Rival teams will take us more seriously: Mahela

Debutantes Kochi Tuskers Kerela roared back into the Indian Premier League with an upset victory over Mumbai Indians and skipper Mahela Jayawardene hoped the rivals team will take them more seriously now.

The Kochi tuskers chased down an imposing 182-2, set by Mumbai Indians, to open their account in the tournament and Jayawardene said it was a big win against the IPL 3 runners-up team.

"It was a good win. We were pretty close in the last two games. It is good to finish the game off and it is a big win against Mumbai Indians," the Sri Lankan told reporters after his team notched up their maiden eight-wicket victory.

"It (win) means a lot. All the guys are working really hard. We had an extra session at the nets after the loss against Pune, we showed a lot of character even in the games we had lost."

"We have to keep fighting till the last. I think the rival teams will take us a little more seriously now following this victory. It gives us confidence as well," he added.

Jayawardene said it was important to see off his Sri Lankan teammate Lasith Malinga who has been in rocking form in the Indian Premier League.

"We knew we had the talent, we had an extra batsman today. The wicket was wet, they had a few dangerous bowlers, we had to negotiate them. The start against Malinga was crucial.

They are really a very good team but we were better today," he said.

Asked about his dismissal by Malinga, Jayawardene said, "I knew what was coming. I knew how to play it but I missed it. It was a crucial moment of the match."

Asked if the negative reports about the Kochi outfit in the run-up to the IPL affect them, Jayawardene said, "I don't try to control things which I can't control, my only focus was to control the team."

On a lighter vein when asked about the bright colours of their jersey, Jayawardene said the team chose this colour as it stands out.

"I like the colour, it stands out. It brings out the best in you. We didn't have many options as most of the teams had chosen their colour, we went for the brightest. It suits Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) and a lot of other guys in the team," he said.

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Fielding laspes cost us the match: Tendulkar

Fielding lapses, including a first-ball dropped catch off Brendon McCullum who smashed his way to 81, cost Mumbai Indians the match against IPL debutants Kochi Tuskers Kerala, said Sachin Tendulkar.

"They fielded better. In bowling and batting we matched each other, but in the fielding department they were better as they held on to whatever catches they got. We missed those opportunities. All we need to do is to make sure we don't repeat those mistakes," Tendulkar said after Kochi chased down Mumbai's imposing 182 for 2 with eight wickets and six balls to spare.

"When we started earlier we thought anywhere between 160-165 was a good total as the ball seamed around a bit initially and later on it was a good track to bat on."

"But I thought if we had hit the right areas in bowling - though at times we did manage it - and those important catches... McCullum was dropped 1st ball (by Rohit Sharma off Lasith Malinga). These things happen and that's why you say catches win matches," added the champion batsman, who hit his maiden IPL century, a 66-ball 100.

Tendulkar said the game was still alive when Malinga got rid off McCullum but a few fielding lapses saw the match slip through in the end.

"The game was very much alive. If Malinga could get McCullum out and put the pressure back on them it would have been wonderful. The first half we managed and was wonderful, but in the second half a few lapses in fielding cost us the match," he said.

"I thought we played competitive cricket in today's match but when it mattered we faltered in fielding. I would blame this only on fielding and nothing else," he added.

He also defended the move to bring on left arm spinner Ali Murtaza for the 19th over when Brad Hodge and Ravindra Jadeja were at the crease and the move proved costly as the bowler was slammed for two sixes and a four by Jadeja to power his side to a sensational maiden win.

"If you had seen the previous over, Brad Hodge had hit the fast bowler (Pollard) for boundaries. The idea was not to give him pace. Ali had really bowled well earlier. If we had more than ten runs to be scored in the last over, Munaf (Patel's) experience would have helped. That was the only reason Ali was brought in," he explained.

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Home conditions give us an edge: Fleming

The defeat at the hands of Kings XI Punjab the other day, notwithstanding, Chennai Super Kings, backed by a vociferous home crowd, would still hold an edge over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Saturday's Indian Premier League match, coach Stephen Fleming said on Friday.

After two consecutive wins, defending champions CSK slumped to a surprise six-wicket defeat against Kings XI Punjab in an away match.

But Fleming believes home support and their set of core players from previous IPLs, gives them an advantage over other teams in the ongoing Twenty20 event.

"We still have an edge tomorrow because we are playing at home. But we still have to be on top of our game, we have to be sharp and accurate in what we do," the former New Zealand captain told reporters on the eve of the match here.

"I said from the start that we have a small advantage because we have core players from the previous editions. But that advantage is slowly running out," Fleming added.

Although the disappointment of the loss against Kings XI is still fresh in his mind, Fleming said it was one man's show -- Paul Valthaty -- which made the difference.

Chasing a mammoth 188 for four, a little-known Kings XI batsman Valthaty spoiled CSK's party with a blistering 63-ball unbeaten 120 to see the Punjab side home.

"Disappointed to lose the last game but you have to give credit where it is due. The other night, we saw the unearthing of a talent Valthaty. It was an innings full of flair. The first six over of the match produced five runs an over but the remaining 14 went for 10 an over," the CSK coach said.

"IPL is a great advantage for young Indian players as they get the chance to share the dressing room with experienced international players. It was disappointing to be at the receiving end but it was a nice story, the type of fairytale story that IPL is made of.

"We will take 188 every day. We saw a great innings against the other day. When you make 180-190 consistently, you usually win more matches than you lose," Fleming added.

He said CSK has been bolstered by the return of Michael Hussey and Doug Bollinger.

"Hussey and Bollinger are great additions to our squad and it's good to have them back. It's nice to have options, and now we have the headache of selecting the right team," Fleming said.

The CSK coach also hinted that Hussey might play tomorrow against RCB.

"Hussey has a pretty good chance of playing. He has always been a keen member for us. We generally choose all-rounders because Albie is our star player. Usually we go in with three overseas bowling options because the quality of Indian batting gives us the option of doing that," he said.

Asked about the importance of toss in Saturday's game, he said, "In a night game, toss is probably not as vital. It's a pitch that's very hard to read. It has tended to be slow but suddenly it gets its pace back."

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Inexperience cost us against KKR: Warne

Inspirational Rajasthan Royals' captain Shane Warne on Friday blamed inexperience and bad luck responsible for his side's humiliating nine-wicket loss against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League here.

After two easy wins over Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan was mauled by Knight Riders at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

"We couldn't executive our plans and luck too was not in our favour. A few edges could have flown straight to fielders. A little inexperience, like Nayan Doshi running into the circle too cost us dearly," Warne told reporters after the match.

He said slow batting in the middle overs let the side down.

"We were bogged in the middle overs and perhaps landed 15 run short. But a score of 159 was at par with our expectations but I thought 15 more was possible," the former Australian leg-spinner said.

"Our plan was to get Watson and Taylor out there around the 12th over after laying down a decent base. But Watson got bogged down a bit," added Warne, who is also the coach of Rajasthan outfit.

Warne also defended his decision to pick Botha ahead of tearaway pacer Shaun Tait.

"Anybody can select a better team after the match but we had certain plans which did not come off today. This can happen in Twenty20 cricket," he insisted.

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Gilchrist's wicket is the key: Lehman

Deccan Chargers' coach Darren Lehmann is hoping that his former Australian teammate Adam Gilchrist doesn't fire on all cylinders when they face Kings XI Punjab in their Indian Premier League match on Saturday.

Gilchrist had captained the Chargers in the first three editions of the league, before being bought by the Punjab franchise early this year.

The former Australia wicketkeeper was also instrumental in guiding his team to the title in the second edition, held in South Africa.

"Obviously, he is a good player. One of the greats of the game. Hopefully he doesn't go off like he did for Deccan. We have to get him early because he can score at a good rate," coach Darren Lehmann said at a pre-match press conference.

Lehmann said that Gilchrist's previous stint as captain of the Chargers would not have any bearing on Saturday's game.

He, however, felt that his own skipper Kumar Sangakkara would know a lot about their opponent's strengths and weaknesses. The Sri Lankan had led Punjab in the last two editions.

Lehmann said that his team would not just focus on Gilchrist and that it has a plan for every player.

"We have a plan for the batsmen and the bowlers. But it all boils down to who executes the plans better on the day," he added.

