Bringing the curtains down…

What an amazing 51 days of cricket extravaganza it has been. Pure Cricket and True Entertainment. CSK (Chennai Super Kings) once again have proved to be the kings in the championship. They deserve all credit and respect. 

IPL had in it, all the masala, fireworks, heartbreaks, oooffssss and aaahhhhsss, fashion, gossip and of course the late night IPL parties. Though analysts say that this edition of the IPL was not a major hit, it does not bother the cricket fans; we got to see a world class play. 

Throughout my life, I have been a devoted fan of cricket. Cricket is my lifelong passion. Until last season I supported KXIP (Punjab) and DD (Delhi), but then this season brought along with it a shuffle in the teams, and also the inclusion of two new team’s i.e. KTK (Kochi) and PWI (Pune). For this edition and also the upcoming two editions I am supporting Pune and RCB (Bangalore). These two teams have almost all my favorite players and so it was hard for me to choose one. Pune had a tough luck this year and I am sure they will strike back good the next year.

 

 And for Bangalore, you were very good. I feel proud to be supporting you. :)

There were a quite a many highlight moments in this season of IPL i.e. IPL IV.

• Lalit Modi, the brain behind this cricketing revolution was sorely missed this year. He was the man to take IPL to indeterminate heights, coagulate BOLLYWOOD and CRICKET, and bring to us all the great cricket players across the globe not playing for their nations but according to the market forces. God alone knows what the truth is behind all the politics going on, but this man will always be remembered whenever we’ll talk about Cricket in India. Bangalore franchise owner Siddharth Mallya compared the IPL without Modi to 'sugarfree candyfloss'.

•  70 league matches, 3 play-offs and then a big final were actually too much cricket, which eventually led to injuries and fatigues’ to the players.

•  No one had heard of Paul Valthaty before IPL IV, and today his name is counted among the biggest sensations of IPL. He came in handy both with his batting and bowling for his team KXIP and who will dare forget his stunning 120 against Chennai. At one point in the tournament he was fighting with Sachin Tendulkar for the Orange Cap and not to forget Gilchrist comparing Valthaty with himself.

 Paul Valthaty a young boy with incredible talent, hope he goes a long way :)

• The other find of this season was Rahul Sharma of PWI. This kid had always wanted to do something big, but horror struck him when he was found suffering Bell's Palsy disorder. Coming form the stage, then, where he could not even move his jaw, to now, where he grabbed 16 wickets for his team in 14 matches was amazing.

• The maestro Sachin Tendulkar got himself a 100 in this shortest version of cricketing. Is there anything that he hasn’t yet achieved on the field??? I bow down humbly to you Sir.

• This edition of IPL had only one hero, Chris Gayle of RCB brought nightmares to bowlers; he was unforgiving with the bat and deadly with the ball. He thrashed and smashed and smacked and crushed every bowler’s plan, and when he came down to bowling he was a very economical bowler. There was a buzz everywhere that whenever Gayle strikes RCB wins, not too big an exaggeration for the man who’s every stroke flew to or over the boundary lines. It was a bliss watching him play. And not to forget Chris Gayle was dropped from the first auctions, am pretty sure other team owner’s might be cursing themselves and also RCB for being so lucky.

 

 

 

• This year team owners tested themselves by getting down to the field wearing batting pads, gloves and playing a few over match. 

It was exciting to see Preity Zinta hit a four and then jump around with joy flashing her lovely dimples, in a match played between KXIP and DC (Hyderabad) managerial body. 

The Indian Liquor baron Mr. Vijay Mallya at the age of 57 was also seen playing a few strokes and then fielding in the slip position against the KKR (Kolkata) lead by the man Shah Rukh Kan himself.

• Shah Rukh Khan for the first time in the history of IPL had something to cheer about. His team KKR sans Sourav Ganguly, finally played some good cricket and reached the play-offs where they where bid farewell by MI (Mumbai). Their last league match against MI denied them of the second position in the tables and also a chance to play in the Champions Trophy. Well, all I can say is good luck next time. Well done, captain Gautam Gambhir! :)

• The Bangalore and the Chennai team have qualified for the Champions Trophy for three times in a row. Congratulations!!!

