Sreesanth was the leading wicket-taker for the Chandigarh-based side in the last edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but will miss most of this season due to lower back stress fracture.

In the maiden edition of the IPL Sreesanth claimed 19 wickets at an average of 23.26.

“I had a good stint with Kings XI Punjab’s physiotherapist Patrick Farhart in Sydney and will be joining the team later this week,” said Sreesanth.

“With Patrick there, I will get a few more tests done and who knows, I may be fully fit before the semi-finals.”

Kings XI will also be without Australia pacemen Brett Lee and all-rounder James Hopes for much of the second edition and captain Yuvraj Singh has admitted his side’s depleted bowling stocks are a concern.

“On paper our bowling department might be found wanting,” added Sreesanth. “But I feel we have a pretty decent attack.

“Irfan Pathan bowled very well in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007 so there’s no need to worry.

“VRV Singh is raring to go after a long injury lay off and Ravi Bopara is also a handy bowler.

“We have a quality spinner in Piyush Chawla and Yuvraj himself can chip in.

“Twenty20 cricket is basically a batsman’s game and we have a solid batting line-up.”

In the meantime, Sreesanth is looking forward to his new role as fans mentor with the team in South Africa.

“I’ll be travelling with the Kings XI Punjab team, but my new role, as a fans mentor, means I’ll be mixing with the fans, interacting with them and keeping the mood alive,” he said.

“Of course, there’ll be a lot of dancing and I’m looking forward to it.”
Source – espnstar.com

“I’m happy to be in the background,” he said about Warne hogging all the glory in the Twenty20 tournament.

Smith has also won new fans at home after he batted with a broken finger in the Sydney Test.

“When I came home, the reception I got . . . That was something special. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that with me, there’s no balanced view. People either love me or hate me,” he said.

Rajasthan Royals captain and coach Warne, who shared a love-hate relationship with the south African crowd during his playing days, also looking to woo fans with the help of Smith.

“The public have booed me most of the time but, hopefully, playing with the Rajasthan Royals they’ll get behind me,” Warne was quoted as saying by the ‘Australian Associated Press’.

“Hopefully, when I come on to bowl I’ll get a clap, or a cheer or whistle. They’re pretty vocal over here. They love their cricket. Having Graeme Smith and Morne Morkel in the side will help,” he added.
Source – espnstar.com

Bhogle said that the ‘episode on the auction stunned the cricket world; money was supposed to be just for footballers.

“Few people liked the auction as it was. Cricketers were being likened to cattle,” Harsha Bhogle said.

“Accountability came with cricket,” said Manish Porwal, CEO, Percept Talent Management.

Unlike other leagues like English Premier League which evolved with time, IPL was invented in one year.

Selection of the teams were very subjective. Players like Ricky Ponting were paid like a B-grade Ranji Player.

IPL is cricketainment, says Porwal

“The sponsors did not know where to default, they didn’t know where to pitch, whether it was the Indianness that would give them the eyeballs or something else,” said Porwal.

Chennai Super Kings used its money wisely. They have put themselves in a very good position. Their team composition is very good and they have players from every country; if someone leaves, the place is filled immediately.

“CSK is a winning team with a winning captain and a lot of money that can be put behind the team,” said Ashok Malik, a noted journalist.

“T Thushara and George Bailey are players that can make a difference in the team,” Harsha said.

CSK’s Head of Marketing, Rakesh Singh spoke on the show about how franchisee has helped the teams grow.

“Franchisee’s model is developing as we go along because internationally one depends on merchandising and gate collections, but in India, it is a combination of merchandising, gate collections and a lot of sponsorships, advertisement and promotions.CSK is both cricket and business. It has been a part of the India Cements Company’s passion.” said R Singh

“Dhoni is an icon player without being an icon player, he initially gave the team a pan-Indian identity in addition to a Chennai identity because Dhoni is a rockstar,” said Malik.
Source – espnstar.com

South Africa-born Pietersen clashed with then England coach Peter Moores that eventually cost both of them their jobs. But former South Africa coach Jennings insisted that would not cast shadow on his relation with Pietersen.

“I don’t care a damn what happened with the England job,” said Jennings.

“Kevin and I are on the same wavelength that’s all that matters and I just don’t believe he will behave like people believe he can behave. The important thing is Kev’s the type who likes to prove people wrong.

“He’s like me he likes to push fingers up people’s noses. I understand the guy and where he’s coming from. Whatever his so-called personality weaknesses are, I back him 100 per cent,” he was quoted as saying in the ‘Guardian’.

Jennings said leading England and captaining the Royal Challengers were a different ball game altogether and he respects Pietersen’s intensity.

“People have to understand that there are a different set of permutations out here from what happened with England. I’ve clashed with some of my cricketers before, too, but that’s my style. It doesn’t concern me who he’s clashed with,” Pietersen said. “I believe there absolutely has to be tension within any relationship. If there’s no tension, there’s a lack of respect. I respect Kevin and he respects me. It will be a whole new relationship.” The 54-year-old Jennings said Pietersen has requested for a net session when he touches base in Johannesburg today and has also asked the coach to send him photos of his teammates to cement names and faces ahead of his two-week stint as captain.

“Small things like that convince me he’s going to do well.

“He’s a top professional who plays to win. I like that kind of guy. He also understands South African conditions. It will be tough in that environment but he’s a fighter. He’s got a personality that’s got him to where he is now and he’s not going to change it.”
Source – espnstar.com

“I have not said anything against Gavaskar. I just wanted to have a breathing space to try something new. I have sent him an apology letter if he felt so because he was in America that time,” Shah Rukh said before his departure to South Africa, last night.

He said, “due to the wonderful methodology that television applies, that comment was for people who don’t understand cricket and are still telling me how to run the team.” “If Gavaskar asks me to walk on my head and run the team, I would. Any thing that Gavaskar says that has to do with cricket, if he mentions, should be followed,” the actor said.

The apology comes in wake of Shah Rukh’s criticism of Gavaskar, who had lashed out at KKR coach John Buchanan for his proposal to have multiple captains in the team.

Shahrukh said the controversy had hurt him.

“People are making comments without understanding what the concept of multiple captaincy is,” he said.
Source – espnstar.com