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[LosingNow]

Warne vs Murali..

The best captain Aussies did not have Warne vs the best LOI captain India has had in recent times.

Who will hold the nerves?

[poondu]

The teams I support are losing badly. For the finals go RR!!!

[OldPal]

The teams I support are losing badly. For the finals go RR!!!

Warne is smart enough . can't fool him 

[gouravk]

why is this thread so dead ? this is going to be HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[poondu]

Stage set for blockbuster finale

Nagraj Gollapudi

May 31, 2008


Match facts

Sunday, June 1
Start time 20.00 (local), 14.30 (GMT)

 
 
Shane Warne's leadership has been the story of the IPL (file photo) © Martin Williamson
 
 
 



The Big Picture

As the summer blockbuster comes to an end, two of its biggest superstars clash in the finale in Mumbai. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, captain of the Chennai Super Kings, is the highest-paid player in this league but his counterpart in the Rajasthan Royals, Shane Warne, has delivered better results, his success at this year's tournament would be the equivalent of the box-office returns of a Shahrukh Khan starrer.

A win for Dhoni may justify his US$1.5m price tag, but would be anti-climactic, a last-minute twist to the fairytale ending that would hand Warne the trophy. Warne's dual role as captain and coach of Rajasthan has been the story of the season: an entire team costing less than two-and-a-half times Dhoni's price, whose owner's low-budget strategy even got the thumbs down from the IPL's chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi, was moulded into a successful unit.

However, don't write off Dhoni just yet. His first stint as captain was at the World Twenty20 in South Africa, where an unfancied India claimed the title, and here his team were written off after the exodus of international stars, but Dhoni and Co have battled the odds to reach the final.

One factor in favour of Chennai is that Graeme Smith, whose batting has been the cornerstone of several Rajasthan innings, has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Also, Rajasthan were routed by the Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Sports Academy, the venue of the final, and Warne termed the surface "easily the worst of the IPL" as the ball stopped before coming on to the bat.

On form, Rajasthan are favourites and their confidence will be boosted by their two earlier victories against Chennai. However, after convincingly knocking out the formidable Kings XI Punjab in the semi-finals, Chennai won't be too worried about the underdog status.


Form (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Rajasthan Royals: WLWWW
Chennai Super Kings: WWLLW


Watch out for ...



Dhoni v Warne: Both are unconventional captains. And both thrive in big-match situations.


Sohail Tanvir: Tanvir has been lethal in the tournament and Chennai are his favourite opponents - he has taken nine wickets in his previous two encounters against them.


Rajasthan's power-hitters v Muralitharan: Several of Rajasthan's big-strikers, including Shane Watson and Yusuf Pathan, favour the arc between square leg and mid-on. How Muttiah Muralitharan handles the threat will be intriguing.


Team news

Warne termed the loss of Smith as "huge" but Kamran Akmal's presence softens the blow. Akmal's inclusion could force Mahesh Rawat, who was their wicketkeeper in the semi-final, to sit out. Niraj Patel, who has impressed in the limited opportunities he has got, could be drafted in to strengthen the batting order.

Rajasthan Royals (probable): 1 Niraj Patel, 2 Swapnil Asnodkar, 3 Kamran Akmal (wk), 4 Shane Watson, 5 Mohammad Kaif, 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Ravindra Jadeja 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Shane Warne (capt), 10 Siddharth Trivedi, 11 Munaf Patel.

Chennai are likely to retain their winning XI unless Dhoni decides to pick Joginder Sharma, who bowled that dramatic final over against Pakistan in the World Twenty20 final last year, over L Balaji, who had a poor outing in the semi-final.

Chennai Super Kings (probable): 1 Parthiv Patel (wk), 2 S Vidyut, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt) 5 Chamara Kapugedera, 6 S Badrinath, 7 Albie Morkel, 8 Manpreet Gony, 9 L Balaji/Joginder Sharma, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Makhaya Ntini.


Stats and trivia

Fifteen of Sohail Tanvir's 21 wickets have come during the last five overs of an innings, a period during which he's conceded only 5.85 an over, the best economy-rate among bowlers who've bowled at least 20 balls between overs 16-20.


