Going by his words, Rajasthan Royals could well have a new captain in IPL 4. Legendary leg-spinner and Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne did not commit when asked about his participation in the next year's IPL, after his team's final match in which Rajasthan Royals lost to Kolkatta Knight Riders.

This would be a huge loss not only to Rajasthan Royals, but to the IPL, which has just begun to gain global attention. In the inaugural IPL, Warne led a league of ordinary men to the tournament victory beating star-studded teams like the Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils before overpowering the Chennai Super Kings in the finals.

Shane Warne motivated, guided and mentored his players, bringing the best out of them. He identified horses for courses and manufactured superstars like Yousuf Pathan. The stint with Warne helped players like Shane Watson cement their place in the national side. Warne, however, couldn’t repeat his magic in the second and third editions, with his team exiting the tourney without making it to the semi-finals.

Yet, Warne showed the world glimpses of what he can do. “Wanna create history boys?” were Warne's words to his batsmen after the Chennai Super Kings battered Rajasthan Royals bowlers to score 246 off 20 overs. The result, the Royals waged a brave battle and scored 223/5 when most teams would have faltered even before reaching half the score. He set extraordinary fields and started the trend of spinners opening the bowling.

It’s not the Rainas, Sharmas or Symonds that are the crowd favorites and behind the stupendous success of IPL, but old horses like Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Anil Kumble and Saurav Ganguly, and pensioners like Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas.

If others decide to follow suit, Muralitharan, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden could well be the next big guns to exit the premier league. All the three have been victims of indifferent form this season, though their teams have reached semi-finals.

For now, we keep our fingers crossed and hope these big boys return for the next IPL.

PS: Go Chargers!

When it seemed the Indian Premier League was becoming a tedious affair, the Deccan Chargers’ victories over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Chennai Super Kings have made the tournament intriguing. Combined with RCB’s slump in form, Kolkata Knight Riders’ inconsistency and Kings XI Punjab’s late surge, the IPL, which has come to the business end, is really getting hotter.

The T20 format is very cruel on the bowlers. Short boundaries, heavy penalties for slight over-stepping and delays in completing their quota on time, and the big, heavy bats that help even mistimed shots clear the boundary effortlessly limit bowlers to mere bowling machines. Batsmen of the size of Goliaths and with the license to go for the kill right from the word go further add to their woes.

In short, the stadia look more like slaughterhouses with the hapless bowlers waiting to be butchered. 

A couple of alterations to the rules of the game can make the contest between bat and ball more even and interesting.

1. During a reverse sweep, the leg-side wide should come out of the equation.

2. When batsmen shuffle, wide should be awarded based on the distance from the bat during the point of contact.

3. Whenever batsmen march down the pitch, the bowler should be allowed to bowl a bouncer (not above the head height).

4. During a powerplay, for once, the bowling captain should have the right to replace a bowler, if he is proving very expensive, in the middle of an over.

Hmmm any more alterations, I think, the batsmen would appeal in the International Court of Justice.

PS:The recommendations and the whole scenario remind me of the caste-based quota system in India.
The match between Deccan Chargers and RCB is to begin in 100 minutes.

Last one week involved lot of action leaving me completely exhausted. Started with inviting people in and around Hyderabad on my best friend's wedding that took place on 18th. Went for a big round of shopping at the Hyderabad Central just after the office hours. It was followed by the engagement of my friend's brother and elections.

It all culminated with my friend's marriage on Saturday night where I had a gala time. We started shouting political slogans on this occassion and it was met with huge applause from everyone except one big old man who shouted at our gang for not listening to the vedic chants.

In my new office too, things are becoming a bit interesting and bit hectic too not giving time to write something on my blog.

However, the big occasion has arrived. The IPL has started and it's started off well for Deccan Chargers. Hope they stand among the top four this time.

So, took some time to write this one and now I am feeling sleepy. YAAAAAAAAAAAwn!

 

1. They have compromised on the national security.