayden was making the most of his reprieve after causing rampage with his trademark power hitting in the only over by Raje, but Jayasuriya with his crafty slow left arm bowling was testing the Australian for all his worth. The Lankan won the battle when Zaheer took a stunning catch at cover by diving to his right and clinching a full blooded drive. Bravo cramped up Dhoni who had to be content with singles even as the asking rate was shooting up with every ball being bowled. The need to accelerate got Oram who tried smashing Jayasuriya for a six off consecutive balls. He succeeded once, and Jayasuriya succeeded the second time, as Pinal Shah redeemed himself to take a top edge.

Dhoni kept the challenge alive with a six off the very next delivery but Badrinath at the other end failed to keep pace. Malinga’s precision block hole line and length proved too much for him, as a valiant effort to dispatch it straight over the bowler’s head landed in the hands of Bravo at long on. The match could still have swung anyway when 39 were required from 3 overs. But Zaheer and Bravo bowled two miserly overs mixed with variations in length and pace, as Chennai managed only 14 from these. The last over by Malinga saw Chennai still requiring 25 runs but as the equation came down to 22 required off 3 balls, Mumbai had the match in their pocket. Malinga bowled a fiery full toss, which beat Dhoni, deflected off his pads and shook timber to finalize the victory. A couple of balls later, Mumbai had a 19-run victory over the Chennai Super Kings in the first match of the second edition of the IPL.

As they say, well begun is half done.

Sachin ka sabse badaa fan

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:08:54 GMT

Even before Sachin met his own wax replica in Mumbai, he had met his sabse badaa (the biggest) fan. While it would considered common in a cricket crazy country like India where people worship Sachin to name their children after him, this one comes from New Zealand. Yes, this 7-year old is a New Zealander, and no, he is not one born to parents of Indian origin.

The duo met at the third ODI between India and New Zealand in Christchurch, when Sachin Austin, a seven-year-old New Zealand boy, came to watch an international match for the first time. He not only got to meet Sachin Tendulkar, the great Indian batsman and Mumbai Indians skipper in the IPL, but witnessed one of his biggest innings. It was when Sachin looked set to make a double century when an injury to the stomach muscles forced him to retire on 163.

Not used to handling the media glare that his namesake attracts, Sachin Austin looked a trifle confused at the meeting. Sachin Austin’s father Nick Anholt said that the decision to name his son after Tendulkar was not difficult. “I have always liked the name and knew he (Tendulkar) was going to be one of the greats, and now my Sachin is a budding cricketer too.” Mother Veda Austin added, “I follow Vedic philosophies, which Hinduism is based on and have been to India many times. So I was really happy that Sachin got an Indian name.”

In the few minutes he spent with his fan, Tendulkar did his best to make Sachin comfortable, but the glare of TV cameras and flashes had an unnerving presence on the youngster who received a sheet autographed by every member of the Indian team.

“I am happy to get this autograph and I am proud to have his name. I want to be a cricket star when I grow up,” was all the third grader from New Brighton School could manage after some prompting from his visibly proud dad. Characteristically pithy, Tendulkar said, “All the best, do well,” before ruffling his little fan’s hair and walking away.

Fly to South Africa to cheer the Mumbai Indians

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:05:18 GMT

Mumbai Indians and their official radio partner Red FM have announced an exciting chance for eight fans to catch the team live in action in South Africa in IPL 2.

Starting April 13, RED FM, the official partners of the Mumbai Indians, has started an exciting treasure hunt for the tickets. As a run-up to the matches, Red FM has identified eight locations in the city of Mumbai and the Radio Jockeys are giving on-air clues to bring the listeners closer to the final location of the tickets. The contest will be on for four weeks.

The clues will be devised in a crack-the-code format with a password. Listeners from the city are being invited to call in with their estimates and guesses to the location of the ticket. Finally, they would have to give the ‘password’ to the person who holds the ticket, and only then can they win the ticket. The listener who reaches the location first wins! RED FM outdoor broadcast vans will be stationed on locations to capture the excitement and the confusion amongst the listeners.

Two tickets to South Africa are up for grabs every week, and all of Mumbai has a chance to win. All one has to do is stay tuned in to Red FM and solve all the clues.

Red FM has also planned an innovative 360-degree, on-air, on-ground and multimedia campaign to promote the contest. The different phases of the campaign will be unveiled in different stages, maintaining listener curiosity and involvement throughout the series.

Last year, in a first-of-its-kind brand integration effort, RED FM had turned Blue FM for a whole day for the Mumbai Indians. This time Red FM has planned to turn the entire city of Mumbai blue for a day. Stay tuned to support your favorite team in blue…

A season for awards and recognition

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:42:36 GMT

The Mumbai Indians have had an excellent season of cricket and the accolades have been coming in.

