Mid Season Review
Standings
Q/E
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Matches
|
Won
|
Lost
|
Tied
|
Points
|
NRR
-
|
1
|
Hyderabad Hulks
|
7
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
10
|+0.684
-
|
2
|
Bengaluru Brave Brats
|
7
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
10
|+0.035
-
|
3
|
Delhi Duelers
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
8
|-0.048
-
|
4
|
Jaipur Jaguars
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
8
|-0.123
-
|
5
|
Chennai Cyborgs
|
7
|
3
|
4
|
0
|
6
|+0.373
-
|
6
|
Bengal Tigers
|
7
|
3
|
4
|
0
|
6
|+0.034
-
|
7
|
Mumbai Mirchis
|
7
|
2
|
5
|
0
|
4
|-0.102
-
|
8
|
Punjab Lions
|
7
|
2
|
5
|
0
|
4
|-0.830
We are mid way in the second season of the Indian Premier League and the standings show how things can turn upside down for the teams. Punjab Lions, the winners of season 1 see themselves languishing at the bottom of the table this time round with Mumbai Mirchis giving them a close fight for the last spot. But, as we all know in the sport of Cricket, things can change quick and fast. Let us have a look at the performances of all these 8 teams and see what went wrong and what could be possibly done to correct it. For those sitting at the top as well, there a quite a few things to be corrected.
Form: WLWWLWW
The move to come up the order hasn't worked for Dhoni
Hyderabad Hulks sit pretty at the top of the table and it has been an all round effort to get there. The team hasn't really depended on any one player and all the changes have worked for them. There has been a lot of changing and chopping in almost every game as regards to their playing XI but, the those seem to be working. MS Dhoni begun this season really well but, in recent matches he has tried too many things, one feels. We have heard from the sources, the players aren't sure about their positions in the XI. 5 wins out of 7 matches shows how good the team has performed but, the inside story tells us something else. Maybe that's how it works for the Hyderabad franchise. Pragyan Ojha, the left arm spinner has been a revelation so far. He is currently the joint highest wicket taker for the season and has played 2 games less than the other two. Hyderabad Hulks will want to continue their momentum and hopefully sort out the issues which are creeping up before things start going wrong.
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Form: LWWLWWW
Chris Gayle has found form at a crucial time for Bengaluru Brave Brats
Bengaluru Brave Brats are tied at the points with Hyderabad Hulks for the top position and only the net run rate separates the two teams but, Bengaluru should consider themselves lucky to be where they are now. They have won 3 on the trot but, all of them could have gone the other way and they could have been much below. Their players haven't been consistent enough. The opening pair is a problem. Swapnil Asnodkar has scored only 80 runs in 7 games. They need to sort out the issue before it comes back to haunt them. Amidst all this, the reason to cheer is Chris Gayle's form. He has hit two superb centuries which resulted in wins on both the occasions and has delivered when no one else could. Bengaluru Brave Brats will want him to continue and hope their other players step up if they're to maintain their winning run.
Form: WLWLWLW
Kevin Pietersen has struggled so far in the season
Delhi Duelers have had a mixed bag of a season so far. The problem has been their two big players not performing as one would expect. Skipper Virender Sehwag has been short on runs while season one hero Kevin Pietersen has struggled big time. Kallis has been performing very well and another good news is their bowlers are doing alright. Malinga is amongst the wickets and Mendis is troubling the opposition batsmen. Delhi might need to look beyond KP but, it's a tough decision. JP Duminy has scored a run less than what KP has in 4 less innings. Shivnarine Chanderpaul who stabilized the middle order in season one is yet to get a game in this season.
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Form: WWWWLLL
Jaipur Jaguars have been consistent in their selection
It has been up up up and then down down and down for Jaipur Jaguars this time. Earlier, they were criticized for making too many changes to their XI but, this season they have stuck to the same eleven players most of the time. They begun really well winning four in four with everyone chipping in here and there. But, after that they have gone downhill losing all the next 3. No one has stood out and the batsmen have all been getting starts but, not capitalizing. Openers haven't done well, Kohli hasn't really got going, skipper AB de Villiers has got some runs but, those weren't enough to get the points. Umar Gul just has 5 wickets in 7 games. Jaipur need to try some different things, one feels otherwise a similar season like the first one seems to be in store if their big players keep on under-performing.
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Form: LWLWWLL
Kumar Sangakkara has had a disappointing season thus far
Chennai Cyborgs would believe they have performed well as a unit but, results have just not favored them. Their bowling has been doing very well and it has been their batting that has let them down on more than one occasion. Captain Sangakkara hasn't got past 40 in any match so far. The batsmen have failed in crunch situations. Chennai have used their bowlers pretty well though. Saeed Ajmal has got only 2 games and has 6 wickets to his name. But, the spinners in Shakib and Ashwin are doing a fine job. Chennai need their captain to lead from the front and will expect the batsmen to get the job done from now on.
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Form: LWLWLWL
Pradeep Sangwan has impressed one and all with the ball
Bengal Tigers should be pretty pleased with the number of wins so far. They have performed better than anyone would have expected and the reason for that is they gave away their local performers in the trades. The team doesn't really boost of any big local names, nor any really big international names as well but, they are doing fine. Yes, they are low on the table but, the players are stepping up. The thing they need is consistency. Shikhar Dhawan has found form and looks dangerous while McCullum has already played some match winning knocks. Cook has got runs. As far as bowling is concerned, Sangwan has been impressive. But, other pacers need to sort themselves out. Bengal Tigers will hope their players show some consistency and with a bit of luck, who knows this team might well show some more results.
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Form: WLLLLWL
Sachin Tendulkar hasn't been able to score many runs
Hashim Amla is the leading run scorer so far but, Mumbai Mirchis are at the bottom of the table with only NRR putting them above Punjab Lions. This tells that it's not a one man game, Cricket! Mumbai Mirchis begun solidly with a win but, lost their way after that losing 4 in a row. Ricky Ponting looked like he was raring to go this time with 3 consecutive fifties while Graeme Smith announced himself with a hundred. Only Sachin Tendulkar has been out of touch as regards to batting. It is the bowling that is a big big worry for the Mumbai Mirchis. None of the bowlers have really impressed bar maybe Swann. What adds to their misery is, Mumbai have gone with 2 'not so regular' part timers in Graeme Smith and Sachin Tendulkar in almost every game. Both of them have bowled about 43 overs between them and have leaked runs at 6.9 an over managing a single wicket each.
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Form: LLLLWLW
Tillakaratne Dilshan has found it difficult to get going
Champions in season one, last in season two at mid way stage. This has been the story so far for the Punjab Lions. Nothing much has been changed, it is just that the performers haven't got going this time for them. New captain Gautam Gambhir, apart from one knock has nothing to show in the runs tally, Dilshan has failed in every game. It has been too much pressure on the likes of Jayawardene and youngsters Chand and Madeep. Players like Morgan and Hafeez have warmed the bench from a long time now. It is important for Punjab Lions to look for more options and see if the results go their way. Dale Steyn has been a standout bowler for them with others doing just fine. They need to look at their batting long and hard and might want to get in their overseas players who are yet to get a game.
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Round 8
Bengal Tigers v Delhi Duelers at Kolkata (P)
Mumbai Mirchis v Bengaluru Brave Brats at Mumbai (P)
Hyderabad Hulks v Punjab Lions at Hyderabad (P)
Jaipur Jaguars v Chennai Cyborgs at Jaipur (N)
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Please post the lineups here. Thanks.
