The splendor and grandeur of the Indian Premier League(IPL) is back,and this time in South Africa.If IPL 1 got to awesome beginning with Brendon Mccullum’s blistering 158,this time it was a completely different story.
The first few matches have seen the ball dominate the bat.This IPL seems to be a bowlers’ tournament.

Lets see the prospects of the 8 teams based on the 1st round of matches.

Rajasthan Royals

Shane Warne inspired the weakest team on paper to cup glory in the 2008 edition and many will expect them to do well this season too.But,the first match versus the Banglore Royal Challengers brought them down to earth.The Challengers were simply brilliant and completely outclassed the opponent in every department.But,Warne will have other ideas though.If anyone is gonna take the Royals lightly this time,they might face with the same result as they had last year around.
Strengths

• Warne’s inspirational leadership,not to forget his bowling.The South African pitches seems very spinner friendlyand Warne was back to his very best in the first match.Warne,Kumble Dravid and Tendulkar proved that oldies can be more than a handful in T20.
• Yusuf Pathan’s heriocs in IPL1 cannot be forgotten and he can be dangerous this time too.
• Greame Smith’s knowledge of the South African conditions will be very valuable to Warne,not to forget that he can turn it around with the bat too.

Weakness

• Sohail Tanvir,last seasons top wicket taker will be surely missed by the Royals.He would have been more than a handful in these swinging conditions.
• Shane Watson misses out this year.His all round abilities were one of the main reasons that the Royals triumphed last time.
• The likes of Asnodkar and Jadeja were a revelation in IPL1.This time they may find the going tough against the swinging and spinning ball.

With the likes of Mascarenhas and Henderson in the ranks,the Royals might be able to repeat last year’s heroics,but it might be tougher this time.The 18 year old Kamran Khan looked impressive in the first game.Watch out for this kid.

Chennai Super Kings

Last year runners up didn’t get of to the start they wanted,humbled by the Mumbai Indians in the first match.Dhoni might have made some mistakes or experimented with the line up in the first match,but we don’t expect him to do that often.
Strengths

• Dhoni’s ice cool leadership strengths has already become legendary.He can inspire handfuls to perform brilliantly.
• Albie Morkel and Makhaya Ntini didnt play in the first match.Morkel can be brilliant with both bat and ball,whileNtini has always been a brilliant performer at home.
• Muralitharan can be expected to give a torrid time to the batsmen on these spinner friendly wickets.The smiling assassin will be edging to get a match and i don’t think that Dhoni cant forget Murali for long.

Weakness

• Dhoni’s persistence with Joginder Sharma may well bring about Super Kings’ downfall this time.
• The fifth bowler is still a weakness for the Super Kings.

Delhi DareDevils

The only team that reached the semis last year to make a good start this time.The DareDevils has perhaps the best team with great players in all three departments,batting ,bowling and fielding.
Strengths

• The Opening duo of Sehwag and Gambhir is the best in all formats of the game now.With these two in the ranks,any target is not impossible for the Daredevils
• AB Devilliers performed brilliantly in the recent tournament versus the Australians.His agility in the field along with Collingwood will save a lot of runs in the cover area.

Weakness

• I think that the Daredevil’s strength of having so many international stars to choose from can prove to be its weakness too.The temptation to make use of them will prove to be difficult to overcome.
• The bowling will surely be dependent on how much McGrath will perform as this time Mohammed Asif is unavailable

Watch out for David Warner even though he might be very lucky to get a game.

Kings XI Punjab

The Kings XI Punjab were disappointing in their first match and needs to regroup fast.
Strengths

• Yuvraj Singh is perhaps the best player in the T20 game and he can take tear apart any bowling attack on his day.At least Stuart Broad will agree with this.
• James Hopes is a very good T20 cricketer with both bat and ball and the Kings XI will hope that he provides the much needed all round ability.

Weakness

• They will miss the services of Shaun Marsh at the start of the innings.
• The bowling doesn’t look great.They will hope that Brett Lee can contribute.

