Published in www.cricketnext.com on 13th January 2011
The Indian Premier League (IPL) enters its 4th season immediately after the ICC World Cup 2011 but the hype and hoopla surrounding the T20 event is already building up.
The fact that IPL has caught imagination of the Indian public and also cricket lovers across the world is well known. What is more surprising is that the glitzy tournament continues to come up with novelties each year. If it was the big-bang inaugural season in 2008, it was the amazingly successful South African edition in 2009 and then the return-to-India season last year.
This time around the players’ auctions have been carried out anew and while even experts are struggling to memorise the new team compositions, certain permutations and combinations are mouth-watering prospects to say the least.
Imagine the sight of Kumar Sangakarra and Kevin Peitersen, two of the most exciting batsmen in the world, batting together for Deccan Chargers. They also have JP Duminy and Cameron White in their ranks, to give them a formidable line up, in no way inferior to the team that featured Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds and Herschelle Gibbs in the previous editions. Their acquisition of the world’s premier pace man Dale Steyn completes a rich haul that they have bagged at the expense of Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Vijay Mallya’s team has not suffered much though. They have managed to pick up Tillakaratne Dilshan and AB de Villiers from Delhi Daredevils where the two dashers did not get many opportunities mainly due to the presence of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Dirk Nannes and Daniel Vettori also leave the Delhi outfit for the Bangalore team and with Zaheer Khan around too, the Royal Challengers look impressive once again.
Defending Champions Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have adopted a sensible retention policy and have bought back many of their own players from the Auction pool. This would enable last year’s finalists to maintain the momentum that their potent combinations had generated in the previous editions. Sachin Tendulkar was the Orange Cap holder and Suresh Raina was at number 3 in the batting rankings in 2010 and both continue with their old teams. Mumbai have added the supremely talented Rohit Sharma to their ranks as also Andrew Symonds while Chennai have picked up Dwayne Bravo and Scott Styris.
With Harbhajan Singh and Symonds sharing the dug-out for the Mumbai Indians there would be no dearth of entertainment on offer, both on and off the field, from the Mumbai boys!
Kolkata Knight Riders also look stronger now despite leaving out Sourav Ganguly, much to the chagrin of cricket lovers. With big-buys Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan as also super stars Jacques Kallis and Brett Lee, Shah Rukh Khan’s new team appears formidable. What is required is for them to have the right strategy and to implement it, in order to wipe out the record of being the worst performers of the first three seasons.
The new teams Kochi and Pune have made some smart acquisitions too and should pose a serious challenge to the other 8 teams in IPL 4. The Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils do not look too strong on paper despite possessing some big names but then the IPL is as much about surprises as anything else!
The spinners have called the shots in previous editions with Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble topping the purple Cap charts in 2010, and are likely to do so this time too.
The new format, with some teams being eliminated after the preliminary stage, means that despite the addition of 2 teams, the number of matches have gone up from 60 to 74 but not more, which would mean a compact tournament.
If India wins the ICC World Cup, the IPL 4 might find it hard to live up to the excitement floating around, but it has already become a game changer in more ways than one!
My Guru
"Everything can wait but your search for God cannot wait" - Paramahansa Yogananda (www.yssofindia.org)
FILM REVIEW- I hate luv storys ***1/2
Directed by Punit Malhotra; Produced by Karan Johar; Starring Imran Khan, Sonam Kapoor
For those who like feel-good films and lovey-dovey stuff, ‘I hate luv storys’ is surely worth a watch. This Rom-Com from the house of Karan Johar is an unabashed love story without any frills, in the traditional mode but with a modern setting and with still-fresh faces. There’s the tried and tested triangle and there are heartbreaks and setbacks before the predictable happy ending.
So what’s appealing about the film? Imran Khan is an actor in Uncle Amir Khan’s mould but is even better looking and is effervescent. His spontaneity is delightful at times and his expressions are refreshingly different. He carries a story that has nothing new to offer with ease and panache.
His pairing with Sonam Kapoor is like a breath of fresh air too, and both characters appear convincing in their love for each other. They quarrel and shout; they ooh and ahh; they look and long- like young lovers from decades gone by- and that is what endears them to us.
Imran especially is an actor with immense potential. His performance in ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ had shown us glimpses of his impromptu style and here he goes one better. Sonam looks svelte and is graceful and charming. She’s improving as an actor too but has a long way to go before she reaches dad Anil Kapoor’s levels.
The music is pleasant without being outstanding and the support cast is adequate with veteran Anju Mahendru impressing in a brief role. The hero’s sidekick, played by Aamir Ali, is quite funny and Ali has potential. Imran’s director-boss and Sonam’s fiancé are less convincing. Perhaps a more formidable rival for Imran would have led to more drama, but then that would not have gelled with the tenor of the film.
The last quarter is a bit contrived and a drag at times. Bruna Abdullah’s scenes are amateurish and even kiddish.
All in all, a candy-floss sort of film with a goody-goody feel. For those who like to be shaken up by cinema, this is not for them.
Personally speaking, I don’t hate love stories. (Please note the correct spellings).
Previous Film Reviews
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