After a lacklustre run, Suresh Raina has peaked at the right moment - his unbeaten fifties in the previous two games have secured important wins.


7.91 - The average run-rate at the DY Patil Stadium, where three IPL matches have been held. The average run-rate of the tournament is 8.31.


Quotes

"I would be lying if I say I am not feeling the pressure, but we are ready for it [the final]."
Mahendra Singh Dhoni after Chennai's emphatic semi-final victory


"The wicket at the DY Patil has helped seamers more. It's a bit up and down. We have a well-balanced attack to do well there."
Shane Warne fancies his bowlers' chances

"On form [Rajasthan] Royals are on a roll but Chennai can be dangerous as they proved against us."
Tom Moody, Kings XI Punjab coach, sits on the fence when asked to pick the IPL winner


Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

[poondu]

Can Chennai halt Rajasthan's juggernaut?

Dileep Premachandran

May 31, 2008

 
 
Can Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys dodge past Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals? (file photo) © AFP
 
 
 

And so it is that the Indian Premier League's finale will feature the team that started off like a express train, and another that has enjoyed the smoothest ride through the six weeks. The wheels threatened to come off for the Chennai Super Kings after that 4-0 start, but they regrouped from the loss of their Australian contingent to stitch together the victories that have taken Mahendra Singh Dhoni to the threshold of another major Twenty20 triumph. The Rajasthan Royals were hammered in their opening game, but have since scripted the sort of fairytale that Eric the Eel and other underdogs could only dream about. Both demolished their semi-final opponents, and there will be no shortage of confidence on either side as two of the most intuitive leaders in the game face off for the sport's richest prize.

After thumping the Delhi Daredevils to take their deserved place in the final, Shane Warne had appeared quite indifferent when he was asked which team he would prefer to face. There was little doubt though that he expected it to be Kings XI Punjab. After all, of all the teams in the IPL, they had been most adept at absorbing pressure. The chase against Delhi in a game decided by Duckworth/Lewis had been timed to perfection, and they had also enjoyed a thrilling last-ball win against the Mumbai Indians.

But with Chennai reprising their early-season form, there was nothing majestic about the men from Punjab. With the stakes higher than ever, they took the pressure as well as a Coke can would a hobnailed boot. The established internationals like Yuvraj Singh and Mahela Jayawardene were the main culprits, and Dhoni could afford to stick to the tried-and-tested script after initially springing a surprise by throwing the new ball Muttiah Muralitharan's way.

It helped that his pace bowlers were absolutely outstanding. On a pitch that offered plenty of bounce, Makhaya Ntini was always going to be a factor, and so it proved. But it was Manpreet Gony, the son of Punjab in Chennai yellow, that took the vital wickets of Kumar Sangakkara and Yuvraj, bowling a maiden along the way. Throughout the tournament, his accuracy and consistency have been eye-catching, and in favourable conditions, he excelled by not getting carried away.

Gony and Ntini, supported splendidly by the ever-impressive Albie Morkel, will face their sternest test against a Rajasthan team that has already beaten them twice. Graeme Smith's muscular hitting may be missing, but in Kamran Akmal, Warne has a replacement who certainly doesn't lack flair or hitting ability. Shane Watson will be desperate to emphasise his most-valuable-player status in the game that matters most, while Swapnil Asnodkar and Niraj Patel will be encouraged to adapt the no-fear approach that has served them so well thus far.

 
 
Shane Watson will be desperate to emphasise his most-valuable-player status in the game that matters most (file photo) © AFP
 
 
 

The key to the contest will be Rajasthan's bowling, the most varied and effective in the competition. Sohail Tanvir has been the best new-ball bowler on view, while the heavy ball that Watson bowls was far too much for Delhi's star-studded batting to cope with. Siddharth Trivedi's changes of pace have been tough to get away, while Munaf Patel has eased back into the national reckoning with the accuracy that first caught the eye.

And then, there's Warne, the piper calling the tune. The rave reviews that his captaincy has earned have slightly obscured the fact that he also has 19 wickets for the tournament. On a helpful pitch, like the one he got in the semi-final, no one can rip a legbreak quite like he does. The straighter one has also fetched him wickets, as has the aura that appears to intimidate some batsmen even before they settle into the stance.

