#ipl2014

‘Give me half of what you’ve done, I wanna win this ‘: Raina recalls Sehwag’s 122 against CSK in IPL 2014 Qualifier 2

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been catering electrifying games of T20 cricket ever since it came into existence. The qualifier 2 between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the 2014 edition is one such game that will always be remembered for the roller-coaster experience it gave to the fans. Both teams were battling for a ticket to finale. George Bailey’s Punjab…

Heart: K3G is coming on TV.

Head: It comes on TV every Sunday. Big deal.

Heart: ShahRukh looks beautiful.

Head: Have you seen how he looks now?

Heart: Well, he is 13 years older than he was then.

Head: This is too melodramatic. Can you not do this to me?

Heart: I wish I could watch Yaadein too.

Head: I need to rest.

  *makes body get up, collapse on the bed and snore*

  There’s something about K3G that is irresistible. It’s not my favourite SRK movie, hell, it’s not even my favourite bad film, but I watch it whenever I can. And even people smarter and better than me do, so there’s no need to shake the head and pretend to be disgusted. And it makes me feel that life’s ok for a little while.

  It’s a little heartbreaking too. The same scenes that would make an 8 year old me snivel simply make me laugh now. Or squirm as I remember the child who I once was. A little bit of me laughs at my mom’s resigned expression as I mouth dialogues a good five minutes before they happen on screen, but my head mentally calculates all the books I could have read in this time and causes a sharp, searing pain to go through my body.

  I wake up, only to watch the IPL final…during which, funnily enough, my head and heart have the same conversation. You’d think the brain would learn by now. But then, it’s nothing if not stubborn.

  I roll my eyes, and pretend to be horrified at the absurdities and extravagances of IPL, and try to prevent the impending heart-attack. Watching cricket was never good for health.

  I curl up on the sofa and count my pretences.

The most consistent team of IPL 7 will be up against the most resilient side of the current edition when Kings XI Punjab lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders in the first qualifier of the IPL on Wednesday at the Eden Gardens. The match was scheduled to be held on Tuesday but was called off due to incessant rainfall for the past few days in the city. A double washout would mean Punjab would make the finals without a ball being bowled as they are sitting at the top of the points table with Kolkata placed second.

Kings XI Punjab have been the most outstanding team this season to finish top of the points table, courtesy a superlative batting show from Glenn Maxwell. On the other hand, Kolkata were written off midway into the tournament with just two wins from first seven matches but they bounced back in superb fashion to seal a playoff berth. Later, Yusuf Pathan's destructive 22-ball 72 against Hyderabad fired them up to second spot ahead of Chennai on the basis of a better net run rate. Their 4-wicket triumph over Hyderabad was their seven win on the trot.

Punjab may be the heavyweights but they would be wary of KKR's momentum and it would be quite a challenge for George Bailey's men to breach their opponent's fortress at the Eden Gardens. Yusuf Pathan will be a threat in the ranks of KKR, quite the same way Maxwell is in the KXIP line-up, in what promises to be yet another run feast with both teams boasting of powerful batting line-ups. Under overcast conditions, the slow bowlers could play a crucial role and the KKR camp would have an extra edge in mystery spinner Sunil Narine who has the Purple Cap. They also have left-armer Shakib Al Hasan in a potent spin attack.With Mitchell Johnson spearheading the pace department, KXIP pacers have most number of wickets (62) but at the same time, their spinners have the fewest (24). In terms of batting, Shaun Marsh, who has been a consistent performer for KXIP with about 2000 runs, has been benched with Maxwell and Miller stealing the show.

KXIP have lost to KKR, the second team after Mumbai Indians to have beaten the table-toppers this season, and the home side would surely fancy their chances with a vociferous crowd behind them. KKR look a more balanced side of the two both in batting and bowling. But previous laurels won't matter in the play-offs as both the teams will have to start from zero. The cricket fans in Kolkata will not want another washout and would be praying to the Rain Gods for a rain-free day.