He indicated that the team would go in with three seamers for the second consecutive game considering the conditions and the balance of the playing XI.

"It depends on the wicket and whom we are playing. We just felt that there was a better balance last night to go in with three quicks. Manpreet did a good job and Ishant Sharma bowled beautifully again. That was last night. I am not sure how I will go on Saturday. But, more or less, we will play three quicks again," he said.

Meanwhile, light showers in the afternoon forced the teams to cancel their scheduled practice.

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We dominated the entire game: Gambhir

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir emphasised on the importance of clicking together as a team after his side's nine-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.

The dashing left-hander smashed a 44-ball 75 but, instead of basking in glory, attributed the victory to team effort.

"I'd rather think about the team first than about myself. The team is winning and that's more important," Gambhir said when asked about the decision to let Manvinder Bisla open the innings instead of himself.

"Bisla's done well, he has given us two good starts in the last two matches. That's the team's strategy," he added.

"I have been hitting the ball well, except for the first match, when I batted at number six. Hopefully I can continue."

Kolkata beat Rajasthan black and blue and Gambhir was in agreement with that. "We dominated the entire game. We bowled, batted and fielded well," he said.

The left-hander is expecting bigger turnouts at the Eden Gardens, the team's home ground, for their upcoming matches.

"Hopefully we can continue the winning run and give them some happiness, because Kolkata is the city of joy," Gambhir said.

Rival captain Shane Warne was gracious in defeat but felt 160 was a par score.

"We weren't good enough today. It was about a par score. They played well in the first six overs. We were a little bit unlucky and inexperience at times hurt us, a couple of chances fell short. But that's part of the learning curve," Warne said.

"A couple of things didn't work out but we will take a lot of positives out of this game. We travel tomorrow to Eden Gardens and hopefully we can knock them over on their turf."

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We have to abide by board decision: Sanga

Deccan Chargers captain Kumar Sangakkara said Sri Lankans in the IPL will have to abide by their Board's decision and return home for the England tour. He also said that as yet he wasn't sure of the exact date of their return.

"We have a tour of England happening by the end of May. I think the Board (SLC) will start calling us back. But I am not sure if it is going to be May five or not (for the return home)," said Sangakkara, who captains Deccan Chargers.

"It is up to the BCCI and SLC to negotiate on this (date of return). What we as players can do is to abide by the decision of our Board. I hope the players would be communicated after a decision is taken by the BCCI and SLC. We have to abide by that," he said at the post-match press conference after Deccan Chargers beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 33 runs.

Sangakkara described Thursday's win a team effort and said it was a relief that Deccan finally won at home in the IPL.

"It is great to win at home. It is relief and joy at last. It was a great team effort. Everybody contributed to the win. Chipli played a brilliant innings. Gony and Steyn bowled exactly according to the plan," he said.

Asked about his side breaking the jinx of losing all their IPL matches at home before Thursday, Sangakkara said, "Win is a win and you have to keep on being positive. We did just that."

RCB captain Daniel Vettori blamed poor fielding and bowling performance for his side's loss.

"We did not bowl and field well. We did not stop 15-20 runs while fielding. That is not acceptable in Twenty20 cricket. We have some good fielders and we should have stopped those runs. We let them add these runs," he rued.

"At the end, because of the mistakes, Deccan's total became unassailable," said the New Zealander.

Vettori said the top order batting failure meant that there were no substantial partnerships in RCB's run chase except for the 54 for the sixth wicket between Virat Kohli (71) and Cheteshwar Pujara (25).

"You need quality players for big partnerships. Deccan bowled really well and our top order failed to get the start," said Vettori.

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Ganguly could make come-back in IPL-4

The lack of interest in Sourav Ganguly after the auctions for IPL-4 caused a furore amongst his fans, but for the many who felt that this edition of the IPL wouldn't be worth watching without their 'Dada' their may be hope after all.

According to reports, Ganguly could make a come-back with the Kochi Tuskers Kerala with the franchise reportedly interested in him after Steve Smith was ruled out of the tournament with an injury.

News reports on the CNN-IBN channel said that sources had confirmed that Kochi was indeed interested in signing on the former India captain.

More to follow...

© Cricbuzz (with inputs from agencies)

IPL is all about momentum: Vettori

The nine-wicket loss to Mumbai Indians still fresh in their minds, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori today said his side would be eyeing to gain momentum in the ongoing IPL with a win over struggling Deccan Chargers here tomorrow.

After their comprehensive six-wicket win over Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the opening match, RCB was mauled by Mumbai on Tuesday and Vettori realises the importance of tomorrow's match against Deccan.

"It's (tomorrow's match against Deccan) an important game for us. After a good start against Kochi, we lost comprehensively to Mumbai last night," the Kiwi left-arm spinner said on the eve of the match.

"I think this competition is about momentum. In such a short period of time between games, if you can get on that (winning momentum), it's going to make things a lot easier," Vettori stressed.

2009 champions Deccan, on the other hand, too would be desperate to return to winning ways after losing their opening two fixtures in IPL IV.

Vettori admitted that the home team would come hard on them tomorrow, but he said his side was up for the challenge.

"Deccan is going to come harder against us but it's a pretty important game for us too. We will make sure that we come on top against them in tomorrow," he told reporters.

Asked about the injury concern of left-arm pacer Dirk Nannes, the RCB skipper said, "He (Nannes) had a scan this afternoon and the results have been sent to appropriate places. We hope to hear about it (injury) tomorrow morning.

"He hasn't travelled with us and he may definitely be out of the next two games."

Talking about the loss at the hands of Mumbai Indians, Vettori praised Sachin Tendulkar and Ambati Rayadu for their brilliant batting.

"We certainly know we could have played better than that. I just don't think we bowled as well as we could have after losing Nannes," he said.

Vettori expressed confidence that Zaheer Khan would make a strong comeback in the tournament after the not-so-impressive performance in the first two matches.

"He (Zaheer) has had great World Cup and there's no doubt that he would comeback strongly. I still believe that (Abhimanyu) Mithun is a very good bowler and he can be a huge asset."

Asked about Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) decision to call their players back by May 4 for a preparatory camp ahead of England tour, Vettori admitted that it would be tough to get a replacement for dashing opener Tillakaratne Dilshan.

"He (Dilshan) is a very important player for us in all three departments, batting, bowling and fielding," he said.

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Lost Rayudu finds his way under Sachin

A blistering unbeaten 63 off 50 balls under the watchful eyes of Sachin Tendulkar may have given a fresh lease of life to Ambati Rayudu's aspiration to play for India.

Seven years ago, Rayudu was India's under-19 captain but found himself sidelined later.

However, he took centrestage last night as his rollicking unbeaten knock in the IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore prompted his captain Tendulkar to make the magnanimous gesture of sharing the man-of-the-match award with him. The batting icon handed over the cheque of Rs. 1 lakh to the youngster.

As soon as the presenter Robin Jackman announced Tendulkar's name as man-of-the-match, the Mumbai Indians captain walked up with Rayudu and announced, "It will be bad if I don't share this with Rayudu.

"It was a brilliant innings from him [Rayudu]. It was special stuff," Tendulkar said.

"To be honest, the wicket was slow up front and improved as the game went on. But I'm really happy today. I would like to thank Sachin sir and Robin Singh. Sachin sir just told me to have patience. I am glad we ended up winning the game," Rayudu said.

The 26-year-old Rayudu was hailed as a prodigious batting talent when he started his career in 2001 but due to various factors - some in his control, some not - he could not do justice to his potential.

Rayudu was selected to represent India's under 19 team for the tour of England in 2002 and scored 177 and 80 to lead his team to a 3-0 victory.

Rayudu, who currently plays for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy, captained the India under-19 team in the 2004 Under-19 Cricket World Cup and also became a regular in the India-A squad.

But a prolonged lean patch and differences with the Hyderabad Cricket Association officials prompted him to leave Hyderabad and play for Andhra.

His batting form deserted him and he got involved in a number of controversies which had a bearing on his career.

Disillusioned by his failure to make it big, he joined the rebel Indian Cricket League in 2007 and was banned by the BCCI. He returned to domestic cricket following an amnesty offer from the Board.

