Mumabi Indians- ?!#?/!!

Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2009

Whose idea was it today to make so many changes?
I am afraid, Sachin would not come up with this Ronchi-Duminy opening and himself at number 4, especially with other fringe players being bowlers. This was the poorest bit of cricket planning, I must admit -as a Mumbai/Sachin admirer- that I have seen a long time. (even if Jayasuria was tired a bit and needed to be rested, one more batter was needed- and perhaps Takawale or Dhawan in for Rahane).

Let us look at the possible logic behind such changes:

1. Since Mumbai are at the bottom of the table (just above Kolkatta), they need something drastic? Wrong. Firstly, they were not 7th, since other teams above have played more matches. And most teams are about a 1 or 2 points ahead or behind after the halfway point.

2. Tendulkar and Jayasuria are letting them down?
Sure, they have not fired in 4 games, but in the context of 14 games, that is not just likely, but perhaps to be accounted for. Smith (Rajasthan Royals), Gautam Gambhir (Delhi), and most others- except Hayden (Chennai) and Gilchrist (Chargers) have been just as messed up. And even with Chennai/Chargers, the other opener is just as uncertain. In fact, Tendulkar and Jayasuria are just fine.

The fact of the matter is that in this format it is OK to be messed up a bit, since fringe players can somehow roll out clean hits, alternating it with rubbish shots, at any phase of play. Unfortunately, most big-brand Mumbai Indians batters are organized cricketers (even Bravo- clean hitter seems orthodox amidst the circus of T20).

3. Mumbai does not look like a winning or champion team? This also baseless, because every match they have played so far, someone has had to beat them (and they have lost two from winning positions- which also you can take in your stride, in this format).

Their problem has been that they have not explored the lucky and fluke shot factor very well. Luck is different from fluke. When you try something and it happens but not as well, you are lucky, but when you try something and what happens is totally different- it is a fluke)

Today, AB De Villers was all over the place against the spinners, padding those which he could not reckon, inside edging, and then gloving one between leg-slip and the keeper. He had lots of luck and flukes, but then followed it up with clean shots against Sachin's bowling.

Anyway, Mumbai need to win 3 or 4 from 5.
Not gone yet.

Watch out for my method/luck/fluke combo plan...

Saumil
9 May 2009

A positional chess shot from Dhoni

Chennai Super Kings v Kings XI Punjab

After the Chennai had spanked the bowling to all parts of the ground in a rain reduced 18 over match, Punjab had a daunting task to chase 180 odd at 10 an over.

Katich was an unexpected starter in this chase, and did superbly to chip a few over fence on both sides of the ground. But when Yuvraj stepped in, the asking rate was 12 an over. Something which perhaps only Yuvraj has the ability to perhaps go for. And he sure did- smacking them over mid wicket with ease.

With three overs left, Punjab needed 43 odd in 4 overs- and Dhoni had a simple surprise- he brought on Suresh Raina a part-time off spinner. He just did the positional thing- bowl the right angle at the right pace, cramming the batsman from room a bit- and before they could come to terms with the angles, the over was done and gone with just a few singles!

Sure, part time bowlers have a place in a limited overs format, but to bring one on just to do the basics- against a Yuvraj in full flow, when 3 overs remain, was a positional shot (as in chess- one move that changes a lot), and in this case by just cutting momentum- not forcing anything.

Suddenly Yuvraj and Jayawardene could only get singles, and the last over by Balaji was also more of a flighted one (with about 20 runs to get, he was given the buffer).

Brilliant!

Saumil
Mumbai
8 May 2009

Mumbai Indians mess it again, but still in fray

Mumbai Indians v Deccan Chargers (second encounter)
IPL 2009

This is the second chase of a moderate total that Mumbai messed up. After losing Jayasuria and Tendulkar early, Pinal Shah -who was expected to bat sometime- finally did and pushed the rate for them. He was organized and innovative as well to flatten out the moderate strike rate of 25 runs over a run-a-ball.

Eventually needing about 47 in 36, Bravo tried to go for the big shot of fringe spinner Suman. You can blame him, but had it cleared, the equation would then be close to run a ball- so it was not the worst idea, but he could have waited toward the end of the over, perhaps? Anyway what followed - was a hat-trick given away to Rohit Sharma... 31 of 18 with only the tail wagging (Malinga not in yet with a hit? I thought he was capable of decent hits).

Anyway, as a Mumbai Indians fan, it was heartening to see Pinal Shah approach his innings. It is still a wide open field and Mumbai need to win 3 or 4 of their next 6 matches. Hopefully the worst is behind them, and Zaheer can get fit soon. And if a team cannot win 3/4 in 6, they do not perhaps deserve to be in the semis anyway.

The good news so far is that, Mumbai have usually managed to be in the race when their top two have failed, which I would doubt if most other teams would hold on.

Saumil
Mumbai
7 May 2009