Date – 21 April 2009

Clash Between two giants of cricket world Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne called off due to heavy rain. Both teams Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals got 1 point each. Before this Rajasthan Royals lost their opening match to Banglore Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians were victorious over Chennai Super Kings.

Date – 18 April 2009

The 1st match of DLF – IPL was between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Chennai won the toss and decided to field first. Little Master Sachin Tendulkar laid solid foundation for Mumbai Indians by scoring 59 runs not out which helped to put a descent total of 165 at scoreboard. Young talented batsman Abhishek Nayar hit three massive sixes to Flintoff’s over. Drafted from Delhi Daredevils Shikhar Dhawan scored 22 runs.  Sanath Jayasuriya scored 26 runs. In reply to this former Australian opener Matthew Hayden hit 44 and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni 36. 1.55-million dollar man Andrew Flintoff scored 24 runs before he was caught and bowled by Harbhajan Singh. Chennai Super Kings manage to scored only 146 for 7 in 20 overs. Fast bowler Lasith Malinga take three for 15 runs in four overs for Mumbai.

Man Of The Match – Sachin Tendulkar

Playing XI –

The opening game of the IPL 2009 will see Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians, take on IPL 2008 finalists, the Chennai Super Kings, at Newlands in Cape Town.
The Chennai Super Kings, under the leadership of wicketkeeper/batsman MS Dhoni, are entering this year’s IPL as one of the bookmaker’s favourite.
Big hitting all-rounders Andrew Flintoff and Albie Morkel will be at the forefront of the Super Kings attack this coming Saturday.
They will try to be tamed by the Mumbai Indian’s bowlers, consisting of Zaheer Khan, Lasith ‘Slinga’ Malinga and Harbhajan Singh, who have the knowledge of Shaun Pollock (the Mumbai Indians’ mentor) on their side, when taking on the often tricky Newlands pitch.
All eyes will be on Mumbai’s Sanath Jayasuria, to see if he can entertain the sold-out Newlands crowd, as he tries follow up his record as IPL’s greatest six hitter (31 sixes in IPL 2008).
Other Mumbai batsmen to watch will be the “Maestro” Sachin Tendulkar, “Million-Dollar Kid” JP Duminy (on his home ground), and West Indian Dwayne Bravo.
They’ll try to be unsettled by Chennai’s Makhaya Ntini, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Lakshmipathy Balaji.
Source – bleacherreport.com

Indian cricket team’s star batsman Sachin Tendulkar avoided debate over the venue of this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Further, he asserted that as the skipper of Mumbai Indians, he is eager to regale the supporters of his team despite the matches being played in South Africa.
When persisted by journalists for his comments on the government’s inability to provide security for the IPL extravaganza, Tendulkar said, “I am sure the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the concerned guys must have tried their best. It’s just coincided with the elections. I don’t think by shifting the tournament to South Africa there will be any less interest. The interest is terrific.”

He said this while interacting with media persons at a reception hosted by Jaypee University of Technology at Noida here last evening.

The BCCI wanted to stage the event overseas after failing to get government clearance for security cover as certain dates of fixtures clashed with the general elections.

The IPL was a huge success in its inaugural edition in cricket-crazy India last year, primarily because it was structured around city-based franchises with a fan base in home and away matches.

However, Tendulkar wasn’t a part of the winning Indian side in the ICC Twenty-20 World Cup held in South Africa 2007 due to injury.

And reportedly he has expressed his inability to be a part of the national side which again plays in England this June.

On this score, he said that he does not wish upset the team’s combination that has shaped well over the last two years.

“I would have loved to be there (England). But I feel, it would be unfair to disturb the combination and that’s the only reason I have stayed out of the team,” added Tendulkar.
Source – newstrackindia.com

Harbhajan Singh has always wanted to slam the bowlers. He has long nurtured a dream of scoring a breezy Test century, a sensational stroke-filled show in a limited-over match, or best, swing a match with his bat in Twenty20 cricket.

He is a bowler who would “love to be acknowledged as a batsman” worthy of making priceless runs when they matter. Most of his batting aspirations are visible at the ‘nets.’

So, when he promises some explosive stuff at the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) in South Africa, Harbhajan needs to be taken ‘seriously.’

He rightly opined on Wednesday that every player assumes a level of “explosive batting” in Twenty20 but added that “I am no less” even as he promised some exciting fare. His aggregate thus far from four T20 international innings is 30 runs.

That he has no regard for batsmen is well known. The sight of a batsman stirs him into raising his game and Harbhajan, with 330 Test wickets to his credit, said that he would like to play the role of a match-winner with greater “consistency” now.

“I want to win more and more matches and I am all charged up for the IPL,” he said.

He had missed the inaugural edition of the IPL following the slapping incident with S. Sreesanth.

“I don’t like to be reminded of that incident time and again. It is a closed chapter. There is no animosity between us,” said Harbhajan, who signed a deal for licensing his brand name at a function, here on Wednesday.

Licence India would now ‘sell’ Harbhajan as a brand ambassador for setting up restaurants, sportswear and cricket academies.

The 29-year-old off-spinner typically dismissed the multiple-captain theory of John Buchanan.

True, the noted Australian coach’s theory was yet to be implemented, but it had not stopped reactions from all possible quarters.

“I don’t care if they employ 11 captains. I wish them luck,” said Harbhajan, known to mock at anything that emanates from an Australian.

On not being able to receive the Padma Shri award at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, Harbhajan pleaded, “I had some important family commitments.”
Source – hindu.com