Both teams have got superb performances out of their Indian contingents. Suresh Raina, S Badrinath and the remodelled L Balaji have excelled for Chennai, while Warne has inspired top-drawer efforts from Ravindra Jadeja, Munaf, Trivedi and Asnodkar. Warne was insistent that it was the seven Indian players who were the real key to success. "You expect the four foreign guys to do a job," he said. "But it's the local players that can be the difference between winning and losing."

Dhoni, who has led India to victory at the World Twenty20 and in the CB Series, has had a charmed life as leader so far. But in Warne, he's up against perhaps the greatest big-match player there's ever been. It should be some contest.

Dileep Premachandran is an associate editor at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

[dhruvdeepak]

ITS D DAY
ITS D DAY!!!

ONE HAND AROUND THE TROPHY ALREADY

GO RRRRROYALS!

[LosingNow]

I am superexcited.. at the end of the day, the right teams are in the final.

Want to root for RR .. due to Warne and Marwari roots

Want to root for CKS.. I simply love MSD as a captain.. he is the best thing to happen to Indian cricket in a long time.

I am torn.. will sit-back and enjoy the game

[LosingNow]

Mind it...

[youtube=425,350]U5nFWU-S-4A[/youtube]

[youtube=425,350]-4fNUhtxBRE[/youtube]

[LosingNow]

Betting royale: Bookies hope to hit a jackpot

Shilpa Dhamija
CNN-IBN



BIG GAME: Bookies say they have put in 10 times more money than any other match series.

Pune: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) draws to a close, bookies are hoping that Sunday will be the day to hit a jackpot.


Punters have been betting big money through the IPL series, and on the D-day betting rates indicate that the Rajasthan team is all set for the crowning glory. The bets on Rajasthan Royals is 65 paise while Chennai Super Kings stand at Rs 1.35.


Speaking on conditions of anonymity, a bookie in Pune said, “Rajasthan team is in form, new players are in the fray and we know that Shane Warne has also done wonders. While the Chennai team can only bank on Dhoni or Murli to win the game.”


Meanwhile, bookies have been operating with extreme caution. The bets are accepted only online, through certain websites and punters use confidential passwords that are changed after each match.


IPL's first series proved to be a big game for not just the players on field but also for players off field like bookies and punters who have put in money 10 times more than they would have in any other match series. And they claim that they have earned profits like never before.


“For bookies the IPL was very profitable more so because it was in India. We were involved right from the beginning. Bookies also made good money because we knew how Indians perform and so the chances of losing money is minimal,” a bookie explained.


Another reason for the good business, some bookies say, is the fact that IPL series so far, has not been the target of match-fixing allegations, and the reason is young players.


"You cannot get new players to get into such things. You cannot even make an offer to them because they are here to prove themselves and make a good beginning of their careers. Yes, there were older players, too, but the maximum number of matches were won by the newer lot,” a bookie said.


For Sunday's finals, too, all eyes will be on the performance of the young guns. Also, what’s keenly being watched is if Chennai would do a repeat of Saturday and pull off an unexpected win.

[gouravk]

THE MEGA-FINALS - Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Superkings

The two best teams in the inaugural DLF IPL will be going head-to-head in what promises to be a mouth-watering, heart-stopping climax. Don't go by the one-sided matches in the semi-finals ! Just think back to the last time these two great teams met in Chennai to remember what a superb game of cricket it was. Here's to a repeat of such a game - with one key difference - the end result !!!

Not only are these the two best teams - they are also the two best-led teams. Warne and Dhoni are the two magicians who will conduct the show. It's one of India's most charismatic and successful limited-overs captain against arguably the greatest captain the World never had !

Teams
Rajasthan have truly been a great team - a worthy opponent to face in the finals - unlike say, Punjab, who were more pretenders than anything else. They have given us some wonderful cricket, some delightful memories - the way Shane Warne has led this team has been simply inspiring.

Strengths - Batting order with well-defined roles, Tanvir, Warne, Watson - the best all-rounder
Weaknesses - Will miss Smith, Perhaps the seamers to backup Tanvir and Watson ?