Sachin Tendulkar had his monumental contributions to the world of cricket acknowledged by the famed Madame Tussauds of London. A wax work replica of the Mumbai Indians skipper now shares space with actors, musicians, sporting heroes, historical figures, cultural and world leaders from around the world.

Sachin, Zaheer and Harbhajan’s consistent performances in the past season had a lot to cheer about. Sachin became the highest run getter in test cricket, Zaheer crossed the 200 wickets mark in tests at an overseas average better than any other Indian pacer, and Harbhajan produced the best figures for an Indian spinner abroad, besides finishing the New Zealand series as the highest wicket taker.

These performances were taken note of and the three Mumbai Indians players found themselves in the first ever Wisden XI. Wisden is a recognized publication on cricket and their XI is made up of the most consistent and brilliant cricketers from around the world. Two other Indians Virender Sehwag and MS Dhoni (as captain-wicketkeeper) also found a place in the Wisden XI, which features players like Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Kevin Pietersen and Mitchell Johnson.

Harbhajan Singh was also awarded with the prestigious Padma Shri award, a civilian award bestowed in recognition of excellence. The prolific off spinner could not however attend the presentation ceremony, citing family reasons.

When Sachin met Tendulkar

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:47:20 GMT

On April 13th at a swanky hotel in Mumbai, Indian batsman and Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar met his match. Aside from the fact that unlike him, it could break under pressure or melt under heat, he was pretty impressed by it.

It was the unveiling of his wax replica made by the famous Madame Tussauds of London where Sachin came face to face with the closest thing to perfection. Arms outstretched with a bat and a helmet in each hand, and a thankful gaze directed heaven wards, the replica captured one of Sachin’s most precious moments in his extraordinary career. The replica immortalized the spontaneous celebration when he overtook Brian Lara’s record for the highest test runs aggregate. It will share space with some of the biggest legends known for their lifetime achievements, at the Madame Tussauds wax statue museum in London. The little master, as he is affectionately referred to, is the first Indian sportsman to be featured in the museum.

Sachin’s reactions were spontaneous and he said “I really don’t know how to react to this. I am not a person who normally reacts easily to anything. But when my family and I saw it, something identical to myself, my reaction was something different. I have not reacted like that before, my reaction was special. It was so real. But I am glad it does not breathe. It is that close.”

Tendulkar’s statue would be inaugurated at Madame Tussaud’s on April 24, on the day the cricketer turns 36.
Madame Tussaud’s spokesperson Liz Edwards said, “For a few years many visitors expressed their surprise that Tendulkar’s statue was not there. So, we decided to approach the Indian cricketer.”

“I am not the person to decide whether my statue should have been one or two year before or this year. I am not concerned about that. I am happy that I will be there now. It is a happy moment.” Tendulkar said he would go to London after the Indian Premier League season two in South Africa, and see for himself his wax statue at the Tussauds. “Right from 15 years of age I have thought of going to the Tussauds. Even during my stay in England to play cricket, I did not have the time to go there because of my schedule. This time I will be there to know how these wax statues are made,” he said. Tendulkar has achieved almost everything a cricketer could dream of except for one - to win the World Cup for the country. “Every cricketer has a dream. For me I want to win the World Cup for the country.”

Intensity is the key

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:37:54 GMT

Jonty Rhodes, the fielding coach of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL spoke on what he feels can lift a match. “Complete focus in a player, which creates total intensity, is the key to success in Twenty20 cricket,” says Jonty.

“You have to maintain a high intensity. There are only 120 balls, and you have to be focused every single ball, expecting every single ball to come to you whether you are fielding at third man, fine leg, or backward point. The way the guys play shots these days you have to expect the ball to come wherever you fielding,” Rhodes said. “That is the key to good fielding - if you are expecting the ball, you can put up a good performance.”

Rhodes said that while the basic skills of fielding remained the same in all forms of the game, it was the intensity that differed. “Even in the 50-overs game, I was expecting the ball to come to me and was quite disappointed if it did not come. Pressure is a constant in the 20-over game with matches going right down to the wire, so you cannot afford to really make a mistake with bat, ball or in the field. Fielding is the same; it is just that you are doing it at a lot quicker pace.”

Jonty said that in a training camp held in Durban last month with the Mumbai players he stressed on throwing techniques and foot movement, two aspects that make a good fielder. He named countryman and the Mumbai Indians star JP Duminy as one of the best fielders in the world today.

“JP Duminy fields well in the inner ring in the first six overs. When the fielding restrictions are over, he is very good in the outfield because he is very quick to the ball and even if he may not have the biggest arm in the world, he has a good throw, his body position is good, and he catches a lot of balls.”