It was a call from Tendulkar which led to Rayudu joining Mumbai Indians last year and the youngster has justified the faith his captain had shown on him.

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PCB planning IPL-style event in Dubai

IPL 2008 was the only one in which Pakistan's players took part. After that, the terror attacks of 26/11 on Mumbai ensured that no Pakistan players have been a part of the cash-rich Indian league. However, now the PCB reportedly plans to launch their own equivalent of the IPL, which will be played in Dubai.

According to a report in cricinfo, Sultan Rana, chief of PCB's domestic cricket department, told Pakpassion.net that plans for a T20 League had been in the pipeline for a while but had to be put on the back-burner after the attack on Sri Lanka's cricketers in March 2009, subsequent to which no team has toured Pakistan.

"We first considered the idea a couple of years ago," he was quoted as saying.

"The documents were complete and we were all set to go, but the attack on the Sri Lankan team meant that we had to shelve all of our plans at that time.

"I recently went to Sri Lanka during the World Cup and spoke to many other countries' board representatives, but apart from Sri Lanka they are reluctant to send their players to Pakistan. So, that presents a problem for us. We simply cannot host the tournament in Pakistan if we want to attract the top players."

The ground-reality of cricket not being possible in Pakistan, led to the idea of Dubai as the host city for the league. Rana said that it would run along similar lines to the Indian Premier League.

"What we are trying to do is to organise a competition in Dubai. This idea was discussed in the past and has very much been in our plans and is still on the table. I'm sure we (PCB) can organise this tournament, which will run along the lines of the Indian Premier League."

© Cricbuzz (with inputs from agencies)

Yuvraj Singh praises the bowlers

Elated after opening their IPL campaign on a winning note, Yuvraj Singh, skipper of the new franchise Pune Warriors, lauded his bowlers for setting the platform for the comprehensive victory over Kings XI Punjab.

Chasing a modest 113 for victory, Pune overwhelmed the target in 13.1 overs to start their IPL campaign on a resounding note.

It was the bowlers who did the job for Pune by picking up wickets at regular intervals. Shrikant Wagh was their star with the ball, picking up 3/16 while Alfonso Thomas scalped a couple of wickets.

"Nice to get a first win. Our bowlers picked up early wickets and set the momentum. It was a good toss to lose and we bowled wicket to wicket according to our plans. Happy that we got the results," said Yuvraj, after the match.

"First two years when I was captain of Kings, I took too much pressure and got distracted on the field," he added.

He also praised Mithun Manhas who, coming in to bat at number three, scored a 32-ball 35 in Pune's run-chase.

"Mithun, I always back him, unfortunate that he has not played for India, but he did well for us today," Yuvraj said.

Man-of-the-match for his excellent spell, Shrikhant Wagh admitted that he felt the pressure in his debut IPL match.

"I have been working hard but I was a bit nervous. DY Patil is good place to bowl on. There is good bounce in the wicket, (Along with) Alfonso and Parnell, we bowled as a unit," he said.

© Cricbuzz (with inputs from agencies)

Exciting to play against Steyn: Kallis

Kolkata Knight Riders' star batsman Jacques Kallis is relishing the prospect of facing his tear-away South African compatriot Dale Steyn, who would open the bowling for Deccan Chargers, in their Indian Premier League game at the Eden Gardens on Monday.

"It would be exciting. Not very often do I get the opportunity to play against Dale Steyn," Kallis told media persons on Sunday. He described Steyn as a fantastic bowler, but indicated that there was no need for a hype on any such personal battle in a game where the bowlers get only four overs in an innings.

"In the end it would be a game between bat and ball, a team game," Kallis said. On his side's two-run defeat to Chennai Super Kings in the opening match Friday, Kallis said: "We lost it, rather than they won it."

Cruising at one stage in reply to CSK'S 153/4, the Knight Riders lost wickets in a heap, and needing nine from the last over, finished at 151/7.

"I think it happened due to lack of experience in our team. Everyone takes a little bit of time to settle down. Most of the guys have settled down well. Hopefully, the guys will learn from their mistakes and we will have a successful season ahead," Kallis said.

Knight Riders coach Dav Whatmore conceded that skipper Gautam Gambhir should have batted higher up the order in the Chennai tie. "In Twenty20 cricket you should have a lot of flexibility. But in hindsight, maybe it was better for him to go up the order."

Gambhir has drawn flak for coming in at number six and Whatmore said the left-hander would bat higher in the coming games. Whatmore said there was no extra pressure on the team in the absence of Sourav Ganguly, who has not been recruited by KKR this year. "We are more than happy with the current set of players."

The coach said the entire team was enjoying playing under Gambhir's captaincy. "Gambhir leads by example. He has been a wonderful contributor to the Indian team. And everybody is enjoying playing under his leadership."

We were playing catch-up all the time: Gilchrist

Kings XI skipper Adam Gilchrist conceded that his side was playing catch-up cricket right through the match after his team's resounding seven-wicket loss in their Indian Premier League lung-opener against Pune Warriors at the D Y Patil Stadium.

"It was difficult to make a comeback from nine for four. We were playing catch-up right from the beginning. All credit to Ryan McLaren for giving us some chance to come back. Had we taken our chances they could have been five for 70 and we could have tried for a win from there," said the former Aussie keeper after the match.

Gilchrist was referring to the dropped catches by his team that reprieved both Robin Uthappa (22 not out in 14 balls) and Yuvraj (21 not out in 15 balls) early in their unbeaten knocks.

Handed lives early on, the duo stitch together unbeaten 45 runs for the fourth wicket to see Pune home.

Gilchrist praised the wicket prepared for the tie and said it was a good track which had something in it for the bowlers.

"The wicket was good, the ball came on to the bat and there was something for the new ball bowlers. Yuvi told me during the presentation ceremony it was a good toss to lose as he did not know what to do (whether to bat first or not)," Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist won the toss and his team plunged headlong into trouble with their top four batsmen, including he himself, dismissed within the first four overs.

The wicket-keeper batsman, who said his team is yet to settle down, felt a total of 140 would have been a challenging target for Pune to chase down.

The Punjab outfit was restricted to 112 for eight, McLaren's unbeaten 51 being the only saving grace. Gilchrist praised the allrounder for pacing his innings well and also mentioned that McLaren did what the top six could not do.

"McLaren batted very well and paced his innings beautifully. He did what the guys in the top six could not do. Had we got 140 it would have been a bigger challenge as there was something for the faster bowlers. And then Abhishek Nayar created three chances which were put down," Gilchrist remarked.

"We did not play anywhere near our best. We have a youngish group and need to settle down," he added.

© Cricbuzz (with inputs from agencies)

I have no fear of any batsman: Malinga

Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga, who grabbed the first five-wicket haul of IPL 4, said that he is not intimidated by any of the world-class batsmen in the IPL, including Delhi dasher Virender Sehwag.

The 'slinger' believes in playing to his strength and that is bowling yorkers and slower balls. Malinga bowled yorkers at will as his deadly five-wicket haul helped Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians crush Delhi Daredevils by eight wickets in their IPL match at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi.

"I have no fear of any batsman in the world whether it's Delhi skipper Virender Sehwag or anyone. I just back my ability to bowl as fast as I can. I think of bowling accurate yorkers and slower balls. I always practice them and today was a good outing for me," Malinga said.

Malinga mentioned that the only thing on his mind when the skipper gives him the ball is to take wickets and bowl those perfect yorkers.

"I only think of wickets whenever my captain gives me the ball. I look for variety and try to bowl perfect yorkers and slow balls. I try my own things and that's how I play," he added.

Malinga, who took 5/13 with four victims off unplayable yorkers, said he just exploited the inexperience of Delhi batsmen.

"I just bowl straight and try to mix variety with pace. At the end of the day, it worked for me," he said.

Malinga's figures of 3.4-1-13-5 were the third best figures in the Twenty20 league after Sohail Tanveer - 6/14 for Rajasthan Royals) and Anil Kumble - 5/5 for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Played a maiden after 10 years: Viru

Explosive opener Virender Sehwag said that this was the first time in the last 10 years that he played a maiden over. The Delhi opener played 6 deliveries of fiery pacer Lasith Malinga without scoring a run in their game against Mumbai Indians at Delhi.