Chennai - we have displayed the one great trait of a champion side - the ability to lift our game when it matters most. We peaked at the start of the tournament, went through a bit of a lean patch but are just beginning to bring our best at the climax. You can rely on the captaincy of Dhoni to handle situations like these.

Strengths - Raina striking some serious form, Dhoni, Morkel - an all-rounder not quite as good as Watson, but a fair competitor, Ntini striking form, Gony
Weaknesses - Opening - remains the Achille's heel of our team, back-up bowling.

League Record 2-0 in favor of the Royals
First game we were blown off by the Sohail-storm, but in the home game we gave a memorable fight. However, Watson did not play that game. But the main backbone of the batting in that game Graeme Smith is out injured, so that could be a huge bonus

Royal Contests
Akmal v Ntini
Asnodkar v Gony
Watson v Morkel
Yusuf v Murali
Raina v Tanvir
Dhoni v Warne

So let's get the party started ! Bring out your drinks, put out your tents and start pouring in your rants and opinions on this mega-blockbuster !

http://thedlfipl.blogspot.com/2008/05/mega-finals-rajasthan-royals-v-chennai.html

[LosingNow]

WOOOO HOOOOO...

[LosingNow]

Time for the classics from the incredible Farrokh Bulsara
[youtube=425,350]zBUJztI884M[/youtube]

[gouravk]

more updates

i was just watching news on the local marathi channels and it seems all over maharashtra there is great excitement about this game. from mumbai to nashik from nagpur to ratnagiri all youngsters are very excited and there is equal support for both teams 

btw there was a live bomb that was defused in navi mumbai very close to the stadium last night that has cast a shadow on the game

also it seems there is a major entertainment program arranged including laser shows etc.

[flamy]

Here's hoping for an actual even CONTEST that this tournament deserves 

[arjun]

CSK- this crappy team is so lucky it may even win the IPL!

[gouravk]

 

there you go .. youve come around ! welcome to the fan club !

[dhruvdeepak]

prepare for a RRROYAL ***-whooping donny!
the lungis are goin down! (culturally insensitive i know but SUCK IT)

[gouravk]

 

... dont worry about that ... worry about your pagaris being blown off your head by the dhoni-storm !!

[KKIRANK61]

Finally it proved one point that T20 is more of captaincy game than the other two counterparts. With so less time to cook a strategy it is the brilliance in leading and utilising the resources is what counts more. The two best captains could survive due to their strong nerves and shrude leadership skills. Now that it is a finale, there is another point, the temparement of playing in finals will be added factor.
The better of the two captains will come as winner. But all in all there should have been best of three finals as in OZ ODI series to eliminate / reduce a luck factor.
((( and it also proved how bad the x india-captains were; as their teams were not just lost but blown ooooffffffffffff......)))

[ramshorns]

Finally it proved one point that T20 is more of captaincy game than the other two counterparts. With so less time to cook a strategy it is the brilliance in leading and utilising the resources is what counts more. The two best captains could survive due to their strong nerves and shrude leadership skills. Now that it is a finale, there is another point, the temparement of playing in finals will be added factor.
The better of the two captains will come as winner. But all in all there should have been best of three finals as in OZ ODI series to eliminate / reduce a luck factor.
((( and it also proved how bad the x india-captains were; as their teams were not just lost but blown ooooffffffffffff......)))

Are you a duplicate ID of WN. 

Where were you when CSK was losing all those games in the middle portion of the tournament?

[LosingNow]

... dont worry about that ... worry about your pagaris being blown off your head by the dhoni-storm !!

He he..

Lungis vs Pagris
Thayir Chadam vs Dal-Baati
Sambhar-Kootu vs Kair-sangri
Chicken Chettinad vs Laal Maas
Yellow vs Blue
..

[OldPal]

I will cheer for Lungis in this. No matter i feel RR a good team , but would like Dhoni bahiji to pull this one offf.

