Sehwag, Warner star in Delhi win

Delhi finally feels like home for Delhi Daredevils. With players such as Virender Sehwag, David Warner and Morne Morkel in the side, they had been frustrated by lifeless home tracks that made stroke-play and pace bowling difficult. Before this game Sehwag demanded pace, and then in the company of Warner showed just why. They added 146 for the first wicket in 11.4 overs, an ideal platform for a comfortable win despite an equally remarkable innings by Shaun Marsh, and despite the continuing good luck of Kings XI Punjab's openers who were both dropped on nought.

With the ball coming on well on this green pitch, Warner and Sehwag let the bowlers feel their wrath. They were like beasts who had been uncaged after years of confinement, gorging on anything remotely loose. It is a scary thought to imagine what Sehwag would have managed had he not got out for 77 off 35, trying a fourth successive six off the fourth delivery of a David Hussey over. Sehwag even dived into his crease, one of the very few times he has committed that unbecoming act while batting, to bring up his half-century off 28 deliveries, one fewer that Warner took to reach his.

Warner got to his landmark with a trademark pull deep into the stands, his second pulled six and third overall. Sehwag was on only 36 then. It takes some special hitting to dominate the strike and still not frustrate Sehwag. Warner managed that nicely. He began in earnest in the first over, pulling and cutting Praveen Kumar for fours. Ryan Harris managed to trouble him for a bit with the extra bounce, but Warner's comeback was emphatic: a huge pull over midwicket to end Harris' spell of 2-0-13-0 in a score of 35 for 0 after four overs.

The floodgates had just begun to open then. Sehwag tucked into Praveen with three fours in the fifth over, Warner went down on a knee and lofted Shalabh Srivastava's medium-pace over the sightscreen. The middle overs and spread fields mattered little as both batsmen moved to 59 each by the end of the 11th over. Enter Hussey, Punjab's expensive signing, playing his first game this IPL. Sehwag showed his famous disdain for spin through sixes over long-on, cow corner and midwicket. A mis-hit off the fourth ball brought some decorum to the proceedings, with only 38 coming in the next 5.2 overs.

That phase included Warner's wicket for 77 off 48 balls. Temporary relief. Lull between storms. Harris came back to have his figures rearranged, ending with 48 off four to join two other colleagues with 40-plus aggregates to their names. Venugopal Rao and Naman Ojha took 47 off the last three overs to post the third-highest total in IPL history, and Delhi's biggest.

Gayle's century in IPL is a special one

Chris Gayle has arrived. He smashed his way to his first IPL century, the second-fastest in this edition of the competition, and was the architect of Bangalore's victory over his former team, Kolkata. Gayle formed powerful partnerships with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Virat Kohli as Bangalore were untroubled in their chase of 172, winning by nine wickets.

The pitch was proving to be tricky for the quicks and Kolkata opted to start with a spinner after having posted 171. Yusuf Pathan, who was battling a knee niggle, opened the bowling. After three good deliveries, Yusuf strayed on the leg stump and Dilshan cashed in with four through square leg. With that, the flood gates were opened.

In the fourth over, Gayle had scored just three singles - while Dilshan had notched up 19 - when he was offered a full toss. He drove it down past the non-striker for the first of his 17 boundaries. It didn't matter what Bangalore tried after that. Jaidev Unadkat was dispatched with disdain as Gayle went down on one knee, smacking him for six over long-on. Shakib Al Hasan was tossed around like a limp ragdoll, slogged over midwicket and mowed over deep square. Yusuf was smoked through the covers. Gayle even showed a touch of deftness, playing one fine to the third man boundary.

It didn't matter who was given the ball, even though spin proved difficult to get away during the Kolkata innings. Manoj Tiwary was slapped over long-on and even mishit for six. Medium pacer Rajat Bhatia was hit for 17 runs in his second over, 16 off Gayle's bat. At the end of 12 overs, Bangalore were cruising on 123 for 1 when Dilshan was bowled by L Balaji, who controlled the swing admirably.

The Gayle force blew on though. Together with Kohli, he brought the required run rate down to less than a run a ball. Kohli was given some room to express himself too, taking advantage of full balls offered by Balaji and showing off his wrist work against Bhatia. Kohli almost had too much fun and denied Gayle a century with a boundary off the first ball of the 18th over, that left Bangalore with just two to win. He blocked out the rest of the over to make amends.

