India Favorite in India-Australia Cricket Series 2013

Indian cricket team currently ranked no.1 will be facing world no.2 Australian team in bilateral series. Australian cricket team is touring the subcontinent to play 1T20 and 7 ODI matches against India. Last time Australia came here to play four match test series where they lost 4-0. Indian team has been in a good form especially in ODIs winning the Champions Trophy 2013, Celkon Trination Series in West Indies and Series in Zimbabwe while the later side has struggled. The positive for Australian team is that they won the Natwest Series against England after losing the Ashes Test Series 3-0.

India-Australia Cricket Series 2013

India tour is going to be an acid test for the Australian team before they go into the Ashes Cricket Series. Indian star batsman Yuvraj Singh is making his comeback into ODI squad making the ODI team stronger in middle order. On the other side, Australian team is touring the sub-continent without their regular skipper Michael Clarke who is struggling with injury. George bailey has been declared as the captain for India tour.

CRICKET-SCHEDULE

Date	Format	Timing	Venue
10-10-2013	T20	Day-Night	Rajkot
13-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Pune
16-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Jaipur
19-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Chandigarh
23-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Ranchi
26-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Cuttack
30-10-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Nagpur
02-11-2013	ODI	Day-Night	Bangalore

 

AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA-INDIA CRICKET SERIES 2013

Australia is eying on their third successive limited over series victory over India in India. They believe that the IPL 2013 experience and Champions League Twenty20 experience will help them to perform well in Indian conditions. They have players like Mitchell Johnson, Glen Maxwell, Shane Watson, James Faulkner and Nathan Coulter-Nile who played in recently concluded Champions League T20 in India.  The absence of the regular skipper from the squad is going to hurt them very badly.

George Bailey- Australian ODI Cricket Team Captain

Team Members  :  George Bailey (Captain), David Warner, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, Callum Ferguson, Glen Maxwell, James Faulkner, Clint Mckay, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Coulter-Nile,   Xavier Doherty, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Adam Voges, Nick Maddinson, Phil Hughes and Moises Henriques. 

INDIA SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA INDIA CRICKET SERIES 2013

India has been in good form in this cricket calendar year. India will be playing in their courtyard so they will start as the favorites to win the ODI series against Australia. MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were in very good form in the Champions league so it will boost them to perform well. Star all-rounder looked in excellent form against the West Indies A and in NKP Salve Challenger series so his presence will be a big plus for team India.   

Mahendera Singh Dhoni- Indian Cricket Team Captain

Team Members :  MS Dhoni (Captain), Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindera Jadeja, Ambati Raydu, Shami Ahmad, Bhuwneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Ravichandran Ashwin, R Vinay Kumar and Jaydev Unadkat.

In my view India is favorite to win the ODI series, but you can’t take mighty Australian so lightly. Australian team is known for their fighting spirit so we are going to see the same for sure in T20 and Odi series against India starting from 10^th October in Rajkot. Whoever wins this ODI series will also have top ODI ranking, means if India wins the series they will remain world number 1 otherwise Australia will be new No. 1. This series is going to be the series of ODI Supremacy.

Who is your favorite to win this T20 and ODI Series? Can George Bailey fill up the void of Michael Clarke ? Drop your response and views in the comment box.

Mumbai Indians Wins Champions League Defeating Rajasthan Royals

It was a dream final of Champions League Twenty20 2013 or CL-Twenty20 for all the Indian cricket fans. As they witnessed two of the greatest cricket players for last time in a T20 match. As I predicted, in my Champions League Semi-final article Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals made into the finals of Champions League T20 by winning their semi-finals. IPL 2013 Champion Mumbai Indians defeated West Indies team Trinidad & Tobago while the Rajasthan Royals defeated Chennai Super Kings. "The God of cricket" Sachin Tendulkar played his last T20 match for Mumbai Indians while "The Wall" Rahul Dravid played last time for Rajasthan Royals.

Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in Champions League Final

TOSS

In jam packed stadium of Feroz Shah Kotla at Delhi, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and decided to bowl first. Rajasthan Royals forced to made one change and they picked up Kusal Parera in place of the injured Brad Hodge while Mumbai Indians picked up Glen Maxwell in place of Mitchell Johnson.

MUMBAI INDIANS BATTING

Mumbai Indians openers Dwayne Smith and Sachin Tendulkar started very cautiously and scored 27 runs in first 4 overs. Sachin Tendulkar playing in his last T20 match struck back to back fours on first two deliveries of Shane Watson in 5th over and looked in good touch. But, on the very next delivery Shane Watson uprooted his off-stump. Sachin Tendulkar out scoring 15 runs in his final T20 innings. Ambati Raydu came at number 3 to accompany Dwayne Smith who was looking in good touch. 

