Indian Premier League - General Discussion

[Bevab]

Pressure to qualify, pressure to captain a side and probably missing Mayank.

If Gayle gets out in the powerplay, I doubt Rahul would have been able to make the impact Gayle did to keep the opposition bowlers on the backfoot during the middle overs because that is absolutely not his strength. The only times he went for a boundary was versus Archer with whom Gayle could struggle with and once when he had a very poor ball to capitalize on with the run-rate slowing down. Rahul needs to get back to hitting in the powerplay, the very reason for Gayle's inclusion is to give him and his partner the license to play more freely rather than take it deep and then be aggressive like Kohli. Unlike RCB this team also has quality batting depth.

 

[Bevab]

Someone needs to tell Maxwell to bat like he used to. That new stance is absolutely crap. He simply has decided that he's going to be a "hands" player. From being someone who could play round the dial he has severely limited his own game without becoming any more consistent.

The only thing that his new stance allows him to do is play more on the leg-side and play the short ball better which was often his weakness. It is shocking that someone who prides himself on the freedom of hitting around the park and in the arc has decided to suddenly be settled with allowing a simple wide yorker to keep him restricted.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

The only thing that his new stance allows him to do is play more on the leg-side and play the short ball better which was often his weakness. It is shocking that someone who prides himself on the freedom of hitting around the park and in the arc has decided to suddenly be settled with allowing a simple wide yorker to keep him restricted.

The wide yorker he could still probably open the face and guide between point and short third. I don't see how he can square cut with that technique.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

If Gayle gets out in the powerplay, I doubt Rahul would have been able to make the impact Gayle did to keep the opposition bowlers on the backfoot during the middle overs because that is absolutely not his strength. The only times he went for a boundary was versus Archer with whom Gayle could struggle with and once when he had a very poor ball to capitalize on with the run-rate slowing down. Rahul needs to get back to hitting in the powerplay, the very reason for Gayle's inclusion is to give him and his partner the license to play more freely rather than take it deep and then be aggressive like Kohli. Unlike RCB this team also has quality batting depth.

I completely agree that if some other batsman does not fire, Rahul’s batting method wont let Punjab score high scores. The only thing I give Rahul the benefit of doubt is that he can switch gears at ease. Probably an off slow day for him today cause he definitely is batting like a dream.

Utthapa has to move on from here! Need to press the gear.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Seeing all other batter bat on this track is making Rahul's knock look decisive. He might have just signed on the tombstone of one of the greatest comebacks in the IPL.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I completely agree that if some other batsman does not fire, Rahul’s batting method wont let Punjab score high scores. The only thing I give Rahul the benefit of doubt is that he can switch gears at ease. Probably an off slow day for him today cause he definitely is batting like a dream.

Utthapa has to move on from here! Need to press the gear.

I think my signature will tell you how big a fan I am of Rahul. This is not the first time he has hijacked the KXIP innings. This is an outdated method of LOI batting which India is obsessed with as it amasses mountains of runs and looks pretty in the stats column. Stokes' innings today is as valuable as the hundred Rahul got. The way Rahul is batting, he is ensuring Maxwell doesn't get more than 10 balls. To put it more articulately, he is ensuring 5,6,7 don't bat.

It's simply a waste of resources. Punjab should actually look to make Pooran bat as many balls as possible. If he bats 30+ balls, they will win.

 

[SaiSrini]

Whoa.... I thought for a moment that Sachin Tendulkar was the third umpire Pathak has almost a carbon copy voice to that of Sachin

 

[asprin]

Whoa.... I thought for a moment that Sachin Tendulkar was the third umpire Pathak has almost a carbon copy voice to that of Sachin

Visa power, go get it.

Double thumbs up if you read that in his voice

 

[LiveLoveABD]

The innings KL Rahul has played today will certainly be top of the tree along with Kohli among the worst knocks of the IPL!

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

I think this will be a good place to write the scenarios so I do not get confused.

Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians - Does not matter who wins as even if they lose, the only way they can get knocked out is by NRR and only SRH has a better NRR than DC.
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - SRH needs the win, if they lose, they are out of the tournament. For the sake of KKR, I am gona root for RCB for the first time ever.
Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab - Kings need a win to secure 14 points. This means this KKR fan is going to support CSK to win and end on 12 points.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals - Both need to win, rooting for KKR but its going to be tough and I can see RR just limping past us ending on 14 points. With todays win, they have a better NRR and KKR as it is will end on 12 points so will be out.
Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Do not care who wins, as both have almost qualified. DC for me though.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians - If SRH win the game against RCB, they need to win this as well and they would know what exactly they need to do in terms of NRR wise to qualify, tough but they do have a chance. If they lose against RCB this is nothing but a dead rubber.

I feel the end looks best for SRH and Kings since Kings have superior NRR and SRH have 2 games remaining and will play the last game to know what exactly they need to do to execute.

I would not mind Mumbai, RCB, DC and Rajasthan/Kolkata top 4.

 

[Ohm]

RR's performances in last two games was fair reflection of their on paper strength. Only if they could do it from beginning though, that'd have been one season to remember by their name.

 

[Yash.]

If SRH win the game against RCB, they need to win this as well and they would know what exactly they need to do in terms of NRR wise to qualify

SRH just need to win the remaining games and they’ll qualify. Simple as that.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Watched the match yesterday. KL Rahul played what I would call a pretty standard innings. Perhaps let it drag about 10-15 balls.

Gayle was Gayle. Deserved 100. He has turned the team around. Maybe it's a coincidence that since he came into the team they've turned into a winning team but so many matches it feels like more than a coincidence. He's a special player.

They were just beat by top batsman; Stokes, Samson, Smith, Buttler, doing what they do. The run had to come to an end.

The last round of matches should be fun.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

RR's performances in last two games was fair reflection of their on paper strength. Only if they could do it from beginning though, that'd have been one season to remember by their name.

Their strength is the POMS. They have England's best white ball batter who is also a keeper, their best bowler who can hit a long ball as well as their best all rounder.

All three of them are the world's best at what they do. So when even one fires, they win.

Personally, I would never pick all three as a franchise owner/manager. If England have a tour or home series in the IPL window, RR are just a sitting duck.

 

[Bevab]

Their strength is the POMS. They have England's best white ball batter who is also a keeper, their best bowler who can hit a long ball as well as their best all rounder.

All three of them are the world's best at what they do. So when even one fires, they win.

Personally, I would never pick all three as a franchise owner/manager. If England have a tour or home series in the IPL window, RR are just a sitting duck.

That is an extremely likely scenario in all fairness. Wonder how they'll approach it next season when England will inevitably want a lucrative series to compensate for the COVID losses. We may even see another top four country's players depart slightly earlier than usual.

Rajasthan could have won a game or two before Stokes had properly arrived if they had bothered to use Buttler in his favourite position IMO. I'm genuinely surprised that they're still in the race for the top four after their poor mid-season form but they've looked really great in the last two games. As for Punjab, I'm still bemused that Mayank hasn't returned yet. Feel like they've just benched him under the excuse of injury (he was supposed to return in the very next game according to rumours and still isn't fit apparently) after Mandeep's decent form when they could have just had Mandeep in at four where he has plenty of experience and got Mayank back in for Hooda.