Even a wide from Iqbal Abdulla couldn't stop Gayle, who ended the innings with a smashing shot through the covers, winning the match with 11 balls to spare. Gayle, who was picked up by Bangalore as a replacement for the injured Dirk Nannes, wore a jersey with 333 - his highest Test score - on the back and made light work of a total that Kolkata should have been able to defend.

Paul Valthaty gives Punjab comprehensive win

Don't shake Paul Valthaty's hand any time soon. You might just turn to gold. He followed up his century in Kings XI Punjab's previous game by surprising everybody with his split-finger slower balls, in the Dilhara Fernando mould, taking 4 for 29, the best figures by any Punjab bowler, and then - with a 47-ball 75 - made a mockery of a target he had himself kept down to 165.

The turnaround for Punjab began with a good piece of fielding, and then a fortuitous lob off what should have been a leg-side wide. Until then Kumar Sangakkara and Shikhar Dhawan had put up a fine display of driving in a 75-run second-wicket stand, Deccan's best for any wicket this season, but both fell within three runs to send the hosts into rebuild mode for the best part of the second half of their innings.

Deccan Chargers had reached 88 for 1 in the 11th over, and the set batsmen were just looking to open up further when a diving Shaun Marsh at extra cover made sure Sangakkara stayed on strike. Sangakkara slog-swept the next ball to deep midwicket where Ryan McLaren took a good, low catch. In the next over, Valthaty's slower ball went wrong, and was going way down the leg side until Dhawan decided to try and clear short fine leg. Instead, the ball landed in the fielder's lap. Two starts had been wasted, Deccan had to become circumspect.

Valthaty's next over featured two similar slower balls. Bharat Chipli escaped long-off off the first, but the other was picked up near long-on. Daniel Christian's 30 off 14 threatened a major assault towards the end, but Valthaty once again pulled Deccan back with two wickets in two balls: Christian was bowled attempting a slog, and Amit Mishra then missed a scoop over the keeper's head and was trapped lbw.

Valthaty didn't get a chance to finish a hat-trick: the wickets came off the last two deliveries of the 19th over. However, he would get a chance to make the match his own when opening the innings. And how he owned the game. Carrying the confidence that he could do no wrong, Valthaty upper-cut and flicked Dale Steyn, then cut Ishant Sharma for a six, and took Manpreet Gony apart with some merciless hitting in the fifth over, which went for 23 runs.

Gambhir, Kallis set up outstanding win

Kolkata Knight Riders won by nine wickets and with nine deliveries to spare. It shouldn't have been that easy but Gautam Gambhir and Jacques Kallis starred in a supremely well-paced chase as Kolkata successfully hunted down a potentially tough 160-run target on a sluggish track in Jaipur.

The first game-seizing moment of the chase came in the sixth over, bowled by Amit Singh. Kolkata were 44 for 1 from five overs and it was obvious that they had to fully utilise the new ball and the Powerplay on this slow track. It was an over that could have tilted the game either way: Amit tried to keep it tight, Gambhir took risks, two shots eluded palms of fielders in the off side but not by much, and Gambhir looted 18 runs. He flat-batted the first ball past the diving Ross Taylor at extra cover, slashed the third past the diving Abhishek Raut at point, glanced the fourth to fine-leg, and crashed the final delivery over mid-off.

The second turning point was Gambhir's contest with Shane Warne, who introduced himself in the seventh over. Gambhir cut his third delivery through the covers, and slog swept the first ball of the 10th over to collect another four. When Warne gave himself another over, to try and pick up a wicket, Gambhir sashayed down the track and scythed a flighted delivery through extra cover. By the end of that over, Kolkata only needed 58 runs from 48 balls and Gambhir and Kallis stayed till the end to achieve a comfortable win.

Gambhir found great support in Kallis, who was instrumental in starting the chase in a positive fashion. He lifted Ashok Menaria's left-arm spin for a four and a six over long-off in the third over, whipped Shane Watson to midwicket and slashed Nayan Doshi through backward point. He dropped anchor once Gambhir took over the baton

Sachin's first IPL Century

Two weeks ago, the crowd at the Wankhede was delirious though a fervently anticipated Sachin Tendulkar century didn't materialise. On Friday, the same crowd went home dejected despite Tendulkar crafting his first Twenty20 century, as Kochi Tuskers Kerala busted their party with one of the most memorable chases in IPL history.

