The IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - XVI

Sorry about the missing updates, for whatever they were worth. Got caught up in work for a few days and then sheer laziness took over.

The KKR boys finally won. Chasing down a big total against a team that has, in all probability made it to the semis. While the CSK did run up a good total, what was good to see was that the KKR did manage to choke them just a little bit as the acceleration began. And when the KKR batted, they showed up the one major flaw in the CSK outfit.

The CSK batting machine has so far managed to hide the fact that its bowling attack is patchy. And that is precisely what the resurgent McCullum and the hard-working Hodge exposed.

Funnily, for all the hoo-haa about Hayden being rested, the CSK batting did not suffer, with all their batsmen running up decent scores. What was impressive though was the way in which the KKR bowling stood up after the strategy break. Yes, there was acceleration, but not to the extent the CSK would have expected, having completed the first ten at nine an over.

The CSK bowling seems to be resting on a weak formula – one bowler bowling a good spell while the bits and pieces men do the restricting act. And that is precisely what fell apart last night.

All said and done, too little too late for the KKR. There are a lot of ‘if only’ theories in my head, but one guesses that all of you would be running them past your processors anyway.

On to my dear friend Dheeraj’s crib that T20 seems to be murdering classical batsmanship. I tend to agree with him in part. T20 seems to be testimony to the old cliché that was often pushed into our eardrums by Narottam Puri – it doesn’t matter how they come, as long as they come.

Yes, it does hurt to see edges and big, wild heaves being applauded. But on the other hand, T20 seems to have added another important dimension to batsmanship which will soon find its way into all forms of the game.

Situational awareness seems to be the big thing now. The kind exemplified by the brilliant Rohit Sharma, Matt Hayden and Brad Hodge in last night’s game. The ability to plan and plot on the fly. Yes, it is being helped by the ‘one bouncer per over’ rule.

I for one would like to see the ‘free hit’ and the fielding restrictions go. Not because they load the game against the bowling side, but because they have their antecedents in giving the crowds a chance to go bonkers.