Split Wide Open

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When IPL Started, Delhi Mumbai and Chennai were hot favorites. After the first week, Deccan clearly came out as the team to beat. Dynamics will change completely in the next two weeks of IPL.

Since England Vs West Indies series will start, some of the stars will be missing in action but Since Australia Vs Pakistan series is over, some of the Australian stars will return in action.

Mumbai after today's loss looks more vulnerable specially when Tendulkar bundles out early. Malinga is hittable (Kallis took him apart). Zaheer is injury prone and Pitches are certainly not spinner friendly anymore as they were in the first two weeks.

Chennai is more or less like Indian team because of the presence of Indian skipper. However like typical Indian Cricket team, it always takes some time before get going. Chennai is now looking more and more like the team, critics were predicting. Even though Flintoff went early due to injury, they had the back up of Oram and Morkel. Problems with the all-rounders in the shorter form of the game is that, neither they give you strong batting neither they give you strong bowling. Morkel and Oram are not as good as Yusuf Pathan or Malinga who can change the scope of the game. Hayden,Raina,Dhoni, Badrinath in the batting line up will always give the edge to chennai in the high scoring game but they will never be the team who can defend the total.

Rajasthan Royals are exactly opposite to Chennai. If Chennai depends upon batting, Rajasthan depends upon their Bowling and Fielding. They do not have greatest of fielders like Duminy, Gibbs, Raina, Yuvraj etc but their Captain Courageous is very thoughtful in putting the right fielders at the correct location. Rajasthan are certainly missing Sohail Tanvir, Shane Watson and out of form Smith. Rajasthan has became the team of only two men (Yusuf Pathan and Shane Warne). The day Yusuf fails, Rajasthan fails. The day, Yusuf plays though, no score is defendable and Impossible spells out as I am Possible. Hopefully, Watson would return to Rajasthan as Batsman as they need him badly. If Smith comes in form, and Watson returns, Rajasthan can certainly eye Semi-Final birth.

Delhi Daredevils are the best team on paper. Most Importantly they are winning without the contributions from Sehwag and Gambhir. The day, those two started scoring, Delhi would be virtually invincible. They have the best back-up in bowling as well as batting department. They are surely going in the bus of semi-final but to become champion you need more than a good team and luck. Unfortunately , Delhi is the only team which I do not support and they would not carry by wishes.

Kolkatta Knight Riders is the team that I supported in IPL Version 1 and even in 2 but unfortunately they are the team which are least likely to reach Semi-Finals. They have everything wrong that they can hope for. From the Owner to the Coach, Out performing Captain, three wicket-keepers in the team. Dying Bowler, Ranji Trpohy Level Batsmans, Youngstars with passion but no game plan and the best ever leader who is not the Captain.

Punjab is the most shocking team. They have lost so many of good players Lee, Sreesanth, Shaun Marsh, James Hopes but still with the efforts of Triangle of Sangakkara, Yuvi and Jayawardene, they are still on the top of the table. I would be very surprised if they make it to the Top 4 but they are very good Opportunist. If Oppositite team gives a 0.1% of chance, they grab it with both hands and put the points on the table.

Deccan Chargers were underdog and now they are the DAWGS to beat. Gilly is fantastic and certainly most valuable asset. They have the back-up of Gibba/Rohit Sharma/Laxman/Ravi Teja/V.Rao and now they may get even Symonds back. They have the best spinner available in IPL after Warne named Pragyan Ojha. R.P.Singh is more than above average strike bowler. However the difference in Deccan Chargers were due to Field Edwards. Sadly, Edwards would be going to England now and it would be very good to see if Deccan can hold on to the edge that they have got.

Last but not the least, Bangalore must thank that Peter ka Beta and his luggage is out and now they have settled and Worst Fielder in the history of Cricket, Kumble as the Captain. Uthapa has finally stuck some form. They have the maximum South African resources available and they are certainly using them wisely. Bangalore could be the most surprised team to reach out to the Semi-Finals.

When the Tournament Started, My Prediction was: Chennai , Mumbai (In Finals) and Delhi and Kolkatta to be the other two teams to reach out to Semi-Final.

Now, Since Kolkatta is certainly out, I would say, Bangalore would be the fouth team.

If Possible, I would like to see, Deccan in place of Delhi but lets wait and watch, IPL is Split Wide Open now except for Kolkatta fans.