Where's the hitting?
Sachin steers the ship home, but is this really a Twenty20?
Abishek Maroli
23-Mar-2010
Gayle: not irrepressible as per usual • Indian Premier League
The game
This game had two stalwarts of Indian cricket pitted against each other. Sachin v Sourav. Need I say more?
This game had two stalwarts of Indian cricket pitted against each other. Sachin v Sourav. Need I say more?
Team supported
I'm fairly neutral when it comes to the IPL. I don't support any one team because it's the only tournament where I can just enjoy the high standards of cricket without the accompanying patriotic tension. However, for this particular match, I had promised a friend (and a devout Mumbai Indians supporter) that I would root for the home team.
I'm fairly neutral when it comes to the IPL. I don't support any one team because it's the only tournament where I can just enjoy the high standards of cricket without the accompanying patriotic tension. However, for this particular match, I had promised a friend (and a devout Mumbai Indians supporter) that I would root for the home team.
Key performer
Without a doubt, Sachin Tendulkar. From making the right bowling changes, to setting perfect fields, which seemed impenetrable, to batting like the genius he is, Sachin was as good as two players in the side.
Without a doubt, Sachin Tendulkar. From making the right bowling changes, to setting perfect fields, which seemed impenetrable, to batting like the genius he is, Sachin was as good as two players in the side.
One thing I'd have changed
Shikhar Dhawan's wicket had just fallen, breaking a very threatening partnership. The in-form Saurabh Tiwary had come out and the very first ball he faced, there was a huge appeal for lbw. I'd have liked it if the umpire had given him out, since Tiwary later narrowed the run-ball gap decisively.
Shikhar Dhawan's wicket had just fallen, breaking a very threatening partnership. The in-form Saurabh Tiwary had come out and the very first ball he faced, there was a huge appeal for lbw. I'd have liked it if the umpire had given him out, since Tiwary later narrowed the run-ball gap decisively.
Face-off I relished
The second over of the game made for interesting viewing. Zaheer Khan bowled an excellent line to Chris Gayle, which the latter couldn't bludgeon away. There was visible tension between the two, with glares being exchanged. Zaheer went on to take Gayle's wicket off the final ball of the innings.
The second over of the game made for interesting viewing. Zaheer Khan bowled an excellent line to Chris Gayle, which the latter couldn't bludgeon away. There was visible tension between the two, with glares being exchanged. Zaheer went on to take Gayle's wicket off the final ball of the innings.
Accessories
Just a whistle (plenty were available outside the stadium), and my excessively loud voice!
Just a whistle (plenty were available outside the stadium), and my excessively loud voice!
Wow moment
Sourav Ganguly catching Tiwary. Just before that, Ganguly had been fielding in front of the stand I was in and was being booed for not acknowledging the crowd's support for him. The catch was a brilliant one and the entire stadium, our stand especially, applauded.
Sourav Ganguly catching Tiwary. Just before that, Ganguly had been fielding in front of the stand I was in and was being booed for not acknowledging the crowd's support for him. The catch was a brilliant one and the entire stadium, our stand especially, applauded.
Player watch
Ganguly, Angelo Mathews and the lesser known Harpreet Singh fielded at the boundary closest to us. Mathews waved and was generally applauded. Not Ganguly, though, as mentioned earlier.
Ganguly, Angelo Mathews and the lesser known Harpreet Singh fielded at the boundary closest to us. Mathews waved and was generally applauded. Not Ganguly, though, as mentioned earlier.
Shot of the day
There were two, on either end of the batting spectrum, that made the cut for me. The first one had to come off the blade of the Tendulkar: a signature straight drive off Ishant Sharma; the ball sped to the boundary faster than anyone could say "Citi Moment of Success". The other one came from Tiwary. The shot was all muscle, and the ball flew past the bowler's head faster than it had arrived, and through the air past the boundary rope. It set the tone for the rest of Tiwary's brief stint at the crease.
There were two, on either end of the batting spectrum, that made the cut for me. The first one had to come off the blade of the Tendulkar: a signature straight drive off Ishant Sharma; the ball sped to the boundary faster than anyone could say "Citi Moment of Success". The other one came from Tiwary. The shot was all muscle, and the ball flew past the bowler's head faster than it had arrived, and through the air past the boundary rope. It set the tone for the rest of Tiwary's brief stint at the crease.
Crowd meter
The ground was packed like it was an Indian version of Noah's ark and all the people of Mumbai had come there to be saved from their arduous daily routines. The noise was deafening and the support unwavering.
The ground was packed like it was an Indian version of Noah's ark and all the people of Mumbai had come there to be saved from their arduous daily routines. The noise was deafening and the support unwavering.
Hardship factor
During the second innings drinks weren't too easily available, and the Mumbai heat was taking its toll on everyone.
During the second innings drinks weren't too easily available, and the Mumbai heat was taking its toll on everyone.
Entertainment
There were a number of popular English and Hindi songs played throughout the first innings. These, along with the anthems of the teams, kept the crowds entertained. However, the sound system was mere decoration for the duration of the second innings, when absolutely no songs were played. The home team was batting and the crowd expected music. Was this the Brabourne Stadium's idea of electricity conservation?
There were a number of popular English and Hindi songs played throughout the first innings. These, along with the anthems of the teams, kept the crowds entertained. However, the sound system was mere decoration for the duration of the second innings, when absolutely no songs were played. The home team was batting and the crowd expected music. Was this the Brabourne Stadium's idea of electricity conservation?
Banner of the day
This one echoed the tune from a popular song from a recent Hindi movie, 3 Idiots:
This one echoed the tune from a popular song from a recent Hindi movie, 3 Idiots:
"Give me some sixes / Give the bowlers pain / 200 was not a fluke / Why don't you do it once again?"
TV or stadium?
To watch the game in the stadium was a commercial-free delight. On TV, we're constantly bombarded with ad after ad, in between overs, at the fall of a wicket, and the most recent disaster, in-over adverts. Watching live, I was able to watch players talk to each other, the slight field adjustments for different batsmen, the team huddle at the fall of a wicket, and so on. I must say, it was truly spectacular.
To watch the game in the stadium was a commercial-free delight. On TV, we're constantly bombarded with ad after ad, in between overs, at the fall of a wicket, and the most recent disaster, in-over adverts. Watching live, I was able to watch players talk to each other, the slight field adjustments for different batsmen, the team huddle at the fall of a wicket, and so on. I must say, it was truly spectacular.
Marks out of 10
6. Having watched the Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals game at the same venue about a week before, my expectations from this match were high, but a total of 155 meant I missed the hard-hitting fun of Twenty20. There was no doubt, though, that the quality of the cricket was excellent, and the same can be said about the atmosphere. However, a nail-biting finish was missed.
6. Having watched the Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals game at the same venue about a week before, my expectations from this match were high, but a total of 155 meant I missed the hard-hitting fun of Twenty20. There was no doubt, though, that the quality of the cricket was excellent, and the same can be said about the atmosphere. However, a nail-biting finish was missed.
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