Dolphins match the Mumbai Indians in Durban thriller

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:33:42 GMT

Just two weeks ago Shikhar Dhawan was uncertain of playing in the second edition of the IPL. He had fractured his middle finger while attempting a catch in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match at Agartala in February, and was rehabilitating at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore in the beginning of April to make his comeback, under the supervision of physio Paul Close. It was at this point that he was advised to undergo two weeks of rest, with a stack splint applied to his finger. With the IPL just three weeks away, it was a race against time for the dashing top order batsman.

A lot of questions must have hovered over his head when he stepped out to bat against the Dolphins. It was his first competitive match in a while. Besides, his performance would also indicate his match-fitness for the IPL. If there were any doubting Thomas’s, Shikhar’s knock must have put them to rest, as he flayed the Dolphins attack with a brisk 59 off 44 balls in his inimitable style. Partnering him was Mumbai’s local flavor Abhishek Nayar who slammed 46 off just 22 deliveries, as the Mumbai Indians posted a respectable 177/5 in their 20 overs.

Luke Ronchi, loaned to the Dolphins was off the block with a 17-ball 27 as the Dolphins raced to a great start in their chase. Graham Napier, another Mumbai Indian playing for Dolphins made 17 off 14 balls, but the star of the chase was Ahmed Amla, the lesser known younger brother of Hashim Amla.

Amla blasted his way to a splendid century off just 70 balls, as the Dolphins wrapped up the match with an over to spare. He scored a 100 even as Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando picked wickets at the other end. Malinga finished with 2/34, while Fernando ended with figures of 2/31. Dolphins knocked off the required runs with 6 wickets and an over to spare.

Regardless of the loss Mumbai Indians will be encouraged by the form of Shikhar Dhawan and Abhishek Nayar. Playing in tandem, the two can lend balance and firepower in the middle order as the situation demands and their rich form gives Mumbai a boost before the tournament begins.

Mumbai Indians begin their march to IPL glory

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:28:07 GMT

Pietermaritzburg is the historic place where the young attorney Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was thrown out of the train at the station for his skin color. The attorney went on to become the Mahatma whose Satyagraha movement was instrumental in India gaining independence in 1947.

Pietermaritzburg is also where the Mumbai Indians began their long march towards IPL glory. They began their journey with a practice match against an Inland XI, which was formed of local South African cricketers and several Mumbai Indians players ‘loaned’ to the Inland XI for the match. The players loaned were Luke Ronchi, Lasith Malinga, Graham Napier, Ryan McLaren and Dilhara Fernando.

Malinga drew first blood, and then second, by sending back batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Saurabh Tiwary in quick succession. He got them with short balls, which they tried to fend unsuccessfully. Sanath Jayasuriya then announced his intent, as he slammed a 38-ball 57, which included six 4s and three 6s. With Mohammad Ashraful, he added 81 runs in just over nine overs before being caught behind by Luke Ronchi.

Ashraful accumulated 44 off 37 balls, even as first Jayasuriya and then Dwayne Bravo hit half centuries at the other end. Bravo and Ashraful built an 82-run partnership before retiring to let the other batsmen get some much needed match practice. Abhishek Nayar and Pinal Shah remained unbeaten on 6 off 6 and 5 off 3 respectively, as the Mumbai Indians team posted 176/3 on the board.

Inland XI started strongly as Ronchi raced off to 39 from 20 balls. But regular wickets fell after the first one fell, at 49 in just the fifth over. Barring brief resistance from Ryan McLaren for the 5th wicket, there never was any fight from the Inland XI. Mclaren made 21 and Jaydev Shah made 9 before both were run out. Inland XI eventually made 159/9 in their 20 overs, as Mumbai Indians cruised to a 17-run victory.

The bowling was unrelenting, the fielding sharp and the energy vibrant. Rohan Raje took three wickets and a catch, Bravo took two wickets, a catch and effected a run out, while Saurabh Tiwary effected two run outs to bring a smile to the face of fielding coach Jonty Rhodes who hails from Pietermaritzburg.

Mumbai Indians won this curtain raiser to the IPL. The prelude looks good and hopefully the symphony at the main opera on the 18th against the Chennai Super kings will be evident!

Abhishek XI triumphs over Jayasuriya XI

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:25:32 GMT

With just days to go before the IPL 2 begins, the Mumbai Indians decided to bring out their guns and fire them up. The picture perfect Chatsworth Cricket Ground, a 40-minute ride away from Durban was the venue for the practice match.

