Rajasthan Royals has lifted the inaugural DLF-IPL title beating Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling final on Sunday at DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai. Shane Warne led Royals defied all predictions to top the table comfortably after the end of the league stage. And then they went on to win the semi-finals against Delhi Daredevils in a one-sided contest and in the finals they beat Super Kings in the last ball of the match.
SCORECARD: Finals – Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai
Rajasthan Royals
Before the start of the tournament they are predicted to be finish last in the league table. No one gave them a chance. In their first match of the tournament they were comfortably beaten by Daredevils. In the second match they encountered the strong King’s XI Punjab and Warne produced his typical magical spell to reduce Mohali team to a modest score. Shane Watson knock ensured a comfortable win for them. From there they never looked back though they lost an odd match or two.
Shane Watson and Yusuf Pathan produced consistent big-hitting to set or chase any score. Graeme Smith was solid at the top. Asnodkar, an unknown cricketer till the start of this IPL, gave them flying start with his unorthodox style. The bowling fortunes were led by Sohail Tanvir (Purple Cap winner – leading wicket-taker in the tournament) and Shane Watson (Player of the tournament). Shane Warne was not far behind them. They were ably supported by Munaf Patel and Siddharth Trivedi.
More importantly they were well led by Shane Warne. He instilled confidence in every individual and it is evident in the way Niraj Patel and Ravindra Jadeja won a game for them form a hopeless position against Mumbai Indians.
Stars of the IPL
Shaun Marsh, son of former Australian opening batsman Geoff Marsh, was the Orange Cap winner – leading run getter in the tournament. He was replacement for Simon Katich in King’s XI Punjab and he must have been hand picked by Tom Moody, the coach. He showed his potential and class in this tournament. The veterans Sanath Jayasuriya and Glen McGrath proved that age does not matter and only performance matter.
SCORECARD: Finals – Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai
Rajasthan Royals
Before the start of the tournament they are predicted to be finish last in the league table. No one gave them a chance. In their first match of the tournament they were comfortably beaten by Daredevils. In the second match they encountered the strong King’s XI Punjab and Warne produced his typical magical spell to reduce Mohali team to a modest score. Shane Watson knock ensured a comfortable win for them. From there they never looked back though they lost an odd match or two.
Shane Watson and Yusuf Pathan produced consistent big-hitting to set or chase any score. Graeme Smith was solid at the top. Asnodkar, an unknown cricketer till the start of this IPL, gave them flying start with his unorthodox style. The bowling fortunes were led by Sohail Tanvir (Purple Cap winner – leading wicket-taker in the tournament) and Shane Watson (Player of the tournament). Shane Warne was not far behind them. They were ably supported by Munaf Patel and Siddharth Trivedi.
More importantly they were well led by Shane Warne. He instilled confidence in every individual and it is evident in the way Niraj Patel and Ravindra Jadeja won a game for them form a hopeless position against Mumbai Indians.
Stars of the IPL
Shaun Marsh, son of former Australian opening batsman Geoff Marsh, was the Orange Cap winner – leading run getter in the tournament. He was replacement for Simon Katich in King’s XI Punjab and he must have been hand picked by Tom Moody, the coach. He showed his potential and class in this tournament. The veterans Sanath Jayasuriya and Glen McGrath proved that age does not matter and only performance matter.
Abhishek Nayar (Mumbai Indians), Shikhar Dawan, Amit Mishra and YoMahesh (Delhi Daredevils), Venugopal Rao (Deccan Chargers), Ashok Dinda and Lakshmi Ratan Shukla (Kolkatta Knight Riders) are some of the local talent to make an impression. Venugopal, Mishra and Shukla had earlier represented the national team in few matches.
Among the regular Indian internationals Sehwag, Gambhir, Rohit Sharma and upcoming Chawla were impressive.
What about failures?
Bangalore Royal Challengers and Hyderabad Deccan Chargers were the biggest flops of this team. Deccan Chargers were touted as the favorites before the tournament because of the fabulous batting line-up. But they finished last. Gibbs and Afridi failed to fire. Their bowling lacked fire power. Royal Challengers has been criticized as having Test team batting line-up. That criticism was true to an extent. Cameron White has been a big flop for them and Boucher, though consistent with his cameos, has not fired big. Knight Riders started brilliantly but faded away.
What are their options for next edition of IPL? Royal Challengers: White can be asked to open the innings. Ross Taylor’s availability throughout the tournament can give them some fillip. Hope for Virat Kohli to be matured enough by the next edition. The real thing is that they lack young Indian batting star like Rohit Sharma, Raina, Badrinath, Dawan and Tiwary. Except Tiwary all the other youngsters excelled in this edition and so I doubt whether their current owners would sell them. So they can try for Tiwary and hope that he clicks for them at the right moment. The most important thing is form and fitness of a player at the time of next auction or transfer window.
Deccan Chargers: One quality foreign fast bowler; Preferably Shaun Tait or Mitchell Johnson if he interested in playing IPL. If possible an emerging Indian pace bowler (already they have RP Singh) can be bought. Gibbs and Afridi should come good for them in the next edition. Symmonds availability will boost them.
Knight Riders: This team also lacks an India batting star. They have one in Cheteshwar Pujara but he was overlooked. They can try for local lad Tiwary in the transfer window. Umar Gul should be given preference ahead of Akhtar. Ponting, Macullum and Gayle’s availability should bolster them.
Among the regular Indian internationals Sehwag, Gambhir, Rohit Sharma and upcoming Chawla were impressive.
What about failures?
Bangalore Royal Challengers and Hyderabad Deccan Chargers were the biggest flops of this team. Deccan Chargers were touted as the favorites before the tournament because of the fabulous batting line-up. But they finished last. Gibbs and Afridi failed to fire. Their bowling lacked fire power. Royal Challengers has been criticized as having Test team batting line-up. That criticism was true to an extent. Cameron White has been a big flop for them and Boucher, though consistent with his cameos, has not fired big. Knight Riders started brilliantly but faded away.
What are their options for next edition of IPL? Royal Challengers: White can be asked to open the innings. Ross Taylor’s availability throughout the tournament can give them some fillip. Hope for Virat Kohli to be matured enough by the next edition. The real thing is that they lack young Indian batting star like Rohit Sharma, Raina, Badrinath, Dawan and Tiwary. Except Tiwary all the other youngsters excelled in this edition and so I doubt whether their current owners would sell them. So they can try for Tiwary and hope that he clicks for them at the right moment. The most important thing is form and fitness of a player at the time of next auction or transfer window.
Deccan Chargers: One quality foreign fast bowler; Preferably Shaun Tait or Mitchell Johnson if he interested in playing IPL. If possible an emerging Indian pace bowler (already they have RP Singh) can be bought. Gibbs and Afridi should come good for them in the next edition. Symmonds availability will boost them.
Knight Riders: This team also lacks an India batting star. They have one in Cheteshwar Pujara but he was overlooked. They can try for local lad Tiwary in the transfer window. Umar Gul should be given preference ahead of Akhtar. Ponting, Macullum and Gayle’s availability should bolster them.
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