[Venkatesh]

MS Dhoni hands over captaincy of Chennai Super Kings to Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2022.

Dhoni will continue to represent Chennai Super Kings this season and beyond.

Source

[Emvi]

It was a super Sunday for IPL fans yesterday. Two back to back successful run chases! Interestingly in both the matches, it was the 18th over that tilted the match in favour of the chasing team. It was brilliant chasing from both the winning teams. However, not intending to discredit the batsmen, I feel the bowling was just too easy and predictive in the death overs.

MI vs DC
MI 177/5 in 20 overs
DC 179/6 in 18.2 overs

Daniel Sams bowling the 18th over, bowled far too many predictive slower balls and was bludgeoned for 24 runs by Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav, at the end of which DC were just 4 runs away from the target. Basil Thampi's 17th over was erratic as well. Bowling leg stump line predominantly, he ended up giving away 13 runs.

RCB vs PBKS
RCB 205/2 in 20 overs
PBKS 208/5 in 19 overs

In the 18th over, Mohammad Siraj kept bowling short to Odean Smith, and the burly right hander made merry smashing 3 sixes and a four. Siraj leaked 25 runs in the over which all but ended RCB's hopes of winning the encounter.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by Emvi

Odean Smith

How things change in the span of a few hours!

Smith gave away 52 runs in his four overs and was partly responsible for RCB's above par score. On the field too, he wasn't exuding confidence; one could note a sense of unsettled-ness on his face.

With the bat however, he went on a carnage - 8 ball 25.

His post match statement was interesting:

[AtheK]

RCB could have still made a match of it, if they had not leaked that many extras, then dropping smith when he was one, it was a dolly. Followed by harshal patel having 0 match awareness when he could have run out smith again at score of 2.

You don't give multiple chances to such a player, and then extras!! Hopefully hazlewood will be able to add some depth to this bowling attack.

[Emvi]

LSG vs GT
Match#4

What an innings from young debutant Ayush Badoni! 54 of 41 balls! Out of all the boundaries that he scored, two of them really stand out.
1. Slog sweep six of Rashid Khan.
2. A 90mph+ short ball from Lockie Ferguson was sent roaring into the stands for a six which incidentally brought up his maiden fifty!

After an initial collapse, LSG have managed to set a target of 159 for GT to chase.

[Emvi]

Originally Posted by Emvi

LSG vs GT

After an initial collapse, LSG have managed to set a target of 159 for GT to chase.

With top 4 back in the hut and 80 needed of the last 8, GT were hoping that someone would "do a tewatia", and Rahul TEWATIA did not disappoint, smashing 40 of 24 balls to take GT home with 2 balls to spare!

[AtheK]

Trend seems to continue like last year bowl first win the game!!

[Eddy]

I think we need to balance out the toss advantage somehow. Maybe do away with it altogether, and ensure that each team bats first and chases 7 times each.

It will be easier for teams to plan, and it should make cricket more competitive.

[anandhsub]

Originally Posted by Eddy

I think we need to balance out the toss advantage somehow. Maybe do away with it altogether, and ensure that each team bats first and chases 7 times each.

It will be easier for teams to plan, and it should make cricket more competitive.

I would suggest to hold a tender instead of a toss. The team that's willing to give up more runs gets to chose to bat or bowl.

For eg I bid 10 penalty runs and the opposite team bets 5 runs, then I get to chose to bat or bowl and the other team starts their innings on 10/0.

Needs some adjustment for rain affected matches but doable.

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by Eddy

I think we need to balance out the toss advantage somehow. Maybe do away with it altogether, and ensure that each team bats first and chases 7 times each.

It will be easier for teams to plan, and it should make cricket more competitive.

Agreed, this is less of talent more of luck currently, once the ball gets wet bowlers are just sitting ducks. Since IPL generally has home and away format, visiting team should get to choose whether they want to bat or bowl.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Eddy

I think we need to balance out the toss advantage somehow.

This is nothing new, there is too much of the sameness every season! Win the toss, win the game, team bowling second gets affected by dew. I know its the 'Indian' Premier League but it would have been great had the tournament been held in South Africa. Some freshness needs to be infused, more so through the pitches & venues. How do these pitches help our preparation for the T20 WC in Australia in October?!

[msdivy]

After watching round 1 (one match each for all participants), I think RR has the best team - strong batting & a strong bowling unit.

[padmrajravi]

Originally Posted by msdivy

After watching round 1 (one match each for all participants), I think RR has the best team - strong batting & a strong bowling unit.

True. With MSD handing over captaincy, I shifted allegiance to RR this year . Butler, Sanju, Devdutt, and Ashwin form a good core group.

[PPS]

Mumbai Indians just don't seem to have the resources this year to make a major impact. I know traditionally they are slow starters, but with a depleted bowling attack consisting of 2 rookies (M Ashwin & Thampi), 2 non-effective imports (Sams & Tymal), there's very little Rohit Sharma can do who's also struggling with the bat. Going berserk for Ishan Kishan at the auction seems to have affected the balance of the team!

[Emvi]

As of today, all teams, barring DC(their 3rd match is in progress) and SRH, have played at least 3 matches each. Since 2015, only 3 teams have managed to win the tournament. While the reigning champs CSK have won it twice, MI have reigned supreme 4 times and SRH have managed to lift the trophy once. One look at the points table and it's surprising to see none of these teams have got off the mark yet!

I know its way too early to comment, still a long way to go in the tournament. These teams can surely bounce back. But, sign of things to come?