Two of the world's finest Twenty20 batsmen, Brendon McCullum and Mahela Jayawardene, constructed chalk-and-cheese half-centuries to power Kochi's pursuit of 183. Both perished to Lasith Malinga's deadly deliveries but Kochi, who had stumbled in the final stretch of their first two games, didn't slip up this time as Ravindra Jadeja and Brad Hodge muscled boundaries to finish the game with an over to spare.

Tendulkar's effort checked off another item on his ever-shrinking to-do list, and Mumbai ran up a tall total without needing contributions from Rohit Sharma, Andrew Symonds and Kieron Pollard. It was then assumed that the bowlers would make the rest of the game a formality, but McCullum firmly put that assumption to rest by muscling three boundaries between mid-off and cover in Malinga's second over. The next big jump came in the sixth over from Pollard as McCullum swatted a four past midwicket and Jayawardene eased boundaries behind square on either side of the wicket.

The Mumbai fielding made things worse for the home team. Rohit Sharma dropped McCullum at first slip off the first ball, and Jayawardene was given a life by Ali Murtuza at backward point.

McCullum kept skating out of the crease and lashing the ball through the off side right through his innings, while Jayawardene was content shuffling across and using the bowler's pace, rarely powering the ball. The difference between the two batsmen's innings was highlighted in the ninth over as McCullum smashed the first ball over long-off, and Jayawardene reverse-paddled the fifth ball off the back of the bat for four.

Paul Valthaty ton stunned Chennai Super Kings to clinch a maiden win for Kings XI

The IPL's northernmost franchise found a hero with roots in the south, as Paul Valthaty stunned Chennai Super Kings to clinch a maiden win for Kings XI Punjab this season after a disappointing performance in their opening game. Valthaty was a surprise promotion to the opening slot, instead of the regular Shaun Marsh, and he answered the call with a blistering start, keeping his team on par with the required-rate in the middle overs and surging again at the death to complete victory after achieving a spectacular century.

At 27, with just one List A game and 13 Twenty20 matches, Valthaty had been on the sidelines of the Mumbai team on India's domestic circuit. His previous highest in the IPL was 6, but whatever he must have done at the practice sessions ahead of this game sparked a potentially career-changing turn of events. Punjab had been deflated at the end of the Chennai innings, after they had squandered the perfect start of two wickets off the first two balls to concede 188. The sight of an unfamiliar face walking out with Adam Gilchrist raised eyebrows, but it didn't take too long for Valthaty to justify his promotion.

Rajasthan Royals surge to second win

Rajasthan Royals executed a well-calibrated chase against an off-colour Delhi Daredevils attack to register their second win in two games and move atop the IPL leaderboard. The senior players soaked up the pressure - Rahul Dravid set up the chase and Johan Botha anchored it - while the youngsters, Ashok Menaria and Ajinkya Rahane, batted with freedom to keep the required-rate under control. Ross Taylor added the finishing touches with his trademark leg-side lashes. While Rajasthan's batting flowed seamlessly, their bowling was a tale of two halves. Their fortunes were typified by Shaun Tait's four one-over spells. He got rid of Virender Sehwag and Aaron Finch - two parts of Delhi's powerful top-order trinity - in first two overs. David Warner, the third part, survived Tait and saw off a sublime spell from Shane Warne before counter-punching along with Venugopal Rao. Tait was either too short or too full in his final spell, and allowed Delhi to haul themselves from 43 for 4 after 10 overs, to 151. Their bowlers, however, let them down.

"I am used to facing all these fast bowlers." Sehwag's emphatic declaration before the game set up the confrontation with Tait. The encounter was, however, was short. Sehwag cracked his first ball through point but Tait hit back immediately with sheer pace. Taking guard after Sehwag's sizzle and fizzle, Finch barely saw the three thunderbolts - one of them touching 157 kph - that burst through his defences. One over of high impact - one spell out of the way.

Botha and Siddharth Trivedi were not so menacing with the ball, and Tait returned for the fifth over. Finch promptly succumbed to another pacy bouncer, and Tait was off the attack again. Warne struck twice in his first over, nailing Unmukt Chand with a quick dipping legbreak, and Naman Ojha with a slower, looping delivery. Thereafter, Rajasthan let the pressure ease, allowing Warner and Rao to find an escape route. Rao checked in with a couple of controlled boundaries against spin before Warner preyed upon Trivedi's poor lines.

