That cricketing conditions are vastly different in SA than India is a fact that surely must be playing in the minds of the Indian domestic cricketers. Though, they must consider themselves lucky enough for this god-sent opportunity. A good showing in SA surely will make the selectors stand up and take notice, especially for batsmen. Cameos like the one played by Nayyar during the Mumbai-Chennai showdown might be more valuable during IPL v.2.0 as compared to the last year, where such innings were the norm rather than exceptions. This brings me to the question itself : Has Day1 set the tone for the remainder of the series?
Well, maybe not. For once, as the tournament progresses and the teams adapt to the playing conditions, the batsmen will start taking risks and the overall totals will increase. Teams filled with batting firepower like the Daredevils will fancy their chances, as if they can get a 200 plus score on such wickets, it will be too difficult to chase it down. But considering that our domestic cricketers are playing in alien conditions, different strategies might come into play, with teams being content with a comfortably made 150-160 and backing the bowlers to do the job.
The good news from the middle is that veterans made their mark on the first day, a scenario which might not have been on the cards. Sample this: Tendulkar,Kumble, Dravid, Warne, Harbhajan, all of them making full use of the conditions, a five wicket haul for Kumble being the most unpredictable. But such were the conditions yesterday. Still, an average viewer yearns for the ball to be hit out of the park on a regular basis ( in different innovative ways) with the bowlers being treated with utter disdain. Others, of course will not mind low scores, but will demand high drama in the form of upswings and downswings in both runs and wickets. The IPL's opening encounter was a decent one, and the thrills of a T20 tournament might just have begun.
The final verdict from the centre is hazy. It seems too early to predict where the tournament is heading. Everyone knows that IPL will be different away from India. The good thing is that the times have changed, and so have the teams. Who will come out truimphs is anybody's guess. And of course, new stars are waiting to be born again. Watch out!!
Well, maybe not. For once, as the tournament progresses and the teams adapt to the playing conditions, the batsmen will start taking risks and the overall totals will increase. Teams filled with batting firepower like the Daredevils will fancy their chances, as if they can get a 200 plus score on such wickets, it will be too difficult to chase it down. But considering that our domestic cricketers are playing in alien conditions, different strategies might come into play, with teams being content with a comfortably made 150-160 and backing the bowlers to do the job.
The good news from the middle is that veterans made their mark on the first day, a scenario which might not have been on the cards. Sample this: Tendulkar,Kumble, Dravid, Warne, Harbhajan, all of them making full use of the conditions, a five wicket haul for Kumble being the most unpredictable. But such were the conditions yesterday. Still, an average viewer yearns for the ball to be hit out of the park on a regular basis ( in different innovative ways) with the bowlers being treated with utter disdain. Others, of course will not mind low scores, but will demand high drama in the form of upswings and downswings in both runs and wickets. The IPL's opening encounter was a decent one, and the thrills of a T20 tournament might just have begun.
The final verdict from the centre is hazy. It seems too early to predict where the tournament is heading. Everyone knows that IPL will be different away from India. The good thing is that the times have changed, and so have the teams. Who will come out truimphs is anybody's guess. And of course, new stars are waiting to be born again. Watch out!!
No comments:
Post a Comment