Nearly the entire squad, except for the Indian triumvirate of Sachin, Harbhajan and Zaheer, participated in the T20 match played between Sanath Jayasuriya XI and Abhishek Nayar XI. The other players missing were Dhawal Kulkarni, who had just returned from the tour of New Zealand, and JP Duminy, who was with the South African national team on duty in the ODI series against the visiting Aussies.

The match was a perfect chance for the young players to make their case for inclusion in the Final XI, which will step onto the Newlands ground at Cape Town in the opening match of IPL 2 to face Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, April 18.

Wicket keeper batsman Luke Ronchi from Australia provided a blazing start for Abhishek XI as he slammed 46 runs from just 39 balls. Supporting him was Essex all rounder Graham Napier who made 42 runs in 39 balls. Facing an experienced bowling attack of Dwayne Bravo, Dilhara Fernando, Kyle Mills and Jayasuriya, the relatively inexperienced players did well to post a fighting total of 159 in their innings.

The Lankan duo of Jayasuriya and Fernando picked up two wickets apiece while Bravo and Mills got one each to restrict Abhishek XI to a gettable total. But Graham Napier continued his showing with the ball too, as he snared 3/13. Jayasuriya let loose with a quick 22 before Bravo made a dogged unbeaten 52. But in the end, Jayasuriya XI still fell short by 32 runs. Jude Singh played brilliantly against the spinners, hitting them out of the ground before falling to one of the quicker bowlers.

Lasith Malinga, returning from an injury, which kept him out of international cricket for a year looked fit, hungry and bowled as if the one year layoff had never happened. Fernando was consistent in his spells and had the results to show for it. Pinal Shah had a good outing behind the stumps; the results of the South African training stint showed, as he pulled off some deft glove work. Ryan McLaren worked up a good rhythm, hitting perfect lengths while bowling and hitting hard while batting to reveal a good T20 prospect. Bravo’s wicket and fifty showed that the international players were all fit and firing, which means Sachin will have a lot to choose from.

Zaheer and Harbhajan swing it for India

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:38:32 GMT

Just yesterday, India had reached a respectable 375/9 on a seamer friendly pitch with contributions by Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh. The two Mumbai Indians worked their magic with the ball today, as they dismissed New Zealand for a paltry 197 to hand India a 197-run lead in the first innings. India lost one wicket in their second innings and finished the day on 51/1 with an overall lead of 233 with nine wickets and three days remaining.

Zaheer came in with an incisive spell as he removed the first four batsmen, and then returned to break a potentially threatening partnership to claim the sixth 5-wicket wicket haul of his career. The five-wicket haul, his first in New Zealand, comprised the wickets of Martin Guptill, Tim McIntosh, Daniel Flynn, Jesse Ryder and Tim Southee.

Earlier in the day, Zak found his rhythm as soon as he began bowling and looked very threatening. He landed perfect deliveries, hitting the right areas, speed and variations. Harbhajan played an excellent supporting role as he extracted all that the pitch offered, and spun his way to a 3-wicket haul. He first unsettled India’s biggest nemesis in the series, Jesse Ryder, with his drift and flight. Ryder tried to break out against Khan and paid for it with his lowest score of the series. Then Harbhajan removed Ross Taylor, the only batsman who applied himself today. He then removed James Franklin and Brendon McCullum who had threatened to string together the lower order partnerships, which have frustrated India in the series earlier. He finished with figures of 3/43 and Khan with 5/65 as they claimed 8 wickets between them a day after having scored 60 and 33 runs respectively.

With 3 days to go, India is in a strong position to claim a historic series clinching victory in New Zealand after 41 years. Go India! Go Mumbai Indians!

All in a days work

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:33:28 GMT

The Mumbai Indians had an exciting day on the first day of the third test between India and New Zealand. The game swung between the two teams, when Daniel Vettori won the toss and asked the Indians to bat first. However, with some interesting contributions from the Mumbai Indians, Team India stood at a slightly advantageous position at the end of the day’s play.

Wary of the pitch, India’s openers had started cautiously. Once they found their rhythm, the opening pair scored 73 quick runs. But the Kiwi bowlers pegged India back with two quick wickets to send back the openers.

Sachin Tendulkar, the Mumbai Indians skipper came to the crease and dispelled Kiwi thoughts of an Indian collapse with his fluent stroke play. The master blaster brought up a half century in just 68 balls as he took India toward a commanding position. The top score of the Indian innings, his 62 featured lovely vintage shots and promised a lot till he edged on to the keeper off Chris Martin.

Another mini collapse followed and India suddenly found itself at a precarious 206/6 when Harbhajan arrived at the crease. He had his share of luck in the beginning but the off spinner showed his skill with the bat to post 60 runs, as he slammed fours and sixes of every bowler he came across. His partnership with Dhoni helped India go beyond the 300 run mark.

