After a good start, Chennai is having a mixed run in the IPL. But with the morale boosting win against the Pune Warriors, things are looking up. Also as always under Dhoni, the need to “peak at the right time” is important and so the going is good so far. Some picks from the matches:
Match 3: RCB
- Winning formula: It is kind of time we patent our formula for winning, before the likes of KKR who have a similar formula get it first. The formula – Win toss. Choose to bat. One player plays the sheet anchor. Others bat around him by hitting the DLF maximums. Build a formidable total. Pick early wickets. Dry up the runs. Increase required run rate. Allow them to choke. Win.
- Fevicol sponsorship: Vijay Mallya should seriously think of roping in a sponsorship from Fevicol for RCBians. Considering their efforts in not able to hold a single catch coming from the blade of Hussey, a Fevicol sponsorship could do a whirl of good.
Match 4: KTK
- The Curious Case of Strategic Time Outs: As if the Duckworth Lewisky calculations weren’t enough, I was left numbed when the umpire called for the time out. When a match has been reduced to a 17 overs a side game, I don’t know what other strategy CSK will be thinking at the end of the 14th over other than go after the bowling. And for that, we are given 2.5 minutes. I guess the Maxx mobile guys have to reconsider their option of sponsoring the time out before it backfires and shows in their sales graph.
- Anniversary special: Anniversaries are always special, maybe second thoughts on marriage anniversaries. But then it was the 4th Anniversary of IPL - the place of marketing accumulation, brand elevation, cheer leading sensation and yeah, some budding cricketers production. Kochi, the latest entrant to the IPL extravaganza came to party with a victory laid firm by Brendon McCullum, who was the one who declared the IPL party open with a century in the opening IPL game. A nostalgic touch indeed.
Match 5: MI
- Dew Drop Enterprises: I see a booming entrepreneurship option in the area of creative research and solution providers for counter attacking dew. With so much talking on how dew comes into play in the later stages of the game, how tough it is for the bowlers to grip to ball and so forth. We can pool in weather experts who can calculate the amount of dew for the evening, chemical engineers who can develop a spraying solution that helps to absorb the dew and material scientists who can design an appropriate towel to dry the ball instantly.
- Commentary clicks: As said in my previous post about the low point of IPL being the commentary, a few follow up comments in the MI match.
“He has bowled two dot balls that didn’t concede runs” – Interesting. I thought that was why it was named as a dot ball.
Ravi Shastri – “This match is not over yet” – when the 14th over of CSK’s innings was in progress. I guess that’s the reason we were still watching the match.
Match 6: PWI
- The Den: When the administrators decided to name the home ground as the Lion’s den in sync with the logo of the team, they got it spot on. When a prey enters the Den, it sure has no way to hit the Esc key. CSK notched up its 7th victory in the last 8 games in the Lion’s Den.
- Statistics break play award: Apart from always winning the Fair play award interestingly sponsored by the Kingfisher, CSK could be running for a Statistics breaking play award if there was one. In a tournament were success rate of winning a match batting second is 65%, CSK has notched up all its victories by batting first.
So, amidst all the play offs and table tumbling, Chennai with its last win found a jump to the fourth position in the points table. Hoping they keep up their good work. *Off*
