IPL is Back Baby!!! And I love it!

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IPL is back baby!!! And I love it!! You know, test cricket is the best form of the game and one day cricket has its moments, but IPL T20 has a different charm altogether. Season 1, Rajasthan Royals are the cheapest team with a bunch of no names and they win it all. Season 2, the Deccan Chargers who were the worst team in season 1 come back to win it all. The best part about this tournament so far has been that no one knows who is going to win. Could the Knight Riders pull off a Deccan Chargers? Will the Mumbai Indians finally make it to the semis? Will Delhi play well through the season and then crash again before the big game? Will Gilly be Gilly again? Will Bangalore go as far this year? The frenzy has caught on so much that a buddy of mine who takes any opportunity he gets to "bitch out" T20 called me this morning to find out if I will be at the match tomorrow. You can't escape it, IPL is back baby!!! And I love it!!

Here are 10 things I want to see this year (in no particular order)

1) Mumbai Indians- My team (I have to go buy a T-shirt today) better get to the big game this year. I don't know what it is but we manage to screw things up. Kieron Pollard cost us a bomb but is supposed to be worth it. But then again so was JP Duminy and we all so what that muppet did. Anyway, lets see how my boys do. I am particularly looking forward to watching one of them play live....no prizes for guessing who.

2) KKR- This team had the worst record in the league last year. Yet, they are estimated to be the highest valued franchise and in today's HT there is a poll that says that it is the most discussed team in the IPL in terms of online message boards and blogs. What do you expect? You have two major attention seekers steering the ship. SRK and Mr. Ganguly. Love them, hate them, you can't help following them. Frankly, I hope they do well, not because I like them but because it just adds to the drama compared to the snooze fest that happens when a Bangalore or a Delhi is playing....

3) Warne and Gilly- My second favorite team is the Royals and their captain is undoubtedly the most exciting player to watch. What he brings on to the field, no one else can. I hope they go a long way, just to watch that man bowl in a big game. As for Gilly. What he did in last years semi final was the most outrageous innings that I have ever scene. If he is on song, bye bye bowlers.

4) Sreesanth Slapped- Sorry, I know I had this in last years blog too and he didn't get slapped. But I can hope can't I?

5) Hayden's Mongoose Bat- Not only is this guy lethal, but he now has a new bat that is supposed to make him even more destructive. I can't wait to see him wave it around and whack some monsters. If this bat works, it could change the game.

6) Shastri- How many times Ravi Shastri will use the term "tracer bullet"

7) New add campaigns- In IPL II Vodafone launched its zoozoo campaign. Is the IPL becoming the Superbowl for Indian ads? If so, I can't wait to watch them...

8) Controversy- Whether it is the KKR problems, the slap, the move to SA, the sacking of coaches (Charu Sharma), the benching of stars (Glen Mcgrath), the IPL is never ever short of controversy. What will it be this year?

9) Super Overs- More and more of them....

10) Sachin Tendulkar- Lets be honest here there is nothing we all want to watch more. If he was a god before his 200, he has become a religion all by himself now. Ever since I was young there has never been more joy than to watch him in full flow. If he plays as per current form, this may be some of the best 6 weeks of our cricket following lives.

Predictions-

Final- Deccan vs Mumbai

Other semi finalists- Delhi and Chennai

Best Batsman- Sachin Tendulkar

Best Bowler- Does it really matter?? (its a joke, relax, I know they are crucial)

Worst Team- Punjab

Last few thoughts

Best thing about IPL- Mumbai matches are at the CCI and I am a member

Second best thing about IPL- For the next 6 weeks there is something exciting every night on TV.

Worst thing about IPL- Most likely Mandira Bedi is back..

Most annoying thing- Watching IPL with a friend who is on the phone with his bookie every ball checking the odds. You know who you are...

Finally- LETS GO MUMBAI!!!!!

IPL is back baby!!! And I love it!!

Photo Credit

Adam Gilchrist- http://www.cricrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/adam_gilchrist_ipl_295-2004.jpg

Sachin Tendulkar- http://im.rediff.com/cricket/2008/may/26sld4.jpg

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 12, 2010 at 2:07 PM

    Love it PRG...You better keep writing daily during the IPL..

    ReplyDelete
  2. STMarch 12, 2010 at 2:08 PM

    Dude, Mumba- Deccan??? are you drunk??

    Chennai and Delhi...

    Punjab is the worst though...Agreed.

    ReplyDelete
  3. HarshMarch 12, 2010 at 2:09 PM

    Haydens bat should actually be pretty interesting. If it turns out to be great, it could change the game as we know it...Why just T 20, people will start using it for one days as well. Esp when you come in during the last overs.

    Dude, pls be regularly bloggin during the IPL. We could use your blog as a site to bitch about shit that goes down....

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMarch 12, 2010 at 2:10 PM

    KKR is winning it all...

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 12, 2010 at 2:10 PM

    Who is this friend of your with the bookie??

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousMarch 12, 2010 at 2:29 PM

    Bookie friend - Meltdown Mo!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Pradeep chinaiMarch 12, 2010 at 3:56 PM

    Mumbai Indians can win if they change their name to Bombay Indians !!!! (they will run faster to escape the chase from you know who)
    For you best thing about IPL at CCI is that your future wife Katrina may be there to support the Indians !!!!!!! Do we start celebrating??

    ReplyDelete

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