Knight Riders set to clash with Delhi Daredevils

Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils, who are better-placed to make the semi-finals, will look to climb up the Indian Premier League (IPL) ladder after their high-voltage clash here on Tuesday.Both teams will go into the battle at the Eden Gardens with different feelings. While Sourav Ganguly's team have won their last two matches to take their tally to eight points from eight matches, Virender Sehwag's Delhi have suffered close defeats in their last three matches to remain at eight.Although both teams have eight points from as many matches, the Knight Riders (+0.545) are a shade ahead of Delhi (+0.500) on the net run rate. With the race in the 59-match Twenty20 tournament intensifying, net run rate could come into play in determining the semi-finals if the qualifying teams tie on points

Tendulkar to make IPL debut against Chennai

Mumbai Indians' hopes got a big shot in the arm when their icon player and captain Sachin Tendulkar on Monday declared himself fully fit to play his first Indian Premier League match against Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede stadium on May 14. "Yes I will be playing the match on May 14. I feel very comfortable. It has been tough and disappointing to have missed the two Tests against South Africa and the first seven IPL ties," Tendulkar, who has not played a competitive match since March-end due to a groin injury, said. Tendulkar said though ace South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock had done a commendable job as captain, resurrecting the team's fortunes after a string of defeats in the first four matches, he would take over the reins now that he is fit. "Shaun Pollock was the makeshift captain and has done a terrific job but I will be captaining the side," Tendulkar said. He will open the innings with Sri Lankan ace Sanath Jayasuriya for the Mumbai Indians against Chennai, Tendulkar said. The batsman however refused to be drawn into comments over off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who has been banned from the IPL for slapping S Sreesanth after the Mumbai Indians match against Punjab Kings XI at Mohali. "It is a past chapter. Let's put it behind and look ahead," Tendulkar said. Talking in detail about his rehabilitation process, the ace batsman explained that the first half was spent in taking complete rest. "The first half of my rehabilitation was done by taking rest and I was not allowed to play. I spent time on strengthening my muscles," he said. When asked about the team's performance so far, especially the defeats, Tendulkar said the first two matches were very close and in the crunch moments went in the opposition's favour. The third and fourth matches the team could not compete as expected, he said, adding the key for the turn around in the team's fortunes leading to its three match winning streak was the ability to take early wickets. "We could get early wickets and that was the key," Tendulkar said. The master batsman was also very confident that the crowd would support the home team as has always been the case at the Wankhede stadium. When asked if he would be looking to strike good form after an injury lay-off like in the past, he said, "I always try hard." About the rivals from Chennai, Tendulkar said, "They are a tough side. There will be plenty of talking done in the team before the match, it will be a question of implementing them

Bhajji's fate sealed, Nanavati arrives at BCCI office

BCCI-appointed commissioner Sudhir Nanavati, who probed Harbhajan Singh-S Sreesanth slap-row, arrived at BCCI office to submit his report on Tuesday. It's a scandal that sent shockwaves through the cricketing community and fans alike. On Tuesday, all eyes are on one man - BCCI appointed Commissioner Sudhir Nanavati who is slated to submit his report on Bhajji-Sreesanth Slapgate controversy. Nanavati has prepared a 14-page report with ten pages of annexures, which will be handed over to the BCCI disciplinary committee. After Board President Sharad Pawar goes through it, the committee will then decide on the quantum of punishment to be given to the person found guilty. Sreesanth's outburst on April 25th in Mohali after his match against the Mumbai Indians shocked the entire cricketing world and went on to become one of the defining moments of the inaugural Indian Premier League. It was Harbhajan Singh -- the bad boy of the cricketing world -- who was responsible for those tears. Following the row, the IPL Governing Council slapped a 11 IPL match ban on Bhajji. But that was not all. The BCCI appointed Commissioner Sudhir Nanavati was asked to probe into the incident, which has been completed, leaving the decision of further ban upto the BCCI. Sudhir Nanavati is slated to submit his report at the BCCI headquarters on Tuesday and the report can well end Bhajji's smiles for sometime. However, Nanavati confirmed that the report is neatly drafted with all the details required to assist the BCCI to take a final call on the Slapgate row. Harbhjan Singh is already suspended from the IPL and his match fee confiscated after match referee Farokh Engineer found Bhajji guilty of slapping Sreesanth. With Nanavati's report, the turbanator could be in for more trouble from the disciplinary committee - headed by Sharad Pawar, as the BCCI has been uncompromising over this breach of discipline. I was under tension while preparing report: Nanavati BCCI-appointed Commissioner, Sudhir Nanavati, probing the slapping row between Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth, after completing his report in Ahmedabad on Monday said that he was under tension while preparing it. "I was under tension not because of the subject, but because the issue that I was investigating was very sensitive. So many eyes were on me. I can't afford to make any mistakes," said Nanavati who is slated to submit the final report to BCCI on Tuesday in Mumbai. "I was very cautious while drafting the report. I have written each and every word carefully and I can justify every sentence in the report," said the Ahmedabad-based lawyer. Nanavati was to submit the report on Monday, but on Saturday he had announced that he would be submitting the report on Tuesday as he had to appear for some cases in the Gujarat High Court. He had stated that the stipulated time of 15 days, to complete his inquiry report, also ends on Tuesday. The senior advocate had on Friday (May 9) wrapped up the investigation in the slapping row after hearing Harbhajan and Sreesanth in Ahmedabad. After completing the hearing, Nanavati had said he was satisfied with the answers given by both the players and did not feel the need to question anybody else.