"Yes, I think after 10 years I played a maiden today. It was a plan. We lost two wickets so I thought let me play Malinga because others may not be able to pick him. We have 10 debutants in Delhi squad and it will take a little time for us to come together," Sehwag said.

The Daredevils, playing their first game in the tournament folded for a mere 95 runs thanks to a splendid bowling display by Malinga, who ended up with a five wicket haul.

"A 140-150 is a good total here, but everything went Mumbai's way."

However, the Delhi skipper was confident the team will do better in their future games.

"We have a good bowling unit and fielding. I am the only one who have played in the last three IPL. I am sure we will come good in the coming matches," he said.

© Cricbuzz (with inputs from agencies)

Sangakkara backs spinners against Kolkata

Their spinners might have come a cropper in the loss to Rajasthan Royals, but that will not deter Deccan Chargers skipper Kumar Sangakkara from opening the bowling against Kolkata Knight Riders with tweakers on Monday.

Deccan Chargers' left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who opened the bowling, was a big let down as the left-arm spinner conceded runs at 11-plus in his 3.5 overs, while leggie Amit Mishra too disappointed by giving away 28 from four overs without any wicket between the duo.

Talking to reporters ahead of their away IPL fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders, Sangakkara said the Eden strip lacks pace and bounce and may just assist the slow bowlers.

"Looking at the wicket, spin in the first few overs may just be a great option and can be an attacking one. But you have to play it according to the situation. You cannot just plan everything and use spin in the first few overs for the sake of it," he said.

Sangakkara did not read much into their spinners performance and said, "It looks like a wicket that lacks pace and bounce and may just help the slow bowlers. We have got a couple of good spinners in (Pragyan) Ojha and (Amit) Mishra.

Also Jean-Paul Duminy can be handy with his off-spin." The former Kings XI skipper said they lost the match against Rajasthan Royals despite getting a good start.

"It was disappointing to lose that game. We had got off to a great start, it's just that we lost too many wickets too quickly. We bowled excellent, we were right in the match till the about the 18th-19th over. Just that we need to tighten up our fielding a bit."

"Our batting is very good... One cannot judge your batting by just one game. We have some quality players. It does not matter how many runs you have scored," the Sri Lankan said. Sangakkara termed Sourav Ganguly's ouster unfortunate but said Kolkata Knight Riders have a very good side under Gautam Gambhir.

"They are a very good team, a very tough opposition... Everyone has got new teams, new boys. Unfortunately he (Ganguly) is not there this season."

Asked whether it's strenuous for a cricketer to play IPL, just after the World Cup, Sangakkara said, "It's a bit tiring but also a lot of fun. Our job is to play cricket, we enjoy playing cricket. We agreed to play this tournament well in advance. We just got to enjoy and play as good as we can."

© PTI

Yuvi agrees with Dhoni

The World Cup's Player of the Tournament Yuvraj Singh, on Saturday, agreed with India and Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's comments that hectic schedules drained players mentally. The Pune Warriors captain said the Indian team could not even get enough time to celebrate the historic triumph.

"What Dhoni said was right. The World Cup was a very emotional tournament for not only the team, but also nation. It has taken a lot of emotions and mental stress out of us. We had little time to celebrate (after) that (triumph)," Yuvraj said ahead of his side's opening IPL match against Kings XI Punjab on Sunday.

Dhoni had said before the IPL opener in Chennai that because of the hectic schedule, the Indian cricketers found themselves drained emotionally. Yuvraj, however, saw the positives which the World Cup winners can take into the IPL.

"The good thing is we have had a lot of training and practice in the World Cup which will definitely help us in the IPL games," he said.

Pressure has always chased me: Irfan

The pressure of expectation hangs around his neck like an albatross and it will chase him till the last ball of his career, feels Irfan Pathan who is hoping to return to the national side with a good show in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The time spent in wilderness, he says, has not eroded his self-belief, and the Delhi Daredevils all-rounder is still confident of making a comeback to the national side.

One of the most experienced international players in the Delhi line-up, Irfan adds that he is not swayed by pressures and is supremely confident of a return.

"Since my cricketing days with the Indian team, pressure has always remained with me. It has been there all the time. The pressure has always chased me and it will remain until I play the last ball of my cricketing career," Pathan told on Saturday.

"As long as you think of pressure it will always be there. So just relax and play your natural game. I will enter the stadium tomorrow with a relaxed mind as that will help me and my team to perform better," the left-armer said.

Delhi Daredevils will play Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium in an IPL match on Sunday.

Pathan was laid low by a spate of injuries over the last one year but the Baroda player finished his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore just in time to present his case for the IPL.

Pathan was bought by the GMR group-owned franchise for $1.9 million at the players' auction held in January this year.

"My fitness level is good and I am feeling fit and fine ahead of the first match. I just want to fulfill my team's expectations and have a good IPL so as to make a comeback to the national side," he said.

Part of the Kings XI Punjab franchise till the last year, Pathan will now share the dressing room with former India teammate Virender Sehwag, skipper of Delhi Daredevils, and the 26-year-old termed the Indian opener as the "most destructive" batsman in the league.

"Virender Sehwag is the most destructive batsman in the IPL. There is no doubt about that. He will be the most feared player. After him Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj Singh and West Indian Kieron Pollard are the other players."

On his team's chances in the fourth edition of the T20 league, Pathan said, "I will be very happy if my team reaches the semifinals or final of the tournament. We have got a young bunch of players. A very new-look team. Sehwag is the captain and he is such a great cricketer. He has the positive attitude and that will lead us to the victory."

Talking about Sunday's game, Pathan said he is ready to perform to the fullest and make his presence felt.

"I will give my 100 per cent. Mumbai Indians are a good side and we would love to start on a winning note. I am thinking of just one match at a time. It's not about Mumbai Indians or any other team, it's about taking one game at a time."

"We have got bright youngsters who can do the job for us. That's what you require in a T20 game. I am pretty sure that this edition of the IPL will throw some superstars of tomorrow. I am pretty confident that they will make big name for themselves. Superstars are in the making for sure," he said.

Asked about missing the World Cup, which India won after a hiatus of 28 years, Pathan grew emotional.

"It was a great feeling. I was really happy for the team that they have won the World Cup. That happiness was combined with Yusuf (Pathan's elder brother) lifting Sachin Tendulkar on his shoulders. That was outstanding. Those memories will always remain with me forever and it was a proud moment for the Pathan family," he said.

© PTI

Sachin lauds small towns' big presence in Indian cricket

Indian cricketers from small towns are making their presence felt in a big way in international cricket, says batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, who feels these players are a bit "more motivated" to make it big.

"I think the players from the smaller towns sacrifice a bit more for developing their cricketing skills. They are a bit more motivated to make it big," Tendulkar said.

"In places like Ranchi, Mahi ( MS Dhoni) told me that cricket facilities are bare minimum. Look at Dhoni or Munaf (Patel), they have their own style of playing cricket. Dhoni played football with heart and that made him run faster and made him stronger," he told 'Outlook' magazine.

Tendulkar said the epicenter of Indian cricket has shifted from big cities such as Mumbai and Bangalore to small towns.

"Players are coming from smaller towns. Our captain is from Ranchi. Players like Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth and Piyush Chawla belong to smaller towns and skill-wise they are as good as everyone," he said.

The 37-year-old champion batsman, who became a part of a World Cup winning team for the first time in his six appearances in the just-concluded edition, once again dedicated the trophy to the fans, especially to the armed forces.

"Our success on the field means so much for 120 crore Indians and even those Indians living abroad, which is why the team dedicated the Cup to the 120 crore Indians," he said.

"We are so proud of our armed forces. Because of them we feel secure. We can experience freedom because they are sacrificing their lives for us. I am too small a person to comment on them but I would like to salute them on this occasion," he added.

© PTI

Kings XI Punjab rope in Gillespie as bowling coach

Kings XI Punjab have roped in former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie as their bowling coach as they prepare to take on new entrants Pune Warriors in their opening Indian Premier League match on Sunday.