Dwayne Smith Playing a shot

Mumbai Indians completed 50 runs in 7^th over and at the end of 10th over Mumbai Indians score was 60 runs losing the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar. Smith struck three consecutive fours of Shane Watson and made his intentions clear. At the team score of 79 in 12^th over Smith got his stumps ungrounded on the bowling of Pravin Tambe scoring quick 44 runs. Next came Skipper Rohit Sharma and he looked like carrying his last inning against Trinidad and Tobago started his inning with a huge Six. 

Mumbai Indians skipper during a shot

In 14^th over Mumbai completed their 100 and in the same over they lost the wicket of Ambati Raydu. Big hitter Kieron Pollard came after the departure of Raydu and added 36 runs together in just 16 balls with Rohit Sharma. Pollard scored 15 before getting bowled of the James Faulkner. Glen Maxwell came to give company to his skipper who was scoring freely. In 18^th Rohit Sharma got out looking for six scoring quick 33runs of just 14 balls.

Glen Maxwell hitting a boundary in Champions league final

Glen Maxwell continued the onslaught with next in Dinesh Karthick and Mumbai reached to score of 190 runs by the end of 19^th over. In 20^th over Glen Maxwell got out scoring 37 runs from 14 balls but Harbhajan and Karthick made it sure that Mumbai reaches the score of 200. Mumbai Indians finished their inning at 202 runs in their allotted 20 overs with the help of quick cameos from Rohit Sharma and Glen Maxwell.

Pravin Tambe celebrating the dismissal of a wicket

Rajashtan Bowlers bowled beautifully in the first 10 overs but lost their way in last 10 overs. Rajasthan gave away 142 runs in the last 10 overs. Apart from the Pravin Tambe all were dispatched all round the park by Mumbai batsmen. Tambe picked up 2 wickets in his four overs giving away just 18 runs. Faulkner, Shukla and Watson picked up 1 wicket each.

Rajasthan Royals Batting

 

Chasing total of 203 runs in final Rajasthan royals opened their inning with Kusal Parera and Ajinkya Rahane. Parera ran himself out after hitting two boundaries of Glen Maxwell in the first overl. Next came in man in form Sanju Samson to accompany Ajinkya Rahane. Both Rahane and Samson has been in good form and they started the chase going after the weak Mumbai Indian bowling unit. At the end of 6 overs score of Rajasthan Royals was 72 losing 1 wicket. 

Sanju Samson hitting a Six in Champions League 2013 final

By the end of 9^th over Rajasthan Royals reached the score 100 runs with the help of quick 50 from the young Sanju Samson. At this stage match looked bending towards the Rajasthan Royals as they had 9 wickets in hand and needed another 103 runs two win in 11 overs. Mumbai bowlers struggling to break the partnership finally got the breakthrough in form of Sanju Samson got out scoring 60 runs of 33 balls. 

Ajinkya Rahane during his inning of 65

Fall of Samson dropped the run rate and score of Rajasthan Roylas was 136 runs losing 2 wickets at the end of 14 overs. Opener Ajinkya Rahane completed his half century but he lost the partner Shane Watson quickly. At the end of 16 over Rajastha were 155/3 chasing the target of 203runs to win their Champions League T20 title.

Harbhajan Singh celebrating the wicket

Harbhajan Singh who removed Watson also removed Rahane in 17^th over, Rahane scored 65 runs.  In the same over Harbhajan Singh removed Binny and Cooper and the match was virtually over for Rajasthan Royals. Next came in Rahul Dravid playing his last T20 match but managed to score only 1 runs before his stumps were dislocated. Rajasthan Royals got bundled in the 19^thover scoring 169 runs losing by 33 runs.

 

Mumbai Bowlers looked quite off color in the first half of the Rajasthan Batting. But they came back quickly and won the match and title for Mumbai Indians. Harbhajan Singh picked up 4 wickets while Pollard picked 3 wickets. Ojha and Coulter-Nile picked up one wicket each.

Mumbai Indians Team Champions League Twenty20 2013 Winner

Harbhajan Singh was declared Man of the match while Dwayne Smith was declared Man of the Series.  Golden Bat was given to the Rajasthan Royals opener Ajinkya Rahane for his 288 runs while Pravin Tambe was awarded with Golden Wicket for his 12 wickets in the Champions League twenty20. 

Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar got very good applaud from the Team members as well as from the knowledgeable crowd. Cricket Fans are going to miss the presence of both cricket stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in the colored outfits.   


               Which team deserved to win Champions League 2013 more than the Mumbai Indians. What makes that team better than the current champion ? Send your views and feedback through the comment box !

Champions League Twenty20 Semi-Final Teams

Fifth edition of Champions League Twenty20 or CL-T20 has completed its first stage and teams for the semifinals are fixed. As, I predicted in my earlier article Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians along with Trinidad & Tobago and Rajasthan Royals have made it to the semi-finals. In first round of Champions League T20 teams squad of Trinidad & Tobago and Chennai Super Kings looked most balanced. Trinidad & Tobago playing without many of their star players performed exceptionally and insured their place in semi-finals without losing a single match.

Champions League Twenty20 2013

Otago Volts were on the wrong side of luck as they missed their slot due to their low Net Run Rate in first round against the Mumbai Indians. If we evaluate the first round then all the top performers are from those teams which failed to qualify for the semi-finals like Jimmy Neesham, Dale Steyn, Henry Davids, Brednon McCullum etc.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE-Twenty20 SEMI-FINAL TEAMS

Chennai Super Kings

Undoubtedly best Twenty 20 teams in the IPL and Champions League Twenty 20 have performed according to their status. They lost only last league match to cement their place in semi-final against the Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur. Suresh Raina and Captain Dhoni looked in fine touch and they can prove match winner for them in semi-final. 

Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni playing a shot

Having the player like Michael Hussey, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni and may others they are the favorite to win the semi finals to get into finals.  They have to play exceptionally good to beat Rajasthan Royals in their fortress at Jaipur where they rarely lose. 

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians who thrashed the Perth Scorchers in the must win last league match looked well at least in last match. Mumbai Indians batting has struggled as their openers have failed to give them good start middle order also failed to support them. Mumbai Indians bowling also looked average in absence of Lasith Malinga while Mitchell Johnson struggled very badly in first round.

Mumbai Indians Skipper Rohit Sharma

But good rhythm of opener Dwayne Smith, skipper Rohit Sharma, all-rounder Kieron Pollard and pacer Nathan Coutler-Nile helped Mumbai Indians to help them qualify. Mumbai Indians will face their Trinidad & Tobago in the semi-final at Delhi. Mumbai Indians have to play like a team to beat the strong Trinidad & Tobago who are yet to lose a match in the Champions League T20.

Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals led by the cool and calm skipper performed brilliantly in the first round of the Champions League Twenty20. Rajasthan Royals were on the lucky side as they got to play all of their league matches to be played on their home ground at Jaipur. They cashed this opportunity and won all four league matches to cement their place in semi-finals which is also to be played at Jaipur.

Brad Hodge Star for Rajasthan Royal in champions League Twenty20

Rajasthan Royals got support from all key players to win matches and they didn’t look too dependent on a single player. They found a new match winner in every match they played in the first round. As they are going to face their opponent their Fortress so they are favorite to get into the finals.  

Trinidad & Tobago

Only team from Trinidad & Tobago have played very good cricket and made into the semi-finals without losing a single game. This team has a right blend of fast bowlers and spin bowlers which helped them to play good cricket and insure their place in semifinals. Dinesh Ramdin has led this team and insured that the absence of star players didn’t hurt the chances of their team in the Championship.

Trinidad & Tobago in Champions League Twenty20 2013

Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, E Lewis and mystery spinner Sunil Narnie all have played very important role for Trinidad and Tobago to get into semi-final. They will face Mumbai Indians in the semi-finals which is a equally strong team so they have to play like did against Chennai Super Kings.

SEMI-FINAL SCHEDULE CL-T20

 

Date	Match	Venue
04-10-13	RR v/s CSK	Jaipur
05-10-13	T&T v/s MI	Delhi

In the first semi-final Rajasthan Royals will take on Trinidad & Tobago at Jaipur. While in the second semi-final two of the strongest IPL teams Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will face each other at Delhi.

Champions League-T20 Final Prediction

 

Looking at the current form and the playing conditions Rajasthan Royals have upper hand over the Chennai Super Kings as Rajasthan is going to play at their fortress Sawai Maan Singh Stadium, Jaipur. In second semi-finals Mumbai Indians have played more games at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium at Delhi so they definitely have upper edge over their opponent in the semifinals.

Date	Teams	Venue
06-10-13	RR v/s MI	Delhi

 

What is your prediction for Champions League Twenty20 finals ? Who is going to face whom in the CL-T20 finals ? Drop your views and response in the comment box.