Bangalore continue to suffer

When a team is going through a bad patch it becomes very difficult to get out of the rut. While fortune may favour the brave, but the rub of the green generally goes against the underdogs. The Royal Challengers found that out at the PCA stadium here on Monday night.Even the induction of T20 specialist Misbah-ul-Haq at the top of the order failed to change the fortunes of the Royal Challengers, sarcastically dubbed as the best Test team in the IPL

Kolkata fined $1000 for slow over rate

For their second successive Indian Premier League match, the Kolkata IPL team were fined for slow over-rate after the Sourav Ganguly-led squad was found two overs behind schedule in their Sunday night's tie against the Hyderabad team.
Match Referee Talat Ali of Pakistan fined Kolkata $1,000 for slow over rate in the match which they won beating their hosts at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium by 23 runs.
The IPL is being played as per the ICC Playing Conditions and Rules, and is set to follow the guidelines in letter and in spirit. Accordingly, any team found guilty of slow over rate is fined $500 per over by the Match Referee.
In their previous match too, the Kolkata outfit was fined $500 for slow over rate, while their opponents Bangalore Royal Challengers copped twice the amount.

Vijay Mallya upset with Rahul Dravid

The internal bickering of the Bangalore Royal Challengers is out in the open with team owner Vijay Mallya revealing that he was at loggerheads with captain Rahul Dravid and the outfit's sacked CEO Charu Sharma over players' selection for the Indian Premier League.
Mallya made it clear that he was not happy with the squad, currently languishing at the bottom of the IPL points table, which has been ridiculed as a Test team in Twenty20 jersey.
The liquor baron said he had some players in mind but Dravid and Sharma completely ignored them and went ahead with their own plan.
"I had my own list (of players) but the fact is Rahul Dravid and Charu Sharma had their own list and at the end of the day, I decided to take the back seat," Mallya told NDTV.
"I was very tempted to bid for players whom I wanted but they held me back. Obviously things have turned out differently," he said.
He said Sharma backed Dravid to the hilt and even in the second auction, where the captain was not present, the former CEO discouraged Mallya to buy players of his choice.
"When Rahul Dravid was not present in the second auction, I wanted to acquire some players but Charu Sharma was very tentative about them. I mean I bought Misbah-ul Haq because I was determined to do it. There were other players I was discouraged about," Mallya said.
On sacking Sharma and replacing him with former Test player Brijesh Patel, Mallya said, "Charu Sharma was appointed CEO because I thought he understood cricket and he would add value to the team and the entire Royal Challengers initiative."
Mallya said Patel's appointment was necessitated because he was tired of complaints that the team did not have good practice facilities in its base in Bangalore.
"When I was questioning the performance of the team, all I was told was that practice facilities are bad, then I was told there was no bonding in the team...so everything was blamed on a particular event or lack of infrastructure.
"So I said to myself things can't continue like this and I brought Brijesh Patel. He is the honorable secretary of the KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) and who better a person to provide match facilities and whatever else the team needs at its base in Bangalore. He understands cricket as well," Mallya explained.
The flamboyant liquor-baron also made it clear that IPL had an unmistakable corporate face, which makes it evidently distinct from other tournaments.
"At the end of the day, people need to understand that the IPL has a corporate side to it, and a very definitive corporate side. It is not at all cricket in the traditional sense," he added.
Now that the team's semi-final hopes have gone up in smoke, Mallya expects Dravid and his teammates to win a few matches to salvage some pride.
"I want from Rahul Dravid to do the best for the team and to produce some good results for us because I don't think Rahul Dravid enjoys being at the bottom of the league tables, and certainly I don't." Mallya added

Watson helps Rajasthan beat Delhi

Shane Watson made full use of two dropped chances to score a blazing half-century which sealed a thrilling three-wicket win for Rajasthan Royals against Delhi Daredevils in their IPL Twenty20 match on Sunday.Chasing, 157 to win, the hosts overcame early jolts to post a convincing victory with five balls to spare.The Delhi team, invited to bat, could put just 156 runs on the board, largely with the help of Farveej Maharoof's blistering knock of 39 down the order

Kolkata beat Hyderabad again

Venugopal Rao's unbeaten 42-ball 71 went in vain as Deccan Chargers slumped to their seventh successive defeat, going down to Kolkata Knight Riders by 23 runs in their Indian Premier League match on Sunday.Opting to bat first, the Knight Riders rode on captain Sourav Ganguly's stroke-filled 91 and David Hussey's late assault to amass 204 for the loss of four wickets in their quota of 20 overs.In reply, the Chargers led by Rao's blitzkrieg -- studded with four boundaries and a half a dozen sixes -- could manage 181 for seven.After their pathetic fielding allowed the Knight Riders to cross the 200-run mark, the Chargers lost wickets at regular intervals while trying to overhaul the massive target.