The invocation verse of the ‘Ishopanishad’ talks about the indivisibility of the ‘whole’, and how taking away things from it and putting things into it does not affect it. Somewhere, this holds so true for cricket teams – the whole is always greater than the sum of the parts.
Mr. Mallya has, with all good intent, assembled a veritable galaxy of some of the biggest names in cricket. And yet, for the second year running, it just does not seem to be coming together.
Last night’s match was another witness on the stand for this fact. The Royal Challengers did most things right when they batted. Okay, Dravid failed, and Uthappa got a first-baller. And KP perished to his bottom hand. But Kallis played as only Kallis can. With power, elegance and stylishness. Ross Taylor came good in a cameo.
But all through their fielding stint, the Kings XI looked like a team. No scientific facts here, but there is something about a team’s body language that communicates itself so well. And that is desperately missing in the Royal Challengers.
Yuvraj led like only he can. Pouncing, exhorting, snarling, leaping and grinning like a schoolkid. And somewhere, the Kings XI began playing in the image of their leader. Like a bunch of talented schoolboys who enjoy playing.
Bopara showed us why his former Essex captain Nasser Hussain rates him so highly. His innings was a mixture of thorough county professionalism and intelligent risk-taking. By the time he got himself out, the match was more or less settled, with Yuvraj pushing the pedal to the metal as the Kings XI got home easily.
Something tells me that the Punjab team will feed off this success more than the others in the IPL. It’s the way their captain is. And it’s the way they play.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mallya, repeat after me, ‘Om poornamada…’.
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