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[LosingNow]

The battle of 0-2 teams. Who will win?

Will Sachin play and captain? HS appears too keen to relinquish his captaincy..

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Kings seek reversal of fortunes
 

Mohali, April 24: Twenty20 may be still in its infancy, but it has already managed to shatter the purists’ notion of underdogs and favourites in the game. Kings XI Punjab have an array of stars in their line-up, while Mumbai Indians, led by Sachin Tendulkar, are the costliest Indian Premier League franchise. And yet both teams are languishing at the bottom of the points tally with two losses each, struggling to justify their ‘favourite’ tag.

The two teams meet at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here on Friday, hoping to reverse the slide and get their respective campaigns on track. There is still no certain word on Tendulkar’s fitness who turned 35 on the day, but Harbhajan Singh said on Wednesday that they were hoping to have the master blaster in the team against Kings XI. Tendulkar missed the first two games due to a groin injury and while Harbhajan has handled the additional burden of captaincy well, he has underbowled himself in both the matches that saw nail-biting finishes. “I hope Sachin plays in Chandigarh (Mohali)... I can then concentrate on my bowling,” said Harbhajan Singh after his team lost by a narrow margin against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai.

The Mumbai outfit fell short by just six runs while chasing 208 on Wednesday. The master blaster’s presence on the field could well have made a difference between losing and winning. However, their bowling has looked flat in both the matches and that is one aspect apart from the home advantage, the Yuvraj Singh-led team can can cash in.

Yuvraj is a proven performer in this format — his sixes won’t escape memory so soon — but he is yet to fire in the tournament. He scored 23 and 57 in his previous two matches and is under pressure as a captain to record a victory before their home crowd. Kings XI will like to cash in on S. Sreesanth and Brett Lee’s exploits on the fast Mohali pitch, expected to suit pacers. Irfan Pathan slots in as an all-rounder while Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardane’s presence give the side depth in batting. This will be a battle to watch out for as both the teams’ fortunes in the tournament will depend on the outcome of the game.

[OldPal]

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ipl/content/current/story/347503.html

Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians, IPL, Mohali

Punjab and Mumbai seek first win

Ashok Ganguly

April 24, 2008

 
 
Yuvraj Singh will play opposite his state-mate, Harbhajan (file photo) © AFP
 
 
 


Match facts

Friday, April 25, 2008
Start time 20.00 (local), 14.30 (GMT)


The Big Picture

There is plenty at stake here as both sides have gone two rounds without a win and languish at the bottom of the points table. Mumbai, who were at the wrong end of two close encounters, will pin their hopes on the possibility of their captain and icon, Sachin Tendulkar, making his IPL debut on a batting-friendly Mohali wicket. It will be interesting to see whether the crowds flock to arguably the most spectator-friendly stadium in India, after large sections of the stadium were empty in Punjab's first game.


Watch out for ...

... a classic contest between Tendulkar, if he plays, and the fiery Brett Lee. Look for needle between Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh; there was some friction over fielding issues during the recent Test series against South Africa. Harbhajan, who may have to captain the side for the third match running, has the added challenge of playing for the away team in what is his Ranji home ground, and will play opposite his state-mate, Yuvraj Singh.


Team news

If Tendulkar does return, Vikrant Yeligati, the offspinner, could be dropped after going for 16 runs in his one over in Chennai. The rest of the team will probably remain largely unchanged, but Nayar may feel he deserves a promotion after taking Mumbai close to a win in the last game.

Mumbai: (probable) 1 Sachin Tendulkar (capt), 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Luke Ronchi (wk), 4 Robin Uthappa, 5 Abhishek Nayar, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Shaun Pollock, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Musavir Khote, 10 Ashish Nehra, 11 Dhaval Kulkarni.

Punjab may bring in Vikram Singh, the right-arm seamer who has played for India in Tests and ODIs, in place of Wilkin Mota. Mahela Jayawardene is likely to retain his place despite making just 2 in his only innings.

Punjab: (probable) 1 Karan Goel, 2 James Hopes, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Yuvraj Singh (capt), 6 Irfan Pathan, 7 Sunny Sohal, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Vikram Singh, 11 Sreesanth.


Stats and trivia

Mumbai scored an average of 12.67 runs in their last five overs, while Punjab have only managed an average of eight.
Nayar took three catches in Mumbai's first game, the most so far by a fielder in an IPL match


Quotes


"The wishes of my fans and team-mates is the best gift I have received today. I hope I will perform better this year." Tendulkar on his 35th birthday

[poondu]

Cmon Mumbai. I don't want to be in the same boat as the DC supporters..

