The auctions are over. Everything happened frpm KP and Freddie bagging riches to Mortaza being an item of hot pursuit. No Pakistani players in this edition. Aussies and England will have a half stay. Here I'm giving my guesses on who stands the best chances of grabbing the end prize.
1. Mumbai Indians: Mumbai Indians were probably the smartest buyers. After letting go of Ashish Nehra, they have bought India's best bowler today- Zaheer Khan. Their new additions are attractive too. Ashraful fills in for Uthappa though they'll have to work out their Foreign player - Homegrown player formula for that. Kyle Mills is a utility player that can do pretty much the job as Shaun Pollock can. It'll be a tussle for place between him and Pollock. Mills can hit the ball a fair distance when he's in the mood, even though he's principally a bowler. The only one who cannot be sure what he will be doing is Jean-Paul Duminy. Despite being South Africa's newest treasure, it's tough to include him in the XI since he's a player of the systematic type, plus the issue of 4 foreign player hits again.
Considering the existing players of Jayasuriya, Tendulkar, Bravo, Nayar, Kulkarni, Harbhajan etc, this team looks the most balanced and suited to lift the trophy.
2. Chennai Superkings: Last years runner look poised to finish the same position again. Lead by the world T20 champions captain, this team now avails the services of big-hitting Andrew Flintoff who also can also follow the batsman and disturb them with his pace and purchase off the wicket due to his height. Sri Lankan left armer Thilan Thushara joins compatriot Muralitharan, and George Bailey (of whom i know little) will join mate Matty.
Raina, MSD, Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, homeboy Badrinath and Jacob Oram will be lurking around as the Superkings will try to devour opponents.
3. Hyderbad Deccan Chargers: Last edition's super-floppers will be eager to actually start something meaningful in IPL. They showed this eagerness by kicking out someone pursuing meaningless things - Shahid Afridi. Adam Gilchrist now completely takes over as captain. Chargers looked to strengthen their bowling department in the auction. Hopefully Fidel Edwards will breath fire in the right areas of the wicket. His West Indian team-mate Dwayne Smith also joins as he looks to provide his utility in the form of Stanford T20 experiences. He is also a boundary clearer like most others in the chargers team, in addition to being handy rolling over his arm. Chaminda Vaas was ineffective last time. Gilchrist may once again continue to patronise Vijaykumar and Ojha, but hopefully this time Edwards may make it easier.
The others in the team look as dangerous as the looked last season. Herschelle Gibbs, Scott Styris, Rohit Sharma, VVS, Venugopal Rao. Sharma has been off colour for India, but i bet on him to be the batsman of the IPL, VVS last season looked consistent, though slow but he scored everytime. Venu played some futile heroics. But Gilly and co will look to put last season behind and wake up this time. I wish my favorite team the best.
4. Rajasthan Royals: I will write to disappoint current champions. Sohail Tanvir's absence is a big blow. Shaun Tait will stay only for a part of the competition. Shane Warne has authored to buy his english county teammate, the imposing South African Tyron Henderson. According to Royals, he seems to be one to look out for as his price tag of $600,000 for someone untested suggests.
But thanks to Warney's guile, Watson's previous heroics, Asnodkar's expected continual of fly-swatting form, and presence of a good opener in Graeme Smith, Royals should be assured of a semi-final berth. However, this is subject to Watson and Smith's return from injury, as also on Warne's ability to extract the most of an otherwise lax Munaf Patel.
5. Kings XI Punjab: Their buys are Ravi Bopara and Jerome Taylor. Bopara may stay the full run since he's not expected to be in the Test Squad. Taylor is at the moment, being praised for a once in a while instance of bringing West Indian cricket joy with a terror spell of 5-11. Will he do the same in the IPL is a question mark.
The problem for them is the form Shaun Marsh is showing Australia and Sreesanth's holiday from the Indian team. But i predicted a reversal of fortunes for Rohit. Same could happen to Marsh. The positives for them is the form of Yuvraj Singh. Jayawardene has to start scoring, Sangakkara will be around too who's in reasonable touch. Irfan Pathan will have a heavy load to carry with respect to bowling and sometimes batting too. Kings XI will desperately hope Brett Lee returns from injury and to form, and that he plays atleast the expected 3 weeks for the team. Surely Priety Zinta will hope so.
6. Royal Challengers Bangalore: I assume Vijay Mallya this time wont have excuses like his opinion wasn't asked, that he was convinced Test teams will do etc. this time as i saw him sitting in the auction. RCB bagged Kevin Pietersen for $1.55m who will stay for just half the duration. Jesse Ryder is a dashy opener and will look to solve RCB's opening woes. He also may roll over his arm.
Misbah-Ul-Haq will be missing but Ross Taylor is in very good form at number 3. Rahul Dravid will have to put in a lot of work, i do feel sad for him as it is not his age to change his style to another extreme. But they've wisely bought slogger Robin Uthappa who may take Jacques Kallis's spot atleast until Pietersen leaves. Boucher will have an important job. The biggest star for them will be his mate Dale Steyn. He is a venomous bowler, who is sure to throw lightning bolts at batsmen. His 4 overs will make or break RCB's game. Dale Steyn is my bowler of the competition..
7/8. Kolkata Knight Riders: Shah Rukh Khan may have less jumping and pomp in this edition. They pulled of the most meaningless buy at a more shocking rate- Mashrafe Mortaza for $600,000. Both their premier bowlers Shoaib Akthar and Umar Gul will be absent. Much of the work load will rest on McCullum, Gayle, David Hussey and Ishant Sharma. Ganguly will have a tough time over his bowling options and will hope Ajantha Mendis finds his strangely mixing tricks in time for the IPL. Otherwise with just Ishant, Dinda and maybe himself, he will need 158s from McCullum every now and then.
8/7. Delhi Daredevils: Once again a problem of bowlers. Glenn McGrath is expected to stay away for personal reasons, while Mohd. Asif is banned for an year even if Pakistani's are allowed to participate. Sangwan is sold, who's place is taken by David Warner. Owais Shah and Paul Collingwood are their only buys, and Colly will surely leave midway. Farveez Maharoof and Yo Mahesh will share a bulk of the bowlers burden. Daniel Vettori will have to perform every match, but he is a very clever spinner who can throw surprises. And again the onus is on Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir to almost win the match on their own. I see this team having a disastrous tournament. But hey, I could be wrong. This is T20, anything that defies all logic can happen. This is just a thoughtful prediction for my fun.
Happy IPL everyone...........
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