Watch out for Jerome Taylor.He might be the one who fills in the gap in the bowling department as he has been a revelation for the Windies this season.
Karan Goel looked impressive as well and they will hope he fills in the gap left behind by Shaun Marsh’s unavailability.

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians got of to a great start compared to last year,defeating last year’s runners up in their first match.
Strengths

• If Daredevils can boast of the best opening pair at present,Mumbai Indians have Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya,arguably the best opening batsmen in one day cricket,as their opening pair.It was raining sixes from Jayasuriya’s bat last time and the southpaw will be looked upon to provide them with the initial assault.
• Having Shaun Pollock as coach will surely benefit the Indians’ bowlers.The swap deal of Uthappa for Zaheer will be good for the Indians as Zaheer is in the best form of his life.Malinga looked dangerous as well.
• J.P Duminy has been the find of the season for the South Africans this year and he will be wanting to prove his worth.

Weakness

• Shaun Pollock may be able to give valuable inputs,but he himself will be surely missed.His accuracy with the ball is not easily replicated.
• The absence of quality all rounder will hurt the Indians.They might be tempted to include Graham Napier in the playing XI sooner or later.

Kolkata Knight Riders

The Knight Riders has been in the news for all the wrong reasons even before the start of the tournament with the multiple captaincy issues and others.They were far below par against a charged up Deccan in the first match.
Strengths

• The Opening pair of McCullum and Gayle is perhaps the most devastating pair in the IPL.How much they can handle the swinging ball will be the key to the Knight Riders tasting sucess this time.
• Ajantha Mendis’s mystery can haunt even the best of batsmen and he will enjoy the conditions.
• Ishant Sharma will want to do good this time after he disappointed last time.

Weakness

• With so many of them wanting to be captain,McCullum will need to do his best to infuse in them the team spirit.
• The pace of Shoib Akthar will be surely missed.
• The lack of a quality pacer apart from Ishant.

Bangalore Royal Challengers

The Challengers were second from bottom last time,but looks like a whole new outfit this time.
Strengths

• The dyanamic Kevin Peitersen will want to give justice to his high price tag.His captaincy will be key to their sucess.
• Dale Steyn,Kallis and Boucher can provide them with the much needed inputs on the conditions.With Kallis wanting to be part of the T20 South African team,we could expect fireworks from him(if he gets a game).
• Rahul Dravid may be called the wall but he was their best player last year and this season should be no different.He will also want to prove his worth to Mallya.
• Jesse Ryder can be more than a handful with both bat and ball and may do what Shane Watson did for Royals last time.

Weakness

• K.P wont continue for long as he has interntional commitments against the Windies.So who will be the captain then?Thats an issue that needs to be addressed.

Deccan Chargers

Perhaps the best team on paper last edition,the Chargers were a huge dissappointment last year.This time we have already seen what they can do.
Strengths

• Herschelle Gibbs and Gilchirst can send bowlers on a leather hunt on their day.
• Rohit Sharma’s talent with the bat is undisputed and will want to prove his worth to the national selectors.
• Pragyan Ojha was perhaps the best spinner in IPL1 and he will be cherishing the helpful conditions.
• Fidel Edwards was simply unplayable in the first match

Weakness

• Fidel Edwards’ unavailability after the first few matches(he returns to international duty) will leave a huge gap in the bowling department.

Overall the South African pitches seems to be bowling friendly and the onus is on the bowlers if any team will want to taste success.A score of 150 looks a great score compared to last year when even 200 was not enough at times.

The 7.5 minute break at the end of 10 overs will prove to be a distraction to the teams’ momentum and the concentration of the players will be tested.It is something that the IPL administrators need to do away with.

Whether this IPL will be a sucess or not will be decided in 5 weeks time.We can only hope that we get to see the best of cricket.

Related posts:

1. IPL-2010:The Final Knock
2. IPL 2 the Excitement is over…for now…
3. T20 World Cup 2009
4. T20 World Cup 2009 – Cricket Carnival Concludes!