[broadbat]

The match between the loser of this tie vs DC may let us have an inkling of the first team to not make the cut for the semi's.

[Libran]

Backing Mumbai to win this..

Feel sad for Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia ...but then YS the captain is completely lost ...

[gouravk]

why is cricinfo obsessed with putting tendulkar in the probables list every time ? when in all probablity they and all of us know he will not be playing ?

[OldPal]

Backing Mumbai to win this..
Feel sad for Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia ...but then YS the captain is completely lost ...

I am backing Punjab in this one :
As per batting IMO Mumbai's
Sanath Jayasuriya,  Luke Ronchi (wk),  Robin Uthappa,  Abhishek Nayar,  Dwayne Bravo
make a better batting line up than
James Hopes,  Kumar Sangakkara,  Mahela Jayawardene,  Yuvraj Singh

in bowling though
Irfan Pathan,  Brett Lee, Piyush Chawla, Vikram Singh, Sreesanth.
seem like a full fledged frontline nternational attack than
Dwayne Bravo, Shaun Pollock, Harbhajan Singh, Musavir Khote, Ashish Nehra, Dhaval Kulkarni.


YS has bee VC in TT in past and has consulted MSD , IMO he will do OK. but let us wait and watch.

All I am concerned in in Mumabi you have SJ and RU , who can single handedly take game away .
Where as in Punjab you have only YS.
Blee may have surprises here as most of the aussies are shining !

[LosingNow]

Kings XI are batting. No Sachin..but Saurabh Tiwari is IN for MI

[OldPal]

Pathan Goes

 Batsmen Runs B 4s 6s SR This bowler Last 5 ovs   Mat Runs Ave   
 *IK Pathan (lhb) 6 2 0 0 300.00  5 (1b) 6 (2b)   24 163 14.81   
 K Goel (lhb) 2 7 0 0 28.57  1 (2b) 2 (7b)   13 365 36.50


8/1

[OldPal]

Goel is a kid . Don't know what he has in store for us . But in this early age he has played for Punjab .

[OldPal]

Looks like Punjab is doign the same strategy , play around one player
Goel Staying and KS going for shots.

Kings XI Punjab innings (20 overs maximum) R B 4s 6s SR 
 K Goel not out 9 14 1 0 64.28 
 IK Pathan c Kulkarni b Nehra 6 3 0 0 200.00 
 KC Sangakkara not out 27 14 5 0 192.85 

[OldPal]

60/6
10 RPO
KC Sangakkara (lhb) 43 19 7 1 226.31

[Aloo Kashmiri Ul Haq]

just brutal hitting, come on we need some bowler friendly pitches, I absolutely loved the 20-20 world cup but this seems like rape.

[OldPal]

Goel Hurt on Lips. his girlfriend would feel bad .

[Blwe_torch]

Chak de Punjab!

[OldPal]

Goel gone :

Harbhajan Singh to Sangakkara, OUT, Goel's run out! Sangakkara came out of his crease and drove the ball hard towards cover, Bravo picked up the ball cleanly and there never was a single in it, Sangakkara called for the run and Goel responded, he was miles short when Ronchi broke the stumps

[ramshorns]

just brutal hitting, come on we need some bowler friendly pitches, I absolutely loved the 20-20 world cup but this seems like rape.

Are you kidding, this is IPL's version of WWF.  Wishful thinking.  Suck up and shell down the money and enjoy the mishits.  That is what we fans deserve me included.

Wait for Harbhajan singh to show up like he did in the last game and hit 2-3 sixes at the death.

Poor Pollock.  I am waiting for someone to explode on McGrath one of these days.

Actually in a way all the bowlers we hated when they were playing against India in 'Real Cricket' can be cheered now when they are hit out of the park, like I did when Warne was taken to the cleaners by Symo.  That is not possible in real life.

May be there is some good afterall in all this.

[dextrous]

just brutal hitting, come on we need some bowler friendly pitches, I absolutely loved the 20-20 world cup but this seems like rape.

Are you kidding, this is IPL's version of WWF.  Wishful thinking.  Suck up and shell down the money and enjoy the mishits.  That is what we fans deserve me included.

Wait for Harbhajan singh to show up like he did in the last game and hit 2-3 sixes at the death.

Poor Pollock.  I am waiting for someone to explode on McGrath one of these days.

Actually in a way all the bowlers we hated when they were playing against India in 'Real Cricket' can be cheered now when they are hit out of the park, like I did when Warne was taken to the cleaners by Symo.  That is not possible in real life.

May be there is some good afterall in all this.

