Apr 26, 2010

Congrats Raina- IPL Finals 2010

Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Superkings,
DY Patil, Mumbai Apr 25, 2010

Chennai have won their first IPL T20 title, after having a tough time this year with MS Dhoni missing a few matches. They have been the most consistent team in the past 3 years, making it thrice to the final four, and twice to the finals, although they have never been the best on the league table (strange, but they usually have had massive bowling combination issues).

This year they finally won, by beating Mumbai Indians on a turning track with spongy bounce, which favored both bowling sides a bit. Chennai had three spinners, whereas Mumbai had one, Harbhajan, and pacers who could mix up yorkers and slower balls.

So what were the factors in the finals?

1. R. Ashwin - in both semis and finals, he has been an offspiner with uncanny variations- a bit like dealing with Ajantha Mendis, though Ashwin is more orthodox. He was the masterstroke from Dhoni which made the difference. Ashwin mixed up pace, spin and angles in the first six overs, and except Tendulkar- has had Gilchrist & Gibbs, Shikhar Dhawan, and Abhishek Nayar all frozen up- without getting them out!. Hats off to this guy. It is not easy and automatic choice for Dhoni to pick Ashwin, when Muralitharan is also in the same team.

2. Raina's karmic cycle was on the up!
Remember, Raina dropped Yusuf Pathan off Muralitharan in the inaugural IPL 2008, which Rajasthan won. This time it was his day. He was dropped on 13, then on 28 and then had one just go over Shikhar Dhawan for six. Raina survived, that was just the luck Chennai needed, as their batting momentum was just as frozen as Mumbai's till 10 overs. Getting to 168 was already 20+ for this pitch. (It must be noted that Murali Vijay was the only Chennai Batsman who actually batted in control on the given day).

3. Catches by Chennai!
With 106 runs needed off 60 balls, Mumbai were in with a chance as they had lost only a wicket. This really was the only way to approach this chase on a track which was not really any advantage in the first six overs for either team. 10 an over is very much likely, with a strong lineup yet to follow. But the catches of Tiwary (by Raina) and Duminy, ensured that more dot balls got squeezed in and the rate went from 12/over to 18/over.


4. Polard's late entry?
It has baffled most why Polard who eventually hit 27 of 10 was not sent in earlier. The reason is that he does not make runs all by himself! I do not think it was wise to risk Pollard against Muralitharan, who had an over left on this turning track. Tiwari, Duminy, and Harbhajan too are also capable of hitting big shots. Risking their wickets when 60+ runs are left, was perhaps worth a try. Someone had to cancel out Murali, and Duminy tried his best (and he attacks spin well), was well caught by a hopping Jakati on the boundary.


As a Mumbai Indians fan I am glad that they could put up a team which did not have their best picks from season one- Pollock has retired and Jayasuria (was there but out of sorts this year). They were the best team of this season and ran into a roadblock called R. Ashwin in the finals. I just felt they could have gotten Jayasuria in, perhaps in place of Dumniy, and pushed Dhawan at one down (Dhawan and Duminy are sort of similar). Jayasuria's spin would have been handy and even 20 runs of 10 balls, up front with the bat may have helped...

Good luck to India for the T20 World Championship!

Saumilzx
Mumbai