Warner plundered Tait's indiscretions in length for three boundaries in his third over. He reached his 50 by cutting Warne in front of square before handing over the baton to his partner. Rao launched two successive slower balls from Trivedi for sixes over the off side, before Irfan Pathan slugged boundaries off Tait's closing over to hustle Delhi to challenging total.

Dravid ignited the chase with a series of boundaries off Ashok Dinda, but Amit Paunikar missed a wild slog to gift him a wicket. Pathan had shown signs of regaining his famous inswinger in Delhi's first game. Today, however, he resorted to listless offcutters that Dravid pounced upon. With his seamers disappointing, Sehwag resorted to Roelof van der Merwe's spin in the sixth over, and Dravid greeted him with two elegant boundaries. Fifty-seven had come off the Powerplay, and the game was heading Rajasthan's way.

van der Merwe gave Delhi an opening by getting Dravid to edge behind, but Botha and Menaria carried on without a fuss. With a stance and swagger reminiscent of Yuvraj Singh, Menaria camped on the back foot and looked to muscle anything too short or too full over midwicket. He thumped sixes off three consecutive overs before carving Pathan straight to cover. Botha was relentless though, in his new No. 3 avatar, executing paddle sweeps at will and keeping things under control. Rahane kept the flag flying, and though Morne Morkel uprooted his stumps in the 16th over it was too little too late.