Zaheer Khan followed and decided to go for broke considering the limited support Ishant could be expected to provide. He launched first into Tim Southee and then Ian O’Brien, hitting him for successive fours in a single over. Zaheer departed off the last ball of the over but not before his 33 off 23 balls had taken India closer to 350.

A Mixed Bag of Blessings for Mumbai Indians

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:26:04 GMT

The past week brought a mixed bag of experiences for the Mumbai Indians playing across the world.

Zaheer Khan snapped two quick wickets on the first day of the second test between India and New Zealand at Napier. The Kiwis were struggling at 23-2, but a fight back was aided by the flat pitch and it was not long before the bowlers found themselves at the receiving end. Khan had his revenge when he removed double centurion Jesse Ryder, the ball after he had reached 200.

Harbhajan Singh had to toil for his two wickets too, as he removed the other big scorer Ross Taylor and tail-ender Jeetan Patel.

Sachin Tendulkar mixed solid defense with incisive attack to score runs freely, even as other batsmen tried to bat safe in the face of the daunting total set up by the Kiwis. He was unfortunate to fall just one short of a well deserved half century, when a collapse took place. The Indian were made to follow on, and faced the impossible task of batting out more than six sessions to save the match.

Sachin came in again at a make or break point when Dravid was dismissed just before lunch on day four. The Indians were still trailing but he took the pressure off Gambhir by scoring quickly, and without giving the bowlers a single chance. He stroked a classy 64, as India went on to draw the match.

In another match in the Caribbean, Dwayne Bravo shone in the third ODI between West Indies and England even though his team’s fortunes fluctuated big time. He took four important wickets, and a catch, as England crashed to 117 in 43.1 overs, one of their lowest ODI totals in recent times. The West Indies went on to crush them with 8 wickets to spare.

The fourth ODI was not as good after England easily overhauled a rain reduced total. Batting first, the West Indies seemed to be heading for a collapse before Bravo pulled them to a respectable 239 in 50 overs with an attacking 69. Rain however reduced the target to a very gettable 135 from 20 overs and England made it with an over to spare.

In yet another match, JP Duminy chipped in with handy knocks in the middle order, as South Africa bounced back in the T20 series against Australia. They wrapped up the series 2-0 after the 2-1 loss in the tests against the Aussies. Duminy’s knocks of 21 and 23 in the two matches helped South Africa keep the momentum going at points when the matches could have swayed either way.

Mumbai Indians shine

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:22:52 GMT

India vs. New Zealand

Three Mumbai Indians sparkled in the historic Indian victory in New Zealand in an exciting week for cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar, the Mumbai Indians skipper scored his 42nd test century, his second in New Zealand this past week. His match-winning knock of 160 came in the first innings of the first test against the Kiwis. India eventually made 529 in their reply to New Zealand’s first innings score of 279, as Sachin wrested the crucial sessions away from the New Zealanders.

Mumbai Indians very own Zaheer Khan had exploited the pitch just a day before, as he had ripped into the New Zealand top order with an incisive opening spell in which he took two wickets. He also spoiled their second innings with a wicket in his very first over. Incidentally, it was Tendulkar who took the catch.

Harbhajan Singh picked up his 23rd five-wicket haul, also his best figures overseas, as he claimed 6-63. After a tame first innings with the ball in which he got just one wicket, Harbhajan rose to the occasion spectacularly in the second innings, so much so that he narrowly missed out another man of the match award to Sachin. His victims included a well-set Martin Guptill, the dangerous Jesse Ryder, a resistant Daniel Flynn, a threatening Daniel Vettori and a stubborn Ian O’Brien.

South Africa vs. Australia

The third and final test of the riveting series between South Africa and the touring Australians brought the end of a bittersweet series for JP Duminy. Duminy scored one half century in his first test series on home soil to finish with an average of 35.75. He also picked up his first test wicket on home soil to make it doubly memorable - for Duminy, the bowler.

England vs. West Indies

In the Caribbean, Dwayne Bravo made up for his batting show by picking up two crucial wickets to throw England off their course in their chase of 264 in the second ODI at Guyana. Bravo dismissed the dangerous Owais Shah and removed Paul Collingwood to break England’s back in the match the Windies eventually won by 21 runs. Bravo had a good day in the field in the first ODI as well. He picked up two wickets, a catch and a run-out, even as West Indies lost by two runs according to the Duckworth Lewis system.