This I entirely fail to understand. Okay, so its a WWF version...but how does Harbhajan hitting six any less worthy than it would be otherwise? Are boundaries smaller? Are drugs allowed in IPL? I mean, clearly people are hitting 6s because they have the ability to his sixes. Please explain. And what do you mean it isnt possible in "real life"--is this cricket being played on moon? Of course, it is possible, thus it is happening.

[OldPal]

Yuvi gone !
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ipl/engine/current/match/335991.html

[Blwe_torch]

When sixes are hit against certain teams...it is WWF......
And when Symmo hits those sixes then he is the world's best player!?

[ramshorns]

just brutal hitting, come on we need some bowler friendly pitches, I absolutely loved the 20-20 world cup but this seems like rape.

Are you kidding, this is IPL's version of WWF.  Wishful thinking.  Suck up and shell down the money and enjoy the mishits.  That is what we fans deserve me included.

Wait for Harbhajan singh to show up like he did in the last game and hit 2-3 sixes at the death.

Poor Pollock.  I am waiting for someone to explode on McGrath one of these days.

Actually in a way all the bowlers we hated when they were playing against India in 'Real Cricket' can be cheered now when they are hit out of the park, like I did when Warne was taken to the cleaners by Symo.  That is not possible in real life.

May be there is some good afterall in all this.

This I entirely fail to understand. Okay, so its a WWF version...but how does Harbhajan hitting six any less worthy than it would be otherwise? Are boundaries smaller? Are drugs allowed in IPL? I mean, clearly people are hitting 6s because they have the ability to his sixes. Please explain. And what do you mean it isnt possible in "real life"--is this cricket being played on moon? Of course, it is possible, thus it is happening.

WWF is fixed.  This is too in a way, by making the pitches too spongy and batsman friendly.  Kaif, Warne, Harbhajan should not be hitting sixes with this ease.  Lots of people do not enjoy that.  There needs a fairer contest in the coming games.  If not this is a sham to me even for 20-20.

[OldPal]

When sixes are hit against certain teams...it is WWF......
And when Symmo hits those sixes then he is the world's best player!?

[ramshorns]

When sixes are hit against certain teams...it is WWF......
And when Symmo hits those sixes then he is the world's best player!?

Ofcourse Symmo can do that pretty much in any conditions while Kaif, HS, Warne cannot.  So I am worried about it, honestly. 

BTW:-Symonds is the best.

[OldPal]

sangakkara slowing down . dont know why ?

[Blwe_torch]

When sixes are hit against certain teams...it is WWF......
And when Symmo hits those sixes then he is the world's best player!?

Ofcourse Symmo can do that pretty much in any conditions while Kaif, HS, Warne cannot.  So I am worried about it, honestly. 

BTW:-Symonds is the best.

I believe...it is just a matter of personal choice, favorites....and whatever suits one's own argument.

[dextrous]

When sixes are hit against certain teams...it is WWF......
And when Symmo hits those sixes then he is the world's best player!?

Ofcourse Symmo can do that pretty much in any conditions while Kaif, HS, Warne cannot.  So I am worried about it, honestly. 

BTW:-Symonds is the best.

I hope you realize your arguments are bordering on the absurd.

[Blwe_torch]

Mohali needs atleast 200 to make a match....Zinta wants boundaries only....2s won't do!

[OldPal]

Mohali needs atleast 200 to make a match....Zinta wants boundaries only....2s won't do!

Sarwan , does not lives upto oversees player hype.
Hope sanga and Jaya can pull it through 200 .

[poondu]

why send this sohal guy instead of lee ?

[OldPal]

I guess they are missing a  hitter or two down the order .
Blee time for you .

[Blwe_torch]

Nice to see Zinta trying to influence the umpire from afar by signalling wide......which wasn't given though..
I wish the players show better commitment.

[OldPal]

Is KS plating for his 100 ?

[OldPal]

OOOPS .. Bhajji gets him

[poondu]

Is KS plating for his 100 ?

[Blwe_torch]

Bad LB decision!

[poondu]

poor decision by Amoeba

[Blwe_torch]

Is KS plating for his 100 ?

actually...T and Y are neighbours on the key-pad.

[ramshorns]

When sixes are hit against certain teams...it is WWF......
And when Symmo hits those sixes then he is the world's best player!?

Ofcourse Symmo can do that pretty much in any conditions while Kaif, HS, Warne cannot.  So I am worried about it, honestly. 

BTW:-Symonds is the best.

I hope you realize your arguments are bordering on the absurd.

Yes they probably are, especially when they do not tally with what we think.  No problems.  Enjoy the show.

[Blwe_torch]

VRV needs to score atleast 20

[Blwe_torch]

VRV needs to score atleast 20

oops only 2 balls left!