Gillespie's name was recommended by the new captain Adam Gilchrist and coach Michael Bevan, both former Australian cricketers, and he will join the team in Mumbai on Sunday. He left Australia for India on Saturday.

"Bevo (Bevan) and Adam Gilchrist as captain have been working hard to have someone work with their bowlers, which is nice of them," Gillespie said.

"I spoke to Bevan on Wednesday night and he was keen to have me over there. It is just a matter of having a simple yet effective game plan, go out and do a job and I am there to help.

"I have made a decision to give it a crack and see where it takes me and opportunities like this don't come along every day so I thought I had better take it," he was quoted as saying by 'The Advertiser'.

The 35-year-old arrived home a few day ago after a coaching stint with Zimbabwe Twenty20 franchise MidWest Rhinos.

Gillespie has 259 wickets to his credit from 71 Tests, besides 142 scalps from 91 ODIs.

© PTI

Fatigue is not a worry: Kohli

He might have got just five days rest after the hectic World Cup campaign, but talented Royal Challengers batsman Virat Kohli is not at all worried about the fatigue factor.

"I am not too much worried about it. At an age like this I am enjoying it and looking to playing more and more cricket," said Kohli ahead Royal Challengers Bangalore's first match against debutant Kochi Tuskers Kerala, at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi.

"I am looking to playing more and more cricket. I am not thinking of rest. That is commitment. Cricket is first priority and I do not think it will affect me too much," added the right-hander, who played a crucial role in India's World Cup triumph.

He also seemed optimistic about his side's chances in the fourth edition of the Twenty20 tournament.

"We have a good combination of young Indian players and international stars. The most important thing is that we get along as a team. Our team work will be visible on the field," Kohli said.

Asked about an unseen Kochi team, he said: "You cannot underestimate any team. You have to play well. It is important to build your team."

Kohli also hinted that he might bowl at this year's IPL. "I am working hard on my bowling but I have to keep working on it," he said.

Asked about the progress of RCB in the last two years, he said: "The work ethics has changed. The team environment is good and the coach was a hard task master."

RCB coach Ray Jennings said: "The players we have got have their feet on the ground. It is a privilege to work with Daniel Vettori (captain)."

Gambhir satisfied with Kolkata's performance

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir is more or less satisfied with his side's performance in the IPL season-opener, which they lost by a narrow two-run margin. Chasing 154 to win, Kolkata could manage to score 151 for seven in the end.

Gambhir said their batsmen and bowlers did a decent job but admitted that they need to improve catching as they spilled three chances today.

"I think we tried our best. We played some good cricket. There's lot of quality in this team we bowled very well, fielded well. Apart from dropping catches we did well. All this is part of the game, we'll just have to try and improve on our catching," Gambhir told reporters at the post-match press conference.

Asked the reason behind going with just two foreign players in today's contest, Gambhir said, "They had lots of spinners and we went with the best combination we could on this wicket. Ryan is a quality player and he'll play wherever we feel he can give his best."

Jacques Kallis and Eoin Morgan were the only players from abroad in the final XI.

Talking about his run out at crucial stage of the match, Gambhir said, "These things happen, that's why we call it an unpredictable game. We tried our best and today they kept their nerves and if we'd have won if we'd kept ours."

Gambhir did not forget to praise Kallis, who scored 54 runs and when he was at the crease Kolkata looked favourite to win the match.

"He's a world-class player. It's an advantage to have him in the side, he can bowl and bat."

Man-of-the-match Anirudha Srikkanth for his 64 runs said he had convinced the team management to send him as an opener.

"I wanted to open for this team. When the season started I did tell the team owners that if there is any chance for me to open I am wiling to take the opportunity to do so," Anirudha, who use to bat at number six, said.

Anirudha, who is son of India's chief selector Krish Srikkanth, was happy with his progress as a batsman.

"I am just looking to enjoy my game now, I am not looking at any target, big or small. I think I've got older and matured. If I keep going the way I am now, I am on the right path," he said.

Talking about the wicket at M A Chidambaram stadium, Anirudha said, "It was a tricky kind of wicket. In the middle overs, I realised it was two-paced and thought 150-160 would be a good target. Initially I was very much in control but as the wicket got slower (I found it harder) but still I could've got 10 or 15 runs more."

© PTI

Chennai pip Kolkata in a thriller

Before the start of "India's biggest cricketing spectacle" it was repeatedly said that the World Cup hangover would remain and the tournament would not live up to its hype. But all such notions were dismissed after 40 overs were bowled at the MA Chidambaram stadium. What followed a glitzy opening ceremony was a closely contested Twenty20 match, where both sides were in their comfort zone for most part of their innings. In the end, Chennai Super Kings proved to be better handlers of a pressure situation, pipping Kolkata Knight Riders by just two runs in a thrilling final over finish.

Dropped Catches, Anirudha special and a respectable total

Asked to bowl first, Kolkata could not have asked for a better start as left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla struck in the very first over to dismiss Murali Vijay for 5. However, the Gambhir-led side failed to capitalize on that, with easy catches going down. The culprit was Yusuf Pathan, who first dropped Srikkanth Anirudha off his own bowling in the 4th over. The former Rajasthan Royals player, in the very next over which was bowled by Laxmipati Balaji, gave Suresh Raina a chance to continue his innings, putting down a simple chance offered to him wide of mid on.

The dropped catches were a blessing for Chennai as both Anirudha and Raina made most of the chances given to them. The white ball paid a constant visit to the boundary ropes as the right-hander and the left-hander flayed Kolkata's bowling. Jacques Kallis was at the receiving end in the 6th over, conceding three boundaries, although a couple of those were streaky ones. Raina, on the other hand, was not as flashy as Anirudha, but he too scored at a steady rate. It was just the kind of partnership Chennai would have hoped for, especially after the early loss.

It seemed Kolkata were not destined to catch anything on the day and Yusuf Pathan got a taste of his own medicine when Eion Morgan, considered one of the best fielders in the Knight Riders line-up, let go off a very easy offering at mid-wicket. Providence it seemed was in favour Anirudha who survived yet again and seemed destined for a big knock. Luck though did not favour Raina much as the very next ball after Morgan's slip-up, he skied one in the mid-wicket region and this time, the fielder was Ladda who held on to the catch resulting in Raina's walk-back on 33.

The left-hander's departure slowed things down for Chennai as Abdulla and Ladda brought down the run-rate between 11th to the 15th over. It was then Anirudha and Dhoni in their elements, upping the ante towards the latter overs with the Indian chief selector's son also going past the 50-run mark. Kallis, who was taken for runs early on, tasted revenge when he got rid of Dhoni and Anirudha in the final overs. However, Kallis' economy rate took a beating in the final over despite getting the wicket of Anirudha for 64 as Scott Styris and Albie Morkel got the big hits going to help Chennai finish with a respectable total of 153/4.

Steady Kallis, A middle order failure and Dhoni's almost flawless wicket-keeping

Jacques Kallis seemed intent to make up for the runs conceded while bowling, despite picking up two wickets. Chasing 154 to win, Kallis' intent was to get Kolkata off to a good start, and the South African allrounder did just that, making the most of the new ball, crisply hitting it and finding the ropes at a regular frequency. He was particularly severe on Chennai's latest foreign recruit Tim Southee, scoring 3 consecutive boundaries off him in the 4th over.

Kallis' opening partner Manvinder Bisla lent a steady hand as the Chennai bowlers failed to make inroads for a long part of the innings. MS Dhoni was to be partly blamed for Chennai's inability to pick up early wickets as the Indian skipper, missed a stumping chance off Randiv's bowling to let Bisla survive. The breakthrough finally came for Chennai in the 9th over when Dhoni did not miss and promptly shattered the wickets to have Bisla stumped off Jakati on 27.

It was all MS Dhoni from that moment on. Following Bisla's dismissal, Yusuf Pathan occupied the crease and he almost immediately survived a stumping chance off Randiv's bowling. At the other end, Kallis looked pretty well settled and was about to reach his fifty. Then came an act of brilliance from the Chennai skipper while Yusuf Pathan could be blamed for lazy running between the wickets. Responding to Kallis' call, who had tapped the ball behind square, Pathan strolled for what he thought was an easy single. However, he was left stunned as Dhoni pounced on to the ball quickly and hit the stumps direct to find Yusuf short.