IPL SCHEDULE 2011

Date	Local/IST	No.	Match Details	Venue
8-Apr-11	20:00	1st	Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 1st IPL	Chennai
9-Apr-11	16:00	2nd	Deccan Chargers vs Rajasthan Royals, 2nd IPL	Hyderabad
9-Apr-11	20:00	3rd	Kochi Tuskers Kerala vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 3rd IPL	Kochi
10-Apr-11	16:00	4th	Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians, 4th IPL	Delhi
10-Apr-11	20:00	5th	Pune Warriors vs Kings XI Punjab, 5th IPL	Navi Mumbai
11-Apr-11	20:00	6th	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Deccan Chargers, 6th IPL	Kolkata
12-Apr-11	16:00	7th	Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils, 7th IPL	Jaipur
12-Apr-11	20:00	8th	Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians, 8th IPL	Bangalore
13-Apr-11	16:00	9th	Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings, 9th IPL	Mohali
13-Apr-11	20:00	10th	Pune Warriors vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, 10th IPL	Navi Mumbai
14-Apr-11	20:00	11th	Deccan Chargers vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 11th IPL	Hyderabad
15-Apr-11	16:00	12th	Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 12th IPL	Jaipur
15-Apr-11	20:00	13th	Mumbai Indians vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, 13th IPL	Hyderabad
16-Apr-11	16:00	14th	Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 14th IPL	Chennai
16-Apr-11	20:00	15th	Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab, 15th IPL	Hyderabad
17-Apr-11	16:00	16th	Pune Warriors vs Delhi Daredevils, 16th IPL	Navi Mumbai
17-Apr-11	20:00	17th	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, 17th IPL	Kolkata
18-Apr-11	20:00	18th	Kochi Tuskers Kerala vs Chennai Super Kings, 18th IPL	Kochi
19-Apr-11	16:00	19th	Delhi Daredevils vs Deccan Chargers, 19th IPL	Delhi
19-Apr-11	20:00	20th	Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals, 20th IPL	Bangalore
20-Apr-11	16:00	21st	Mumbai Indians vs Pune Warriors, 21st IPL	Mumbai
20-Apr-11	20:00	22nd	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, 22nd IPL	Kolkata
21-Apr-11	20:00	23rd	Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals, 23rd IPL	Mohali
22-Apr-11	16:00	24th	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 24th IPL	Kolkata
22-Apr-11	20:00	25th	Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, 25th IPL	Mumbai
23-Apr-11	20:00	26th	Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab, 26th IPL	Delhi
24-Apr-11	16:00	27th	Deccan Chargers vs Mumbai Indians, 27th IPL	Hyderabad
24-Apr-11	20:00	28th	Rajasthan Royals vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, 28th IPL	Jaipur
25-Apr-11	20:00	29th	Chennai Super Kings vs Pune Warriors, 29th IPL	Chennai
26-Apr-11	20:00	30th	Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 30th IPL	Delhi
27-Apr-11	16:00	31st	Pune Warriors vs Chennai Super Kings, 31st IPL	Navi Mumbai
27-Apr-11	20:00	32nd	Kochi Tuskers Kerala vs Deccan Chargers, 32nd IPL	Kochi
28-Apr-11	20:00	33rd	Delhi Daredevils vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 33rd IPL	Delhi
29-Apr-11	16:00	34th	Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, 34th IPL	Jaipur
29-Apr-11	20:00	35th	Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Pune Warriors, 35th IPL	Bangalore
30-Apr-11	16:00	36th	Kochi Tuskers Kerala vs Delhi Daredevils, 36th IPL	Kochi
30-Apr-11	20:00	37th	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab, 37th IPL	Kolkata
1-May-11	16:00	38th	Rajasthan Royals vs Pune Warriors, 38th IPL	Jaipur
1-May-11	20:00	39th	Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers, 39th IPL	Chennai
2-May-11	16:00	40th	Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab, 40th IPL	Mumbai
2-May-11	20:00	41st	Delhi Daredevils vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, 41st IPL	Delhi
3-May-11	20:00	42nd	Deccan Chargers vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 42nd IPL	Hyderabad
4-May-11	16:00	43rd	Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, 43rd IPL	Chennai
4-May-11	20:00	44th	Pune Warriors vs Mumbai Indians, 44th IPL	Navi Mumbai
5-May-11	16:00	45th	Kochi Tuskers Kerala vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 45th IPL	Kochi
5-May-11	20:00	46th	Deccan Chargers vs Delhi Daredevils, 46th IPL	Hyderabad
6-May-11	20:00	47th	Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab, 47th IPL	Bangalore
7-May-11	16:00	48th	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, 48th IPL	Kolkata
7-May-11	20:00	49th	Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils, 49th IPL	Mumbai
8-May-11	16:00	50th	Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, 50th IPL	Bangalore
8-May-11	20:00	51st	Kings XI Punjab vs Pune Warriors, 51st IPL	Mohali
9-May-11	20:00	52nd	Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, 52nd IPL	Jaipur
10-May-11	16:00	53rd	Deccan Chargers vs Pune Warriors, 53rd IPL	Hyderabad
10-May-11	20:00	54th	Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians, 54th IPL	Mohali
11-May-11	20:00	55th	Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 55th IPL	Jaipur
12-May-11	20:00	56th	Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils, 56th IPL	Chennai
13-May-11	20:00	57th	Kochi Tuskers Kerala vs Kings XI Punjab, 57th IPL	Indore
14-May-11	16:00	58th	Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 58th IPL	Bangalore
14-May-11	20:00	59th	Mumbai Indians vs Deccan Chargers, 59th IPL	Mumbai
15-May-11	20:00	60th	Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils, 60th IPL	Dharmasala
15-May-11	20:00	61st	Kochi Tuskers Kerala vs Rajasthan Royals, 61st IPL	Indore
16-May-11	20:00	62nd	Pune Warriors vs Deccan Chargers, 62nd IPL	Navi Mumbai
17-May-11	20:00	63rd	Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 63rd IPL	Dharmasala
18-May-11	20:00	64th	Chennai Super Kings vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, 64th IPL	Chennai
19-May-11	20:00	65th	Pune Warriors vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 65th IPL	Navi Mumbai
20-May-11	20:00	66th	Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals, 66th IPL	Mumbai
21-May-11	16:00	67th	Kings XI Punjab vs Deccan Chargers, 67th IPL	Dharmasala
21-May-11	20:00	68th	Delhi Daredevils vs Pune Warriors, 68th IPL	Delhi
22-May-11	16:00	69th	Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings, 69th IPL	Bangalore
22-May-11	20:00	70th	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians, 70th IPL	Kolkata
24-May-11	20:00	71st	TBC vs TBC, Qualifier 1 IPL	Mumbai
25-May-11	20:00	72nd	TBC vs TBC, Eliminator IPL	Mumbai
27-May-11	20:00	73rd	TBC vs TBC, Qualifier 2 IPL	Chennai
28-May-11	20:00	Final	TBC vs TBC, Final IPL	Chennai

Sehwag to captain Delhi Daredevils in IPL-4

The 32-year-old Delhi opener has been part of the Delhi Daredevils since the IPL began in 2008. Under his leadership, Delhi Daredevils reached the semi-finals in the first two editions of the IPL and also topped the league stage in 2009.
Sehwag said he was looking forward to taking the Daredevils to new heights in IPL-4.