Mumbai Indians to Host Home Matches at Brabourne Stadium

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:43:08 GMT

Cricketing Extravaganza set to light up the ‘Mecca of Indian Cricket’

Mumbai Indians, one of the most followed teams in the Indian Premier League, has inked a contract with the Cricket Club of India (CCI) to host its home matches in the upcoming Indian Premier League at the Brabourne Stadium.

As required by the CCI constitution, a majority of the CCI members ratified the agreement, paving the way for the cricketing extravaganza to be played in what is famously regarded as the ‘Mecca of India Cricket’.

Over 25000 seating capacity Brabourne Stadium will host seven matches featuring the Mumbai Indians team led by Sachin Tendulkar, including five to be played under lights.

Commenting on the venue, Mrs. Nita Ambani of Mumbai Indians said, “We are excited about Brabourne Stadium hosting our home matches. The stadium has iconic value in World Cricket, and has a special attraction for young and exciting cricketers, several of whom will be playing for the first time. I am joined by Sachin Tendulkar, and the entire team, in thanking the CCI members.”

About Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians (MI) is the most followed cricket team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Led by Sachin Tendulkar, also the Icon Player, the team represents a powerful combination of experience and youthful energy. The MI team includes international stars like Sanath Jayasuriya, Dilhara Fernando, JP Duminy and Kyle Mills, apart from India’s leading players like Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, among others. IndiaWin Sports, a group company of Reliance Industries Ltd. is the owner of the Mumbai based franchise. Mumbai Indians were the most watched team on television in the first edition of the IPL tournament (Source: IPL Committee Report), totaling 239 million viewers. With exciting new additions to the team, the Mumbai Indians Paltan is all set to relive its slogan of “Lets Rock the World”.

In all, four Mumbai Indians for New Zealand tour

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:15:11 GMT

As expected, three MI stalwarts, Icon Player Sachin Tendulkar, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and pace bowler Zaheer Khan have been named for the Indian squad. While Harbhajan and Zaheer would be playing for the tests, ODIs, as well as the T20s, Sachin has decided to play the test and ODIs but has opted out of the T20 matches. The test series starts from March 18.

Dhawal Kulkarni selected for the New Zealand tour

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:11:45 GMT

Mumbai Indian (MI) pacer Dhawal Kulkarni has earned a spot in India's test squad for the New Zealand tour starting next week. The 20-year-old came into the limelight last year with his dazzling performance in the Indian Premier League, and has consistently done well in the domestic circuit since.

A right-arm medium pacer, Kulkarni first claimed a place on the cricket firmament with his outstanding performance for the Mumbai Under-17 team in the Vijay Merchant Trophy (2005-06). In the 13 first-class matches Dhawal has played so far, he has claimed 49 wickets, with an economy rate of 2.94. He is also the highest wicket taker in the last Ranji Trophy season wherein he took an astounding 42 wickets.

Team Anthem for Mumbai Indians by lyricist Javed Akhtar, scored by Anu Malik

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:17:11 GMT

Famous lyricist Javed Akhtar has penned the Team Anthem of Mumbai Indians. Akhtar’s inspiring words express the spirit of team Mumbai Indians and their motivation to ‘Rock the World’. The anthem’s tunes were composed by celebrated music director Anu Malik of the ‘Indian Idol’ fame.

The melodious and catchy anthem released today at a glittering function is in the form of a music video depicting the team’s spirit to fight it out in the DLF Indian Premier League T20 matches.

The release of this anthem is close on the heels of the roll out of the advertising campaign featuring Bollywood Superhero Hrithik Roshan. The lyrics were written by Piyush Pandey and music composed by Tapas Relia.

MasterCard Priceless Catch - This contest is now closed for 2008

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:17:11 GMT

All you die hard cricket fans now have another reason to cheer. Presenting the ‘MasterCard Priceless Catch’, where cricket balls autographed by the Mumbai Indian Captain Sachin Tendulkar himself, are up for grabs*.
Come to any of the matches played in Mumbai and if you’re the first to catch one of the sixes raining in the stands in any match, you will get to take home an autographed ball*. So, get out there and start practicing now!

“MasterCard Priceless Catch” Contest Terms and Conditions

The Contest is administered and managed by MasterCard International Inc.

The Contest will run only during matches played in Mumbai in the 2008 Indian Premier League (IPL) season (a “Priceless Match”).

Only valid ticket holders for the relevant Priceless Match demonstrating good behaviour throughout the Priceless Match are eligible to participate in the Contest for that Priceless Match.

The Contest winner is the first person to take the first clean catch off a scored ‘6’ at a Priceless Match at a point outside the boundary line and at a place which is not prohibited for members of the public.

The Contest winner will be eligible to be awarded a cricket ball signed by Mumbai Indian captain Mr. Sachin Tendulkar or, at MasterCard’s sole discretion, an alternative prize of a similar nature. No other prize or emoluments will be available.