• Virat Kohli, my favourite (since a past few monthsJ ) did a terrific job as a batsman, a fielder and also as a captain for a few matches. It was during his captaincy that RCB emerged as one of the trophy favorites (I know it happened after Gayle’s arrival, but I love Kohli). Kohli for sure has lot of good cricket in him and I won’t be surprised seeing him replacing Sachin Tendular or say Rahul Dravid (no, the first one is better!) after 5-7 years.

• Awww…ww Shane Warne declared to retire from IPL after giving a lot to RR (Rajasthan Royals). He will be surely missed. He will always be remembered for the way he had turn around the table for RR in the inauguration edition from underdogs to Champions. In his last match, he was up against his deadliest rival of all times, Sachin Tendulkar and all praise to this man for retiring on a winning note. Before his last game, Shane was fined $50,000 for his part in a public row with Rajastan Cricket Association Secretary Sanjay Dixit.

• Was it only his play in the IPL for which Sane Warne will be remembered? Obviously not! Thanks to him, IPL had Liz Hurley watching the games; his sensational lip-lock with Liz after his last match too will be remembered.

• Lip-lock reminded me of the sweet hug-kiss between Sid Mallya and Bollywood queen Deepika Padukone. This picture is registered in the best moments of IPL. They match each other perfectly and daddy Mallya too has no objections. Happy. :)

• When Bollywood is around parties and fashion is always included. With SRK, Gauri, Sakshi Dhoni, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Preity Zinta, Shilpa Shetty, Sen sisters (Riya and Raima), Arjun Rampal in the stands glamour  had to be there. Sakshi Dhoni with her shades and girly bracelets has emerged as a new fashion icon after this IPL edition. Fashion Police now have their eyes on you lady!  

• When I talked about fashion, was anyone reminded of the disgusting jersey of Kochi Tuskers… eeeeks! It was such a horrible color combination. Orange and Purple separately are two very good colors, but when combined together it looks repulsive.

        

   I hope they change their jersey next  season and who knows luck might change for them too!

This is my lengthiest blog post, isn’t it? No fault of mine though, when it comes to cricket, I just can’t stop writing or even thinking. But warning you, this is not the end of my post. I tried to summarize the whole of IPL IV, I am sure you might be now thinking what a fool head I am. I mentioned everything starting from cricket, to fashion, to bright stars and I did not mention one thing. Well, I was saving it for the last; this incident in IPL will be remembered not only in India, but across the globe in the ages to come. Whenever there will be a talk on Sports spirit and love of a player for his game, the name of King of comebacks, Sourav Ganguly will always be mentioned. 

The handsome and charming prince of Kolkata, Sourav Ganguly , who was a few months ago, until Dhoni won the World Cup, tagged as India’s most successful captain had to undergo ample of humiliation. To all cricket lovers’ surprise he was not picked up by any team in all the three rounds of auction, and it was pain to see owners choose local unknown players over him. When the game began rumors spread of him joining as a mentor for KKR, but no, then there were talks of his inclusion in PWI, but no, he was finally seen cheering for KKR from the stands. This sight was actually heart-breaking. How could one of best India’s captain, who himself had scored more than 17,000 international runs cheering for a team when he himself wanted to go down with the bat and start smashing it? When everyone was sure that we would call it quits he was spotted in the PUNE’s black jersey. This man was in love with cricket since his childhood and he has it in him to play till he wants. The world witnessed it in his game against the Deccans, his every single run was applauded by the viewers, many had tears in their eyes, and many saluted his undying love for the game. There was nothing astonishing when a man came running to the crease to touch his feat while he was batting.

  Ganguly, India is proud to have you and it is always a treat to watch you playing (especially your 6’s, you hit the best 6’s ever!). I salute the sportsman in you; this season of IPL IV belongs to you and I dedicate you this post of mine :)

Picture source: NDTV