"For me there cannot be any other team than Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. As someone who grew up playing cricket in Delhi I am very proud to be playing for the Delhi Daredevils. I am delighted to be part of the Delhi Daredevils and lead the team," said Sehwag.
Srinivas Bommidala, chairman of GMR Sports, said Sehwag was the source of inspiration and strength for both young and experienced players.
"He is a leader who paves the way by example," he said.
P.B. Vanchi, director GMR Sports, said: "Viru has been an integral part of the Delhi Daredevils from the day it was formed. He has been the face of the team and an icon best suited to lead our team. Sehwag's attacking style at the start of the innings sets the tone for the rest of the team."

Kirsten may coach Mumbai Indians after World Cup

Kirsten's contract with the Indian team ends after the World Cup and he is unlikely to renew it as he wants to spend more time with his family in South Africa. But a coaching job in the month-long IPL is something that he might fancy.

"Indian cricket had hoped to persuade Kirsten to change his mind about not renewing his contract, but gave up on it this week. Future options for Kirsten could involve the Indian Premier League," a report in The Times said.

"The close relationship that Kirsten has with Sachin Tendulkar may lead to cooperation between the two at the Mumbai Indians, who are expected to appoint a director of coaching before the next IPL season," The report said.

"Kirsten could easily take up such a position while still developing his international academy that is in the planning stage at Claremont Cricket Club in Cape Town

IPL 4: Will Dada pad up for Kochi IPL?

The Kochi franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL) neither confirmed nor denied reports that they have approached the IPL governing council to rope in former India captain Sourav Ganguly.

Vettori ideal IPL replacement for Kumble.

Royal Challengers Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya has said Daniel Vettori was the ideal replacement for RCB retired skipper Anil Kumble, and added that he “kept a little back” to secure the New Zealand captain amid the auction frenzy.


Mallya said: “Anil Kumble, who was our captain and the specialist spinner in the side, decided to join us as chief mentor, so I was looking for a quality spinner who could also bat.”


Mallya, who was on a flying visit to Christchurch yesterday, said he was delighted to have the experienced all-rounder''s services for the 2011 IPL.
He said it was bargain to buy Vettori for 550,000 dollars at last week’s IPL auction. “I bought many of my players early, before the auction really started warming up,” he said.
“When Vettori turn came, everybody had already spent so much money on the Indian players. I kept a little back, so I had the money to grab him,” he said.

Rajasthan to rely on Dravid, Warne to attract young players.

Rajasthan's strategy, according to franchise officials, will be to use players such as Rahul Dravid and Shane Warne to attract and mould younger, talented domestic players.

Gilchrist to captain Kings XI Punjab.

Gilchrist, the former Australia wicketkeeper, will be the captain of Kings XI Punjab for the fourth season of the IPL, the Punjab coach Michael Bevan has said. Bevan said Punjab bought Gilchrist, who led Hyderabad to the trophy in the IPL's second season, specifically for his leadership skills. Gilchrist was bought on the first day of the auction for $900,000.

PCB willing to send players to India for IPL .

The Pakistan Cricket Board is ready to provide all documents and clearance for its players if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decides to allow its cricketers to take part in the IPL 4.


A senior official of the PCB Subhan told at a press conference on Saturday that the Board was interested in sending its players for the IPL 2011 to India.


"We are keen on this and if the Indian board requires us to provide any clearance or NOC for any player we will do it," Subhan said.


He added that the PCB had already written to the BCCI on the issue last week and were awaiting a reply from them.

Gilchrist, Lara in top position of $400,000 for IPL auctions

Legendary West Indian batsman Brian Lara, dashing Australian wicketkeeper batsman Adam Gilchrist are among overseas players who have been put in the top bracket base price for the upcoming auctions of the fourth edition of Indian Premier League.


As per information received, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting's name doesn't figure in the list that the IPL governing council has sent to the franchisees.


Around 400 foreign players have expressed their willingness to be a part of the cricketing extravaganza. They have been classified in six brackets ranging from $20,000 to $400,000.


The Australians have only three players - top scorer in IPL 1 Shaun Marsh, Gilchrist, the captain of second edition champions Deccan Chargers and speed merchant Brett Lee in the top bracket base price. The Hussey brothers Mike and David are in the second base price bracket of $300,000 while T20 and ODI specialist David Warner is in the third bracket with a base price of $200,000.