While Kallis did manage to go past 50, he fell to Ashwin immediately after that and Eion Morgan followed suit, again out stumped by Dhoni this time off Raina's bowling as Kolkata were letting the advantage slip. Gautam Gambhir's decision to come down the order might have been a good one, assuming he was keeping himself from coming on to the field in case he was needed in the middle order. He certainly was needed and a captain's knock from there would have justified his decision. But when he was most required, Gambhir was run-out for just 1 as Chennai occupied the driver's seat.

Dhoni's role from behind the stumps yielded one more wicket when Manoj Tiwary, after a useful cameo which took Kolkata closer to the target, fell to Randiv, stumped by the skipper. It was then all down to the final over with 9 runs required and Southee was brought on to bowl. Dhoni's plan to bring the Kiwi on worked brilliantly as he brought about the dismissal of Laxmi Ratan Shukla and more importantly, bowled a tight over to give away just 6 runs to get Chennai get off to a winning start in the 4th edition of the Indian Premiere League.

© Cricbuzz

Would love to beat Deccan at their home: Dravid

Rajasthan Royals' new recruit and former India captain Rahul Dravid on Friday said they would love to spoil Deccan Chargers party in front of their home crowd when the two teams meet in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League on Saturday.

A completely new-look Deccan, led by Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara, would look to test their strength after finishing fourth and failing to qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 last year.

While Rajasthan Royals would be looking to revive their IPL fortunes as they have been on the downslide in the last two editions after their inaugural crown.

"Deccan is a good team so we are looking forward to play well against them and hopefully try to beat them. We will love to beat them in front of their home crowd," Dravid said after the team's practice session at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

"Deccan is a very new team as they have got many new players. They are very different from last year. I will be playing against pacer Dale Steyn tomorrow who was my teammate last year as part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team," he added.

Deccan will be playing their first match in front of the home crowd after a gap of two years.

In 2009, the second edition of the tournament took place in South Africa due to a clash of dates with general elections in India while last year, the matches were shifted from Hyderabad and Vishakapatnam due to Telengana unrest.

Deccan coach Darren Lehman said he is expecting a good turnout on Saturday.

"It should be an exciting match. It's great to play before the home crowd."

Colourful opening ceremony launches IPL 2011

A vibrant opening ceremony, showcasing a huge dash of Bollywoood--style entertainment, marked the launch of the fourth edition of the IPL, the Twenty20 extravaganza which has gained immense popularity since its inception.

The evening sky over the M A Chidambaram stadium lit up with dazzling fireworks as BCCI President Shashank Manohar declared the cash--rich event open amidst thunderous cheers from a capacity crowd.

Some of the world's leading cricketers, including star Indian players who led the country to a historic World Cup triumph last week, will feature in the fourth edition of the event, being held for the first time without its brainchild Lalit Modi.

The controversial Modi was sacked as IPL Chairman immediately after the third edition and is facing charges of irregularities in conducting the IPL.

The highlight of the show was a dance performance by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is also co--owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders. He enthralled the huge gathering by dancing on some famous numbers from his flicks such as 'Chak--de India' and 'Billu'

The one--hour ceremony started with all the 10 captains signing the MCC spirit of cricket banner.

While all the captains were cheered as they came to the podium, the loudest applause was reserved for Indian captains Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh, the Man--of--the--tournament in the World Cup.

After a brief speech by Chairman of the IPL Governing Council Chirayu Amin, it was turn of BCCI President Manohar to address the huge gathering.

"Congratulations to the Indian team for winning the World Cup. We acknowledge the effort of the boys, the support staff, the management and all the fans. Now we have two generation of World Cup heroes, each brilliant in its own rights," Manohar said.

The BCCI President welcomed the two new entrants to the League and expressed hope that the new edition will produce more memorable moments.

"I take this opportunity to welcome two new teams Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Pune Warriors. Over the past three years, IPL has featured the best cricketing talent, legends along with upcoming players who were unknown to the audience," Manohar said.

"In 2011, we hope to see some great performances. We hope to create new cricketing memory governed by superb sportsmanship and spirit of the game," Manohar said while concluding his speech and declared the mega event open.

His speech was followed by a performance by the famous Prince Dance Group. The groups of dancers, painted from head to toe in saffron, green and white, the colours of the Indian flag, put up a nicely co--ordinated show with sounds and lights.

It was followed by a percussion show by Taufiq Qureishi's Mumbai Stamp and then came the singing trio of Mansai, Sona and Akriti, who sang 'Aa Dekhen Zara' from yesteryears' hit movie 'Rocky'

Hit Bollywood singers Kunal Ganjawala and Sunidhi Chauhan took the spotlight with some of their chart busters and the ceremony finally concluded with Shah Rukh Khan's performance.

Shah Rukh entertained the crowd by saying a few lines in local language Tamil and his dance show also included some magic tricks.

© PTI

We would have got a lot even in defeat: Dhoni

His side emerged victorious in the thrilling opening match of the IPL season-4 but Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the contest had a lot to offer even in defeat.

Chennai edged past Kolkata by two runs to start their IPL title defence on a high note.

"It was a first game with a new team, and you get a new car and you want to break it in, but you don't want to 'break it'. Even if we did not win this game, we would have got a lot out of it," Dhoni said after the match.

Dhoni, who also led India to World Cup triumph last week, lauded all his bowlers for their effort apart from giving his fielders a pat on their back.

Dhoni also said that he was not worried even when Kolkata were going great at one stage.

"The fielding was very good. Tim bowled well, Randiv and Raina did well, and Ashwin as always was brilliant. When they had around 70 after the first 7-8 overs, people may have thought the game was over, but I said this is when it begins since the pitch will slow up," he said.

Asked about the final ball of the match which was to be bowled by Tim Southee and Kolkata needed a four to win, Dhoni said he was sure a yorker on the leg side would win them the match.

"For the last ball, I was confused since it was like having two options - yorker outside off, or yorker at the legs. I decided on the latter, since with the field we had, a boundary would have been possible only if he played a great shot through midwicket. And it came off," he said.

© PTI

World Cup is history for me: Gambhir

CHENNAI: The world may think that the Gautam Gambhir-MS Dhoni bonding may stand in the way of the cut-throat rivalry in the IPL.

Even CSK coach Stephen Fleming feels that way. But not Gambhir. He is always known to be a fierce competitor and even on Thursday, after a gruelling batting session at the nets, Gambhir gave the impression that all the happy moments of the World Cup were history for him.

"First of all, it does not matter who inspires me," Gambhir said when asked if he took tips from Dhoni during the World Cup. "The whole of India inspires me. I play for my country, for the tricolour. What MS does is what he does. For me, it is important to concentrate on my game," Gambhir said.

"When I will play for KKR, my heart and soul will be with the team. I'm not too bothered who I'm taking on. It's just a game for me and I'm looking forward to the challenge," the former Delhi Daredevils skipper said. KKR have a poor track record in the IPL and it will be a huge task for Gambhir to lift the performance of the team. But he sounded pretty confident about the job at hand.

"Whatever has happened in the last three years is a thing of the past. We've a fresh team and it has world-class cricketers. They are capable of playing at the highest level and as a skipper my job is to get the best out of them," he added.

He hasn't picked up Bengali words as yet, but Gambhir knows how the crowd in Kolkata reacts to every KKR win. One got the impression that he feels the pulse of a passionate city when he said: "Kolkata is the City of Joy and my main aim is to make them joyous. Winning or losing is not always in our hands, but we can surely play good cricket."

Virender Sehwag said last year that franchises put too much pressure on players. Does he feel the same? "I don't think I have been pressurised by the management. We've a very good support staff and everyone has been supportive to all the players."

In Jaipur, Modi just a footnote

JAIPUR: Text messages describing the life and style of suspended IPL commissioner Lalit Modi haven't ceased to exist almost a year after he disappeared from the power alleys of Indian cricket.

The other day, one popped in claiming 'Modi spotted shopping in Dubai with Bollywood star.' Before that, there was another one that claimed 'Modi buys Ferrari in London.'

So, Modi continues to be in the news beyond the easily available resource which is the Twitter.