[poondu]

Finally it proved one point that T20 is more of captaincy game than the other two counterparts. With so less time to cook a strategy it is the brilliance in leading and utilising the resources is what counts more. The two best captains could survive due to their strong nerves and shrude leadership skills. Now that it is a finale, there is another point, the temparement of playing in finals will be added factor.
The better of the two captains will come as winner. But all in all there should have been best of three finals as in OZ ODI series to eliminate / reduce a luck factor.
((( and it also proved how bad the x india-captains were; as their teams were not just lost but blown ooooffffffffffff......)))

Are you a duplicate ID of WN. 

Where were you when CSK was losing all those games in the middle portion of the tournament?

If Chennai wins he will come and gloat, if not you won't see him til Dhoni scores a century somewhere.

[ramshorns]

Finally it proved one point that T20 is more of captaincy game than the other two counterparts. With so less time to cook a strategy it is the brilliance in leading and utilising the resources is what counts more. The two best captains could survive due to their strong nerves and shrude leadership skills. Now that it is a finale, there is another point, the temparement of playing in finals will be added factor.
The better of the two captains will come as winner. But all in all there should have been best of three finals as in OZ ODI series to eliminate / reduce a luck factor.
((( and it also proved how bad the x india-captains were; as their teams were not just lost but blown ooooffffffffffff......)))

Are you a duplicate ID of WN. 

Where were you when CSK was losing all those games in the middle portion of the tournament?

If Chennai wins he will come and gloat, if not you won't see him til Dhoni scores a century somewhere.

As good a captain as he arguably is that is not something you expect a batsman with such ugly stance and style coupled with technique to accomplish on a regular basis.

[OldPal]

Finally it proved one point that T20 is more of captaincy game than the other two counterparts. With so less time to cook a strategy it is the brilliance in leading and utilising the resources is what counts more. The two best captains could survive due to their strong nerves and shrude leadership skills. Now that it is a finale, there is another point, the temparement of playing in finals will be added factor.
The better of the two captains will come as winner. But all in all there should have been best of three finals as in OZ ODI series to eliminate / reduce a luck factor.
((( and it also proved how bad the x india-captains were; as their teams were not just lost but blown ooooffffffffffff......)))

Are you a duplicate ID of WN. 

Where were you when CSK was losing all those games in the middle portion of the tournament?

Why do you think CSK was losing all those .. that time K3 saab was busy advising CSK . 

[poondu]

Finally it proved one point that T20 is more of captaincy game than the other two counterparts. With so less time to cook a strategy it is the brilliance in leading and utilising the resources is what counts more. The two best captains could survive due to their strong nerves and shrude leadership skills. Now that it is a finale, there is another point, the temparement of playing in finals will be added factor.
The better of the two captains will come as winner. But all in all there should have been best of three finals as in OZ ODI series to eliminate / reduce a luck factor.
((( and it also proved how bad the x india-captains were; as their teams were not just lost but blown ooooffffffffffff......)))dsvas

Are you a duplicate ID of WN. 

Where were you when CSK was losing all those games in the middle portion of the tournament?

Why do you think CSK was losing all those .. that time K3 saab was busy advising CSK . 

    . Good one

[LosingNow]

woo hoo.. Sallu bhai dancing

[LosingNow]

when the eff is the toss.. this ceremony is lame.. give me the cricket

[LosingNow]

Arre toss karo .. phir yeh sab bakwas kar lena 

[LosingNow]

Great.. now laser show. If Bangalore does it, Mumbai has to too

[LosingNow]

Chalo.. looks like it is all done.

Definitely the start is delayed .. by 30 min, I suppose?

[LosingNow]

Everyone in Kurta-Pyajama's here.. hmm!!

[LosingNow]

now the teams are practicing...

[LosingNow]

Toss..

RR wins toss.. bowling first!!

[LosingNow]

wants to restrict the other team.. we are the best bowling team and need to put our strength first

[LosingNow]

GS out .. Akmal in, Patel in .. rawat out.

Strong team!!!

[LosingNow]

MSD says low-scoring pitch...

Peaking at the right time.. starting from scratch though..

No change to CSK team.

WOOOOOO HOOOOO... R U READY FOR SOME CRICKET

[LosingNow]

where is everyone... come on join this thread

[LosingNow]

first 6 overs .. key.

will PP and Vidyut deliver?