The Prize will be awarded to the Contest winner provided that the winner makes him/herself known to an Agency employee at the Mumbai cricket ground as soon as possible after taking the catch, produces a valid ticket for the Priceless Match, is of good behaviour and signs documentation confirming receipt of the prize, consent to publicity (described below) and a release of any further claim against MasterCard, the Agency or otherwise in respect of the Contest.

The identity of each winner will be determined by MasterCard or its Contest management agency (the “Agency”). In case of any dispute, the decision of MasterCard and its Agency shall be final and binding.

The winner will be required to have his/her picture taken for the purposes of PR and communication by MasterCard and will have to sign a release form authorizing MasterCard and its Agency to have all rights to use their name and image.

Winning the Priceless Catch contest does not imply or create any right or expectation that the winner will have an opportunity to meet Mr. Sachin Tendulkar, any other member of the Mumbai Indian team or any other person.

The Contest result and Prize is non-transferable and non-assignable.

The contest shall be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts/tribunal in Mumbai

Non-adherence by a potentially eligible Prize winner to any of the Contest’s terms and conditions shall invalidate the claim of such potential winner and neither MasterCard nor the Agency will be liable to provide any Prize in relation to the relevant Priceless Match.

Unless otherwise notified, MasterCard is not responsible for any other contest being conducted during the IPL tournament at any location.

Master Card reserves the right to change the eligibility, terms and conditions of the contest at any time, even during the Contest without assigning any reason what so ever

No employee of MasterCard or Agency associated with the Contest are eligible to participate

Mumbai Indians honoured in traditional Maharashtrian style

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:17:11 GMT

Mumbai, April 17, 2008: Mumbai's very own DLF Indian Premier League team the - Mumbai Indians - were felicitated at a glittering function at the Taj Mahal Hotel today. Present on the occasion were cricket legend and Mumbai's very own "Little Master" Sunil Gavaskar and renowned cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar and a host of past State cricketers.

In true Maharashtrian tradition, the team members were felicitated and given symbolic Ganesh idols by Smt. Nita Ambani, while Shri Ramakant Achrekar, described as the Dronacharya of Indian cricket, applied a "tilak" from Shivaji Park's mitti on their foreheads.

Led by Sachin Tendulkar, the rest of the Mumbai Indian squad (in alphabetical order), the coach Lalchand Rajput and the support staff walked up to the dais for the honours. Harsha Bhogle, the cricket advisor, was also called upon to receive the honours.

Some of the top test and state cricketers cheered the Mumbai Indians team as they were honored in the true Maharashtrian style. Special cheers went up for the international crickets who donned the Mumbai Indians colours.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt Nita Ambani said, "My presence here today is as a fan and a well-wisher of the Mumbai Indians team. I believe every important campaign has to start on an auspicious note and today we seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha for the entire team and pray that no obstacles come in their path to glory, fame and victory."

Mrs. Ambani further added, "The Mumbai Indians team has an ideal blend of youth and experience and boasts some of the finest and most promising cricketing talent from across the globe"

The team includes likes of stylish south paw Saurabh Tiwary and Manish Pandey, members of the Under-19 World Cup winning Indian squad in Malaysia early this year.

Also assisting Tendulkar in his bid for the inaugural DLF-IPL crown will be Robin Uthappa and Rajesh Pawar, touted as India's next great left-arm spin hope. Donning the Mumbai Indians colours, will be, Ajinkya Rahane and Abhishek Nayar, who besides being a lively medium pacer is capable of crease occupation while hitting the ball hard.

Adding international hues on the youth and talent factor will be young Australian wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi, who has already carved a niche for himself in the international cricket arena, with an enviable strike rate in the Twenty20 version of 179.96, besides hammering the fastest hundred in Australian domestic one-day history.

On the experience brigade, the Mumbai Indians can boast of International talents like aggressive South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock and providing sheer grit though experience and temperament will be Sri Lankan legend, Sanath Jayasuriya undisputedly, the highest run-getter of the island nation.

Supporting the spin combination will be India's most successful off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Not only will the India international give the Mumbai Indians the winning edge, but the never-say-die Punjab lad's passion is bound to rub off on all the youth playing alongside this spin legend.

The galaxy of international and Indian cricket talent who will make up the winning combination of Mumbai Indians include Ashwell Prince, Loots Bosman, Dilhara Fernando, Ashish Nehra, Domnic Thornely, Gaurav Dhiman, Pinal Shah and Vikrant Yeligati.

Mumbai Masti a special dancing step by Shiamak Davar was introduced on this occasion and Shiamak Davar introduced the official cheerleaders of the Mumbai Indians nicknamed the MI12.