However, far from the authenticity of such text messages, reality suggests a different picture. Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh Stadium, for instance, presents a stark truth in the manner in which every cornerstone laid by or during Modi's reign as an administrator, every picture of his that adorned the walls of the state association, every brochure or document or deed that suggested he had been here and done that, has been removed. If you didn't know Modi already, there's little chance you'll get to know any more now.

Also, along with Modi, IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals - who entered BCCI's bad books for having Modi's co-brother-in-law as an investor in the team - have been facing similar music. Despite Royals winning the inaugural edition of the IPL, not a single picture of the team owners hangs on the walls of the enclosure that forms the entrance to the players' pavilion at the Mansingh Stadium.

It was, in fact, when this reporter arrived at the players' lounge that photographs of team owners and anything remotely related to them were being removed and replaced by players of the Rajasthan Ranji team who recently won their first ever domestic title.

Perhaps the only place inside the stadium where Modi's name still figures and is visible is on the cornerstone of the excellent Rajasthan Cricket Academy situated within the premises of the stadium. Speak to the locals here about the man and there are mixed reactions. They accept without battering an eyelid that without Modi the facility, and many such, wouldn't have seen the light of the day. However, equally adamantly, they insist that they're happy he's gone.

"You see these interiors?" says someone at the RCA, pointing to the posh floor to ceiling marble and paint that makes the lobby look quite classy. "This wouldn't have happened if not for him (Modi)," he says.

Modi may continue to buy his Ferrari and shop in Dubai's many glitzy malls, but in India he's fast disappearing into a myth. The man who ruled Rajasthan from the cool environs of the exclusive Rambagh Palace and bulldozed his way into the state's elites now exists no more. A bureaucrat, for instance, is euphoric that he won't be slapped with insults at the hands of a power-hungry middleman any more.
It is in the backdrop of these gradual developments, the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League is about to begin. For those interested, Modi has begun Tweeting how he's excited about the tournament and is looking forward to Friday's opening match. In Jaipur, however, anybody's hardly excited about his Tweets.

The state and its capital which Modi so haughtily ruled and reaped from, has moved on.

I never had nightmares thinking about Sachin: Warne

A fitter, fresher Shane Warne speaks exclusively to TOI about Rajasthan Royals' months of turmoil and how he's now raring to prove a point again.

How long has it been that you've rolled your arm on a cricket field?

The longest stretch that I spent without bowling a single delivery was between IPL 2 and 3. I didn't bowl at all during that time and I came straight into the tournament like that last year. This time, I've been rolling my arm over and have been in the right kind of rhythm. It has been about creating a fine balance between doing the right thing and not overdoing it, which is what I've tried to follow. This year, I'm a lot better prepared and more focused.

After all that Rajasthan Royals went through, a fit Shane Warne raring to go is the best thing they deserve...

Rajasthan Royals have taken a lot of my time and I've been very seriously involved with the team for the last three years. Last year, many things happened and credit goes to everybody, including the BCCI, the franchise and all associated with IPL to have helped in sorting things out so that we go ahead with the tournament. We've got a bit to prove this year to everybody that the first year wasn't just a flash in the pan. In fact I thought we did well in IPL 2 and 3 also and it was just a game or two that made the eventual difference.

How do you look back at what happened in the last six months?

The one thing that never ceases to amaze me about India and Indian cricket is the politics that goes on here. The last six months had been a very rough patch for Royals and finally when the go-ahead for the tournament came, finalising teams, budgets, retaining the players, getting sponsors - these weren't very easy things to get done with. I still don't get the whole idea behind terminating a team and for what reasons? But I'm thankful that Royals are there and heading into the tournament well prepared. As far as politics go, I'm not exactly sure why they wanted Royals out. Because of Lalit's brother-in-law or something? (shrugs)

Your views on player retention and fresh auctions?

If you ask me, there shouldn't have been any retention at all. At the most, teams should have been allowed to identify a captain who they could retain and then move on and buy all the rest of the players afresh. Consistency among teams would've remained. I also feel the $9m salary cap that was in place should've been more transparent, unlike what I kept hearing about teams handing players the money from under the table. Why? Why couldn't it be as simple as the highest bidder taking that cricketer home and forming his team? There was just too much wrong happening.

How would you describe your new team?

Jacob Oram has joined us. We have the likes of Ross Taylor, Rahul Dravid, Shane Watson, Johan Botha, myself and a lot of young promising cricketers who make the team look good. Do you know that whenever we (Royals) have scored 143 or more in IPL, we've never lost? We've always had that underdog tag attached to us which has worked well for us. Let the other teams be in focus and under pressure. We're happy doing what we do. We like to promote youth and that's what we'll be focusing on.

Did you get fan mail when Royals were dumped?

The population of the state of Rajasthan is some four times more than Australia and don't know how many times more than England. I got a lot of fan mails, tweets and they seriously wanted to know what the status of the team was. I can definitely say we got a lot of backing and that's makes the comeback all the more special.

Darren Berry is not with Royals. Does that upset the plans?

Darren Berry and myself had been planning a lot but he decided to switch over to South Australia and that's unfortunate. But Jeremy Snape has been around and he's been a very calming influence. Yusuf Pathan is also not with us and that's a big loss. I know his heart is still with Royals. But we, as a team, have got to move on.

You've been all over the place: columns, TV, Twitter. Are you conscious of the fact that what you say or write is now being followed very closely?

I've always talked very freely about the game and issues related to it. To me, cricket has never been about money. I've spent 24 years in the game now and I still feel I have a lot to offer, especially where bowling is concerned. I'm glad I'm getting to do it all and I've been enjoying every bit of it.

You look fitter than ever. Has there been any extra effort on that front?

Through January, February and March, I was training very seriously and had started bowling. Actually, let's say since Christmas, I've been back on the field. I enjoy yoga that keeps me fit, well balanced and calm. I'm not getting any younger. In fact I'll be turning 42 soon. I spend a lot of time with my three children, 14, 12 and 10 years of age, and that gives me extreme happiness. It's a mix of all these things that I'm still carrying on.

The pressure factor during India's World Cup campaign...

Pressure is something that is created because of expectations, because things are expected from a team, from an individual. Sachin Tendulkar is a great example of that. He was number one in my list of top 100 cricketers and that wasn't just because he's pure class and a great friend. He's handled the pressure so well every time he's walked out to bat and has been playing international cricket for 22 years. That's a great feat.

You were quoted as being interested in Team India's coaching job?

I never said I wanted to coach India. What I said was that Gary Kirsten, while he was there, did a great job and whoever comes in his place will have a fantastic opportunity to build on what Kirsten is leaving behind. I've been very badly misquoted. It is like one of those things about me and Sachin that went on for years. Let me put this on record once again that I never had nightmares thinking about Sachin. I still don't know where that came from. We've clashed a few times, I've been successful at times and he maybe more than me. But that's all there is to it.

MS Dhoni's captaincy...

He is a very good captain. He has a calm mind and that in turn has a very good influence on the team. He's still very young and to have that kind of control is very impressive. He's one of the best captains in the world today.

What has kept you busy all these days...

I've slimmed down a bit and feel very fit at the moment. I'm feeling very fresh coming into the tournament and enjoying myself. It's always great to come back and play for Rajasthan Royals, something I've done for three years now. It's time to get into that mode again. It has been a very busy last few months for me. The summer kept me tied up with the Ashes, then there was my own television show in which I was completely involved. There have been trips to the US for poker and other things, to UK for some personal things, the World Cup followed and now it's the IPL.

Any plans other than cricket?

Time management has been the key for me all throughout. I write, do television shows, I'm launching my own line of vests and underwears called 'Spinners' in India later this month which has been designed by my son. I'm a full-time investor too ... These are things that have kept me very preoccupied.

Srikkanth is no longer CSK brand ambassador

NEW DELHI: Chairman of the selection committee, Krish Srikkanth is no more the brand ambassador of Chennai Super Kings in IPL 4.

He had a three-year contract with CSK, which expired earlier this year and it was not renewed.

When TOI got in touch with the Srikkanth, he confirmed the news. "I am not a brand ambassador this year. I enjoyed my stint with the team. It was a great experience."

