At halfway into the tournament so far it’s unbelievable tournament. The teams which started their IPL 2009 campaign on high notes are looking down and out and the teams which started slowly have begun to perk up. At this stage no one can predict which four teams will qualify for the semifinals in IPL season2. This is the beauty of this tournament and that’s why it is so popular. Tournament was design on such pattern that no one can predict the final frontier of IPL. This updates comes after 34 of the group matches have been played. We have already witnessed two hat-tricks and one century in the tournament. First it was Yuvraj Singh who has taken hat-trick against Royal Challengers Bangalore at his favorite Durban ground but unfortunately Kings XI Punjab came out as looser in the same game. Who have thought that Rohit Sharma will take hat-trick against formidable Mumbai Indians batting line-up? But he did by dismissing A.Nayar, Harbhajan Singh and JP Duminy on successive balls to won the game for his team. AB Devilliers already displayed his class and power hitting with bat by smashing quick fire hundred in the game against Chennai Super Kings. Out of 34 matches, two games ended without being a ball bowled because of rain. However it is expected to be bright and sunny day in South Africa for the rest of tournaments. Like IPL season1 there will be fight among the players for Orange (Highest run getter) and Purple cap (for highest wicket takers). So here is the leader board after game number 34. Leading Run Scorer in IPL season2 till 34th Game - Mathew Hayden (CSK): 378 runs with an average of 47.25 and strike rates of 159.49
- Suresh Raina (CSK): 296 runs with an average of 37.00 and strike rates of 148.74
- Yuvraj Singh (KXIP): 266 runs with an average of 38.00 and strike rates of 136.41
- Brad Hodge (KKR): 240 runs with an average of 40.00 and strike rates of 112.14
- J.P.Duminy (MI): 238 runs with an average of 47.60 and strike rates of 110.69
Mathew Hayden looks in super touch right from the beginning of IPL season 2 and already smashed three fifties in his eight outings with 45 fours and 16 towering sixes. He currently holds the orange cap and just behind him is his teammates Suresh Raina with 296 runs. The most expensive player bought in IPL season two was Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen. But both players failed to perform for their teams as per their reputation. Andrew Flintoff struggled with the bat and the ball and Chennai's form actually started to turn around after his exit. Same goes for Kevin Pietersen, he scored just 93 runs in six games with an average of 15.50. Last years heroes B.McCullum, Virendra Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma is yet to fire in the tournament. But with the players of their reputation we hope that they will fire soon. Leading Wicket Takers in IPL season2 till 34th Game - R.P.Singh (DC): 15 Wickets with an average of 12.73 and economy rate of 6.43
- Y.Abdulla (KXIP): 14 Wickets with an average of 17.21 and economy rate of 8.60
- L.Malinga (MI): 12 Wickets with an average of 10.66 and economy rate of 5.01
- L.Balaji (CSK): 11 Wickets with an average of 16.72 and economy rate of 8.62
- I.Pathan (KXIP): 11 Wickets with an average of 22.81 and economy rate of 7.84
- P.Ojha (DC): 10 Wickets with an average of 15.00 and economy rate of 5.76
R.P.Singh has bowled really well in IPL season2 similar to 2008 and that’s why he has been rewarded the place in the Indian team for twenty20 World Cup squad announced by Indian selectors. Yusuf Abdulla after struggling in his first outing has performed exceptionally well for his team by picking up 14 wickets. He is also included in South Africa twenty20 world cup squad. L.Malinga after a long injury lay-off and is using the IPL brilliantly to show his skills. With 12 wickets to his name, he is using IPL as great platform to launch himself in twenty20 2009 world cup. Team Performance At this moment if somebody would ask me to bet on a team I will surely go for Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils will be my second option. I don’t know whether is legal or illegal in South Africa, but after watching the 34 games played in IPL I will put my money on Chennai Super Kings. Chennai Super Kings after slow start are picking up well with four straight win they were able to move at the top of the points table and now looking well on their way for confirming their semi final berth. Delhi Daredevils has lived up to their reputation and at presently placed third in the points table with 10 points out of seven games they have played so far two less than both Chennai and Rajasthan. Most importantly their star (Sehwag and Gauti) are yet to fire in the tournament. Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore are two team who bounce back well after loosing their early games. Mumbai Indians after flying start in the tournament are now lying at the bottom in the points table just above Kolkata knight Riders. Now it will be very hard for Sachin and his team to bounce back in the tournament after loosing to Deccan Chargers by 19 runs in their last outing. Kolkata Knight Riders performed worst in the tournament with only one win out of 9 games they have played. They are running out of ideas and are struggling to put the performance in the field. This all started after multiple captaincy controversy and just day before IPL B.McCullum named KKR Captain. With reference to betting, the Indian board's commitment to fight corruption in cricket has come under the scanner after it has emerged that it stayed silent for months on an ICC offer to provide full anti-corruption cover for the IPL this year, mainly because of the fee involved. Why Lalit Modi turn down ICC request initially? Does IPL pose it own Anti Corruption Unit? They finally agreed just day before IPL started that is on 17th of April. With Twenty20 cricket there is great excitement and money involved. With so much money involved is hard to stop but let’s hope for the best. Can any one guarantee that there is no betting taking place in South Africa? Important Stats Highest Team Total: 211/4 by Rajasthan Royals against Kings XI Punjab Lowest Team Total: 58/10 by Rajasthan Royals against Royal Challenger Bangalore Highest Individual Score: 105* (54 balls) by AB Devilliers against CSK Best Strike Rates (minimum 100 Runs): 170.40, D.Smith (Deccan Chargers) Most Sixes: 16, M.Hayden (Chennai Super Kings) Must Ducks: 3 by H.Gibbs (Deccan Chargers) Best Bowling Figures: 5/5, Anil Kumble (RCB) against Rajasthan Royals As you can see, from above stats that Rajasthan Royals have records of highest total as well as lowest total. That is how the defending IPLtwenty20 champions performed in the tournament but it is great to see they are doing well now. |
