Big let down !!!

If CSK had lost the match due to something like a Gilchrist blitzkreig of the 1st semifinal, then I would not have been disappointed. Even if they had lost like last year's IPL final against Rajasthan Royals, then I would not have felt let down like this. But, right from selection to execution, everything disappointed in this crucial game.

Selecting Oram despite his poor show in both bat and ball, beats the fans' thinking in every match. Ntini could have been tried in his place in previous matches. Or maybe Hussey or Thushara could have been tried today. Any choice would have been better than Oram. Maybe kiwi coach Fleming is the reason for persisting with Oram?

Selecting Gony despite his poor show with bowling and fielding throughout the league stage is also a blunder. Tyagi performed very well except one match and should have been selected today.

Dhoni coming up the batting order despite Raina and Badrinath performing well in the 3rd and 4th spots respectively during the league stage, is another mistake. Dhoni takes too much time to settle and many times fails when he has to accelerate. When he keeps repeating this mistake, one is inclined to think that he is putting his interest above the team's interest.

The strategy to bank on a few star performances, like Dhoni believes, is quite weak when compared to a collective team effort like Bangalore's, where the total result is much above the sum of the individuals. Also during crunch situations in the field, I feel that Dhoni is sometimes becoming a bit too cool when trying to maintain his cool appearance, even at the expense of losing.

When such unfathomable selections are made, even some kind of slight match fixing by the IPL organizing team to create the fantastic drama / script of getting the last year's bottom placed team to this year's finals, does not seem very remote. If there are no good explanations from the team management soon about the selection blunders, then one would tend to think so.

Generally, being a fan is quite a helpless situation as you cannot do anything about your team's performances. It becomes even more pointless when your team makes some really unfathomable decisions. Then, you as a fan are simply not able to follow your team, and subsequently cannot be one. I definitely feel that way now.

Disappointed!!!

A Disappointing Performance by our team. Poor Team Selection by Fleming and Dhoni. (Gony ahead of Tyagi & Ashwin and Oram ahead of Hussey). And the players proved that on the field.

So Chennai Super Kings end their IPL Campaign this year. And no Champions League for Chennai Super Kings this year. And a long one year wait for CSK Fans to see those yellow jerseys back on the field. Adios!

Get Ready for the Best Match of the Tournament!!!

All of us would accept that the last year finals was the best match of the tournament, last year. But this time around, it might be the semifinals tomorrow that would be more interesting than finals. Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings are the two favorites among the four semifinalists to win Indian Premier League this year. So expect a great match tomorrow.

CSK Playing XI:

1. Parthiv 2. Hayden 3. Raina 4. Hussey 5. Badri 6. Dhoni 7. Morkel 8. Jakati 9. Ashwin/Tyagi [Pitch conditions should decide this] 10. Balaji 11. Murali

BRC Playing XI:

1 Manish Pandey, 2 Jacques Kallis, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Robin Uthappa, 5 Ross Taylor, 6 Virat Kohli, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Roelof van der Merwe, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 B Akhil, 11 Anil Kumble 

Most Dangerous Players:

1. Kallis: His batting and bowling will determine the resistance of Royal Challengers Bangalore tomorrow
2. Boucher: A Great Finisher. Just hoping Chennai Super Kings doesn't give him that opportunity
3. Praveen Kumar: His bowling against the Chennai Super Kings' openers will determine the score of Chennai Super Kings. If CSK Openers are able to keep their wicket intact for the first six overs, we can surely expect a score at least 30 runs above par.

Royal Contests:

1. Dravid Vs Murali: Dravid has not lighted up the tournament after his first IPL performance. I am sure he would be inching to prove his worth in one of the big matches.
2. Morkel Vs Kallis: This contest between the South Africans would be interesting to watch
3. Dhoni Vs Kumble: Dhoni, the captain would not only be matching his wits against Kumble, the captain but would also have to win the contest against Kumble, the bowler

Favorites: With Hussey coming back, Chennai Super Kings are slight favorites. But anyway it would be an interesting match to watch. Keeping my fingers crossed. 

IPL Becomes SIPL

I generally don't post about matches that don't involve Chennai Super Kings. But today's win by Deccan Chargers gives me some bragging rights that I might never get in the rest of my life.

Indian Premier League has become officially South Indian Premier League for the next two matches.

Anyway, a team that doesn't pick McGrath or Vettori does not deserve to qualify for the finals.

CSK Ends Another Team's Semifinal Hopes

Finally a match won by bowlers!!! I am sure the team would face Royal Challengers on a high after such a win!

Postives:

1. Hussey: Mike Hussey is Back!!! I am sure he would make a vital contribution in either semifinals or finals
2. Murali: Lynchpin of CSK Bowling has never failed to deliver.
3. Parthiv: Good to see him among some runs in the last two matches
4. Ashwin: Good to see Ashwin giving some competition to Jakati for the job of second spinner.

Negatives:

1. Badrinath: It is sad to see that Badri has not still understood his role in the team. In the slow pitches, the team banks on him to stay till the end. Hope he understands that sooner than later.

Fan's Man of the Match: NO DOUBT, Murali

Hmm.. Now the time has come to get ready for the semifinals that Chennai Super Kings have been planning for son long.