Srikkanth also made it clear that his loyalty with the team will remain the same. "So what if I am not the brand ambassador, I will continue to be a Chennai fan. I am also confident that this team under MS Dhoni will again do very well in the tournament," he added.

toi

Why not ban IPL at Sawai Man Singh stadium, asks HC

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday asked the state government to explain as to why no fee was charged from the organizers of the seven IPL 4 matches to be held at Sawai Man Singh Stadium in April-May.

Issuing notices to the state authorities, Justice M N Bhandari asked them to further explain as to why commercial activities like IPL be not banned at SMS stadium which is meant for multi-disciplinary sports as also according to the rules cannot be allotted for any activity other than sports and organizing national functions like Independence Day and Republic Day etc.

Petitioner Rajender Singh said that the IPL is organizing seven cricket matches for its season-four in the state-run SMS stadium and the same is under the supervision of Rajasthan State Sports Council and Rajasthan Cricket Academy.

"SMS stadium is a state-level stadium where other sports activities are also conducted for the common man. But owing to the IPL matches, all sportspersons are prevented from utilizing the stadium for any other activities. IPL is a commercial entrepreneurship and cannot be allowed to earn money at the cost of public at large," said Piyush Nag, counsel for the petitioner.

Singh said there is a fixed rate list prescribed by the Rajasthan State Sports Council, as per which Rs 2 lakh per match were required to be paid as fee for using stadium, Rs 20,000 per day to be paid for preparations as also Rs 4,000 per hour is required to be paid for usage of flood lightings and electricity. However, the IPL organisers have not paid a single penny.

Justice Bhandari observed: "It has been brought to our notice that a commercial activity in the name of cricket is being allowed in the SMS stadium and despite there being prescribed charges/fee for the same, it has not been collected."

Mumbai Indians registers 10,00,000 fan base on Facebook

MUMBAI: Indian Premier League franchisee Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday claimed to have achieved a landmark with over 10,00,000 fans joining them on Facebook, thereby becoming the seventh most followed Indian brand on the social networking site.

"The franchisee is the only one in Indian sport to boast such a mammoth fan base registered anywhere. In terms of its following, Mumbai Indians is ahead of official cricket fan pages of associations as also individuals as also leading sports brands in the country," a media release said.

"From a modest fan base of 100 people in the first week, it has now grown to 10,00,000 people, and counting. The MI Paltan page on facebook is the most followed page among the 10 IPL franchises," it said.

The Mumbai Indians (MI) Facebook page, MI Paltan commenced on February 22, 2010, a little before the start of IPL season 3.

Speaking on the achievement, a Mumbai Indians spokesperson said, "Social media engagement with fans is evolving at a fast pace and the MI Paltan facebook page has achieved a significant milestone crossing one million cricket lovers across the globe. We will sustain the use of emerging social media to engage and build interactivity with our fans."

TOI

IPL gets cheer queens now, in Indian dresses

April 8 brings with it a different kind of cricketing thrill - the faster game and the bigger entertainment quotient of IPL. And, while till now the cheerleaders wore glamorous western dresses and wielded pom-poms, this time, one of the teams has a slightly different kind of cheering happening. These girls, called 'cheer queens', will be dressed in ethnic Indian costumes and will be cheering for players of the Pune team in IPL season 4.

Conceptualized by Subrata Roy Sahara, the cheer queens, dressed in seven different ethnic Indian outfits, will perform seven classical dance forms during the match. The costumes have been designed by Neeta Lulla and the choreography is by leading choreographers Tanusree Shankar and Ganesh Hegde.

Subrata Roy Sahara, the owner of the team, elaborates, "Cricket is a religion in our country and is passionately followed in many other countries. In the recent past, it has gained popularity across various countries in the world. Cricket matches are watched by millions in India and by billions worldwide. With the cheer queens, we intend to showcase and bring recognition to the rich and diverse culture of India on an international platform. We want all the franchisees to avail the opportunity collectively, so that the rich cultural heritage of India is presented in an innovative way to the world."

Abhijit Sarkar, who also handles the team, adds, "The concept was to spread and promote India's cultural diversity and richness amongst the vast audience. Cheer queens is his (Roy's) idea and as he intended, we have taken it to a level matching the entertainment quotient and the class of an international platform. Whether it is the selection of models, costumes, intricacies of various dances of India, or the presentation of the concept, we hope that our efforts will add to the glamour of the tournament and will see other franchisees joining us in this cause."

Says designer Neeta Lulla, "It's an innovative idea for this season. This is a first-of-its-kind experience for me. The style is more traditional and Indianized and the outfits are all about elegance and grace. We have used a lot of whites and colours in the costumes. Saharashri has personally given his inputs in this regard too."

Tanushree Shankar, a leading proponent of contemporary dance in India, has lent her expertise in training the cheer queens in contemporary dancing styles.

SRK to dazzle at IPL 4 opening ceremony

JAIPUR: Shah Rukh Khan is all set to dazzle in the IPL opening ceremony in Chennai on Friday, according to sources. The Wizcraft-conducted event is scheduled to be a short, but colourful affair, with a lot of song and dance.

Sona Mahapatra of "Paas aao na" fame will be among the performers. "It was quite a late decision to have a colourful opening ceremony," Mahapatra told TOI on Wednesday. She added that Sunidhi Chauhan, Kunal Ganjawala and Akriti Kakar are expected to be among the prominent performers who would be on the stage before Chennai Super Kings take on Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match.

According to sources, Shah Rukh Khan will dance to the tunes of the IPL anthem. It was not too difficult to rope in the KKR owner as he would have been present anyway, for his team's opening match.

"In fact, I was asked to be part of the show about two weeks back," Mahapatra added. "It was quite a surprise as I normally travel with my band and I don't get invitations to perform in shows like these. But then I thought this would be good opportunity and took it up."
"Dumadum mast kalandar" is one of options being considered for Mahapatra's performance. "It seems to be a very appropriate song for the occasion," Mahapatra said. "However, it is not closed yet," she said.

There are a few other songs being considered. "With India winning the World Cup, it was felt that more spice should be added to the opening ceremony to celebrate this victory. Although the time was short, I am sure things will go smoothly."

Don't treat us as "untouchables", Afridi's appeal to BCCI

NEW DELHI: Shahid Afridi feels deeply hurt and has appealed to the Indian cricket board that Pakistan players shouldn't be treated as "untouchables" when it comes to including them in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

"It is high time that Pakistani cricketers should also get a place in IPL. For three seasons including the current one, we haven't been a part of the IPL. We have no problems playing in India as we have just played a World Cup semifinal there. We are deeply hurt that they are treating us like 'untouchables'," Afridi said from Karachi.

He further added that Pakistani public feel hurt that their players are not playing in IPL.

"I am not saying that I want to play IPL but it could be a great platform for youngsters. They could make a mark for themselves."

As many as 11 Pakistan players were part of inaugural season of IPL in 2008. Afridi was the costliest Pakistani player who was bagged by the Hyderabad team for $675,000.

Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Mohammad Hafeez and Salman Butt (Kolkata Knight Riders), Younis Khan, Sohail Tanveer and Kamran Akmal (Rajasthan Royals), Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Asif ( Delhi Daredavils) and Misbah Ul Haq (Royal Challangers Banglore) were the other players .

Pakistani players missed out on the 2009 and 2010 editions due to security concerns in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks.

Afridi has said that Indian PM Manmohan Singh's invitation to Pakistani PM for the semifinals was a positive sign and that is the way to go forward.

"Our PM Yusuf Raza Gilani responded in positive on that invitation. Now IPL can be a platform to further ease the tension," he said.

"We should play more and more against each other. This will not only ease the pressure but will also reduce the unwanted media hype surrounded with Indo-Pak matches," he said.

For Afridi, Indo- Pak matches are not war as players of both teams share great rapport off the field.

"On field, yes there are moments of pressure and tension whenever we play but off it, we are all friends. I share great bond with Harbhajan and respect Sachin a lot," said Afridi.

On his criticism of Gautam Gambhir's statement about dedicating the WC win to the people who died in Mumbai terror attack, Afridi said that he did not say anything about Gambhir.

"I never heard Gautam saying anything like that, so how could I react over that. It is ridiculous," he said.