[selfdrive]

With the limit/ rule of player retention, the IPL reminds me of our backyard playtime. Whoever won the toss got to pick the best player first. There is even no toss here. I will pick the best 3 players in my team and then of course we will see how they do. Similar to holding 3 jokers in a single pack game of cards. No wonder you see the team appearing in so many finals.

Kudos where due though. To Dhoni for working hard on continuously improving his game. And also to the 'oldies' team and the strategies employed by Fleming & the coaching team.

I always had this question though; if this is the premier league where are the second and third leagues? In absence of promotion/ demotion of teams to the next league (upward/ downward), there is no underdog story really. we keep seeing the same teams bash it out. Unless of course the time when a few got banned and then there were other flashes in the pan (Pune/ Gujarat/ Kochi). Think English Premier league and the championship?

[the_skyliner]

Superb performance by Dhoni and gang. Dhoni once again proved he is the best cricketer in business in modern era and is still hard to replace as a captain.

I believe a target of 150ish could have been more challenging for CSK against SRH than 180ish as then it becomes tricky to decide whether to attack or play out the overs.

Nonetheless, exceptional batting by Watson which left no scope for SRH.

This was also one of the better seasons of IPL with 7 out of 8 teams doing good in general.

[PPS]

By far the best season of IPL in a very long time. Perhaps the 1st playoff game between these 2 finalists was more befitting of a final.
Auctions for next year's IPL should be interesting.
Just hope some of the team owners sack the biased Australian coaches!

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by PPS

Auctions for next year's IPL should be interesting.

Do we have auctions next year ? I thought it'll only be a brief transfer / purchase window. The next auction will be before the 2021 edition.

Originally Posted by selfdrive

I always had this question though; if this is the premier league where are the second and third leagues? In absence of promotion/ demotion of teams to the next league (upward/ downward), there is no underdog story really. we keep seeing the same teams bash it out. Unless of course the time when a few got banned and then there were other flashes in the pan (Pune/ Gujarat/ Kochi). Think English Premier league and the championship?

It's an evolving model. The thought is that there may not be enough talent available for more than 8-9 teams. Add more teams and the standard falls. This is what plagues a 25-30 team Ranji trophy league.

And as much as India is a cricketing nation, I don't think we've reached the maturity levels of English soccer.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Do we have auctions next year ? I thought it'll only be a brief transfer / purchase window. The next auction will be before the 2021 edition.

I'm a bit unsure about this. Dhoni keeps saying that the team picked is only for this year, so i do not know what he means by this. Perhaps there will be new set of players next year. Yes, in 2021 there will be the mega auction like this year. But i think there is some sort of a small auction every year.

[pratyush6]

Originally Posted by PPS

I'm a bit unsure about this. Dhoni keeps saying that the team picked is only for this year, so i do not know what he means by this. Perhaps there will be new set of players next year. Yes, in 2021 there will be the mega auction like this year. But i think there is some sort of a small auction every year.

Auctions are every year. However the purse is usually very small until and unless a team releases a lot of players. This has been done by teams like Delhi in the past.

Transfer window is before the auction.

The current contracts are three contracts but they can be extended. CSK because of the age of most of the players, it's difficult to see how they will extend the current contracts.

[Eddy]

Well, it's that time of the year again. What category are you in ? Love it or hate it ?

No prizes for guessing that I am in the "Love it" group.

This time playing the official fantasy league and fanspole.

[poised2drive]

In the "love it Group " ...

And as usual , I am rooting for my home team , Sun Risers Hyderabad !

Teams that look formidable are , in no particular order -

SRH
MI
KKR
CSK

I am guessing they'd be the strongest contenders for the semis berths !

GO GO .. .ORANGE ARMY ...

[PPS]

Being a Mumbaikar rooting for Mumbai Indians for obvious reasons. Also hoping our WC hopefuls remain injury free!

Malinga has ruled himself out for the first 6 games not because of injury but because the SL Board wants the WC hopefuls to play in a local tournament. I thought Malinga was Captain, but i guess captain's there change every other month!

[hemanth.anand]

Rooting for RCB. Hope they win...atleast now!



Let the games begin! #ESCN

[Arjun Reddy]

Bangalore has a jinx broken this year.

We won Kabaddi, Badminton and the Football leagues.

Hope it rubs of on RCB. Game on.

RRRRRRRRRCCCCCCCCCBBBBBBBB.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Rooting for RCB. Hope they win...atleast now!

I think there needs to be an addition for RCB: "Rich kid also works hard, perhaps the hardest".

"Always a bridesmaid, never the bride".

[NPV]

Wow, what a perfect performance by CSK, absolutely chaotic for RCB and all out for just 70.

Will CSK win this in under 10 overs ?

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Rooting for RCB. Hope they win...atleast now!

It's like the heart Vs mind thing for me, heart wants RCB to win, but mind says it will be CSK!

RCB take 3-4 games usually before they can get a decent win.

[pandey.jai]

RCB are just useless. The squad lacks balance. Too reliant on AbD, Kohli to work the magic. Bowling has always been a sore spot.

[sajands]

Originally Posted by pandey.jai

RCB are just useless. The squad lacks balance. Too reliant on AbD, Kohli to work the magic. Bowling has always been a sore spot.

The whole team is a moving circus just a matter of time if this team gets wrapped up like its previous team owner. Each season its the same chant......Next season we shall win the cup