IPL - Initial Thoughts

IPL Round 2 began this week and one can already feel it's not the same as last year. Here's some initial thoughts.

- Most glaring was the crowd and crowd behavior; South Africa will never be able to match Indian crowds.
- Timeout at the end of 10 overs (or 6 overs in Punjab's case) is sheer stupidity. IPL has already given enough hints that indicates their priority for money (quite openly in this edition) over game. They should realize that they are able to make money due to the game and they don't cross the line too much.
- Mumbai, Bangalore and Deccan looks more determined and looks a different side due to the addition of some key players and also due to the SA conditions.
- Chennai and Delhi will probably maintain the same intensity as last time and they both look good both on paper and reputation.
- Kolkata had so much off field activities right before the game and it reflected on their on field performance. Between Buchanan, Ganguly & Gayle they will have some serious attitude problems and I will be extremely surprised if they manage to win more than 2-3 games.
- Punjab and more importantly Rajasthan looks a totally different side due to alien conditions and absence of some key foreign players.

Catch the action if you can in between Citi moment of success and DLF maximums and timeouts and bunch of other commericials.

Yuvraj will never become Maharaj!

Last time I wrote about Yuvraj and his woeful form in tests, he managed a match winning innings (@ home) and I also got a couple of calls from my friends saying it's too soon to write off Yuvraj in tests. After the recent NZ series, We have almost come to a point where we can tell Yuvraj, you will play in all ODIs for India for the next 8 years regardless of your form, but your test career is all but over. Here's an interesting stats on Yuvraj's record in tests outside subcontinent in the last several years.