Mumbai Indians unveil star studded campaign Ropes in Hrithik Roshan

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:17:11 GMT

Mumbai, April 14, 2008 : Mumbai Indians, which has a star studded cricketing line up led by Masterblaster Sachin Tendulkar, has now launched its mega campaign with none other than Bollywood Superstar Hrithik Roshan.

Mumbai Indians, who have specially branded their Fan Club as 'MI Paltan', have used Hrithik in their promotional advertisement campaign as a die-hard fan who espouses the true character and values of a Mumbai Indian. In this film, created by Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman and National Creative Director, O&M, we see Hrithik singing the theme song 'Duniya Hila Denge' (Let's rock the world) as he leads the MI Paltan in support of the legendary captain, Sachin Tendulkar and the team.

Hrithik, who had recently undergone a painful knee surgery, did not for a moment hesitate to come out in support of his Mumbai team. The film reflects his sincerity and professionalism when he does his graceful steps to keep pace with the pulsating track composed by Tapas Relia and written by Piyush Pandey,

Hrithik later said "Mumbai Indians has come a long way as facilitators in achieving a common dream of an Indian World Champ. The 20:20 tournament will see not only some of the best players in the country coming here to play - it will be much, much more than that. The genius that abounds a plenty in our youth if properly streamlined will pay dividends not only to our society but also to our country.

"The Mumbai Indians now in its embryonic stage is a thrust in that direction. Our young talent led by Sachin Tendulkar will enter into the world of cricketing sports with high spirits, sparkle in their eyes and fire in the belly to simply achieve greater heights and touch the stars," Hrithik added.

Admiring Hrithik's performance, R Balachandran, Director of Indiawin Sports, promoters of the Mumbai Indians, said "Hrithik has captured the intensity of Mumbai's cricket lovers from the fierce competitiveness of gully cricket to the passion of young professionals to the exuberance of the youth. The leadership qualities of the Mumbai Indians, encapsulated in the iconic Sachin, find a true echo in Hrithik's intensity and power. Powerful performances, on-screen and on the cricket field is what people will see from the Mumbai Indians. And the Mumbai Indians look forward to the support of all their fans at the grounds to cheer them as they step out to win for Mumbai".

In true Mumbai style, this marketing campaign is like a multi starrer blockbuster. The marketing arm of Mumbai Indians have done a timely and appropriate tie up with Yash Raj's next big release - 'Tashan' which stars Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Anil Kapoor. This entitles the Mumbai Indians to run a special promo featuring the four stars in conjunction with four cricketing stars of the Mumbai Indians - Sachin, Sanat, Harbhajan and Robin.

Commenting on the marketing campaign, Kaushik Roy - Director, IndiaWin Sports, said, ''Coinciding with our sale of tickets, we have a high decibel campaign that treats this tournament like a mega event that will shake up people to show their true team loyalty. We are doing a 360 degree campaign with innovative promotions and tie ups that we would deploy for any large consumer campaign. This is only the beginning, there will be more to follow.''

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians began the sale of tickets online for their home league matches in the DLF Indian Premier League from midnight last night for the much awaited matches in the city which will be played at two venues - the Wankhede Stadium and the D Y Patil Stadium at Navi Mumbai.

Cricket fans can log on to the home page of Mumbai Indians - www.themumbaiindians.com and follow the link for the tickets at www.kyazoonga.com

The first match of the Mumbai Indians will be against the Bangalore Royal Challengers at the Wankhede Stadium on April 20. The second match is against Hyderabad Deccan Chargers at D Y Patil Stadium on April 27.

The pricing for the tickets is for the first two matches only.

The date for sale of tickets for the subsequent home league matches and the two semifinals and final to be held in Mumbai on May 30, 31 and June 1 will be announced later.

Ticket rates for the first match on 20th April'08 between Mumbai Indians and Bangalore Royal Challengers at Wankhede Stadium are:

Sunil Gavaskar stand lower Bay Rs 250 and Upper Bay Rs 1,50

North Stand (J K L M N blocks) Rs 500

North Stand (Centre) Rs 1,000

Sachin Tendulkar and Vijay Merchant Stands Rs 500

Guest stand / Vithal Divecha Stand Rs 1500

Garware Club House Upper Bay Rs 6,000

MCA upper stand Rs 3,000

Tickets rates for the match on 27th April'08 between Mumbai Indians and Hyderabad Deccan Chargers at D Y Patil Stadium are:

East Stand Rs 200

West Stand Rs. 400

North East and North West Stands (two bays each) Rs 500

South East and South West Stands (one bay each) Rs. 1,000