BANGALORE ROYAL CHALLANGERS AND KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS TO CREATE MAGIC IN IPL SHOW-OPENER

Bangalore Royal Challengers and Kolkata Knight Riders are to battle it out in the lung-opener of the Indian Premier League on Friday.
Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly are waiting anxiously to see how the city-based concept fares when the Bangalore Royal Challengers and Kolkata Knight Riders lock horns in opener of the multi-million dollar DLF Indian Premier League in the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium of Bangalore.
Both Dravid and Ganguly, leading the Bangalore and Kolkata outfits respectively, are in high hopes of outdoing the other.
Rahul Dravid said that it was a new concept and there will be a stiff competition in the event and it will bring in some freshness into the sport.
"It's fast paced and entertaining. But once the game starts the focus will only be on cricket," he added.
Dravid is waiting to see whether the Indian fans will accept the city-based rivalry with open arms.
Dravid's competitor Ganguly admitted that he could not figure out who was the favourite among the cities because of the nature of the T20 contest.
Ganguly said he considered this event as a contest between state sides with world-class players.
Dravid, who is leading the Vijay Mallya-owned Bangalore Royal Challengers team, said the event would raise the profile of the game.
Ganguly, leading the Kolkata Knight Riders team, said it's going to be a serious competition, given "so many big names, so much money involved in it", and there being a "question of reputation.
On the Royal Challengers being pitted against Shahrukh Khan's Knight Riders, Mallya said that Shahrukh Khan was a star and he wasn’t.
Malaya further said that entertainment enhances the sport, it supports the game.
Kingfisher is getting cheerleaders from the U.S for the matches and has planned a spectacular inaugural ceremony.

Mumbai sweat on Tendulkar's fitness

Mumbai Indians are still sweating on the fitness of captain Sachin Tendulkar after the master batsman said on Thursday that his participation in the team's opening match in Mumbai on Sunday is still doubtful.
Tendulkar, who was ruled out of the last two Tests against South Africa because of a groin injury, said a decision would be taken before the start of the match against the Bangalore Royal Challengers on Sunday.
"Whether I will be fit for the first match or not, we will assess before the start and depending on my condition we will take a decision. As of now we haven't made any decision," Tendulkar said in Mumbai at the launch of the team.
The entire Mumbai squad was present at the event and they were given a traditional welcome. Tendulkar's childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar wished them good luck by applying a tilak on the players' foreheads made of sindoor from the Siddhivinayak and Mahalaxmi temples in Mumbai and mixed with the holy water from Mount Mary church and the sand from Shivaji Park, from where Tendulkar started playing his cricket.
Tendulkar also said there is no senior-junior divide in the team and everyone has an equal status.
"We had our first meeting and it was on the second or the third day of our practice sessions. That is when I told everyone that everybody is equal in the team. There are seniors who guide them and give them directions which is extremely important. But when it comes to approaching the game, everyone is equal and there won't be exceptions. The atmosphere in the team is terrific," he said.
The inaugural IPL kicks off in Bangalore on Friday with the Bangalore Royal Challengers taking on Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders team. Mumbai launch their campaign in eight-team tournament at the Wankhede stadium.
Tendulkar, also a former India captain, stressed that it is important to be innovative in Twenty20 cricket and outsmart the opposition.
"I think in Twenty20 creativity is extremely important and that is what our batting side would be working on and even in bowling. Shaun Pollock has already spoken to our bowlers and give them a few tips. And for our batting, Dominic Thornley and Luke Ronchi will also share a few tips and Sanath Jayasuriya is there, I am there. It is all about exchanging your thoughts and talking cricket. I think that is what will be the key factor in Twenty20," he said.
"Introducing surprise elements will be extremely important," Tendulkar added.
The veteran batsman said he is excited and looking forward to the challenge of leading Mumbai.
"It is a great challenge to captain Mumbai and I am looking forward to it. There will be challenges and there will be obstacles but those are the challenges we are looking to embrace and go out and give our best," Tendulkar quipped.
The Mumbai Indians also announced that Harbhajan Singh will be the vice-captain.
Harbhajan said he would continue to play in his aggressive style despite being pitted against some of his team mates in the IPL. When asked if he will curb his aggression against his Indian colleagues, the off-spinner replied: "I will be more aggressive than before."

Lee: IPL needs England players

AUSSIE pace ace Brett Lee wants his England pals Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen to join the Indian Premier League revolution.
The mega-bucks tournament gets underway tomorrow with centrally-contracted England stars prevented from taking part either this season or next.
The ECB's stance has caused rumblings in the England camp, with players frustrated at their potential loss of earnings.
Star batsman Pietersen described the situation as “ridiculous”, while others have admitted it is only a matter of time until they join.
And now Lee has echoed the calls for England's biggest players to feature in the Bollywood-style Twenty20 competition.
He told SunSport: “I would definitely like to see those guys feature — and the way things are looking that will happen.
“There are a lot of different countries and cultures in the IPL and it’s weird that no English players are involved.
“From a spectator’s point of view it would be great to get them in."

Lee, who will turn out for The King's XI Punjab, struck up friendships with Flintoff and Pietersen during the epic 2005 Ashes series.
And having seen the pair at their best, the pace ace believes they are more than suited to the Twenty20 format.
He said: “I recently read that Flintoff is coming back from injury and that’s great news for the game.
“It would be a daunting prospect if the likes of Freddie or KP were in full flight.
“They smash the ball a mile when playing Test cricket — so in Twenty20 cricket they’d be scary for us bowlers.”

BRETT LEE has revealed he cannot wait to face his Aussie team-mates in the Indian Premier League.

The express bowler is one of the star players in the tournament’s first season, having signed up to play for Mohali outfit The King's XI Punjab.

With his first game against The Chennai SuperKings, Lee will come up against some of his international friends.

And the lightening fast bowler admits he has no qualms about sending down his trademark 95mph thunderbolts.

He told SunSport: “The IPL is exciting to say the least – with the Indian crowds and the big profile of the tournament.

“But for me it’s the mix of cultures – I’m playing alongside Indian pair Sri Sreesanth and Yuvraj Singh and that’s a great opportunity.

“We’re taking on Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey in our first game and that will be interesting.

“It’s definitely going to be strange, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m used to doing my research on players from other countries.

“But these are guys are obviously class acts and I’ll going out and treating them like any other batsman.

“I’m contracted to a side here and I’ll be trying my heart out like it was a game for Australia.

“So if a bouncer or a yorker is needed to take a wicket, then I have no worries about sending one down.”

Lee enjoys a god-like status in India, an has been mobbed by fans since arriving in the country.

But having hit the top of the music charts with his debut single last year, and recently filming Bollywood flick Victory, it is not just cricket he is famous for.

He said: “I have a real soft spot in my heart for India, ever since my first tour as a junior in 1994.

“The people here are so friendly and they just love cricket.

“I had some success over here with the single, but I did it purely for the fun of it.

“People here are now talking about me as a singer – which is really funny.

“Music is my passion away from cricket, but I’ve also just finished my first Bollywood movie, which was a lot of fun.”