This IPL is truly open. There was no clear favourite in the beginning, there is no clear favourite now and I wonder whether there ever will be. It seems to be a rule that the teams in the top have simply have to lose to at least one of the teams in the bottom hemisphere. And with not too much difference in the points, a last-gasp win could see you move up five places.
Pune is a case in point. Armed with a reasonably strong side featuring World Cup Player of the Tournament Yuvraj Singh, they hovered in the top four for a while before slumping to six straight losses and are now rock bottom. The other new side Kochi pulled off three big upsets, namely Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata before losing three consecutive games and are now ninth. Chennai did the opposite - they were second from last after two wins and three losses but after winning home and away against Pune and beating Deccan comfortably at home they rose up to fourth.
Adam Gilchrist, the captain of Kings XI Punjab, understands that a side should not briefly play really well, top the group and then slump to defeats and then rely on the points gained earlier to earn them a place in the last four. He said he would prefer to top the table later in the league stage.
The last four stage is more complicated than the traditional semifinals-final method. This year, there will be a 1st vs 2nd positions game (First Qualifer) 3rd vs 4th (Eliminator) then loser of First Qualifier against winner of Eliminator (Second Qualifier). This means that the loser of the First Qualifier will have a chance for redemption if they lose, unlike the old way. However, this system takes time for one to grasp as it is novel, though perhaps more logical.
Looking forward to see some great matches and a deserving winner!
Pune is a case in point. Armed with a reasonably strong side featuring World Cup Player of the Tournament Yuvraj Singh, they hovered in the top four for a while before slumping to six straight losses and are now rock bottom. The other new side Kochi pulled off three big upsets, namely Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata before losing three consecutive games and are now ninth. Chennai did the opposite - they were second from last after two wins and three losses but after winning home and away against Pune and beating Deccan comfortably at home they rose up to fourth.
Adam Gilchrist, the captain of Kings XI Punjab, understands that a side should not briefly play really well, top the group and then slump to defeats and then rely on the points gained earlier to earn them a place in the last four. He said he would prefer to top the table later in the league stage.
The last four stage is more complicated than the traditional semifinals-final method. This year, there will be a 1st vs 2nd positions game (First Qualifer) 3rd vs 4th (Eliminator) then loser of First Qualifier against winner of Eliminator (Second Qualifier). This means that the loser of the First Qualifier will have a chance for redemption if they lose, unlike the old way. However, this system takes time for one to grasp as it is novel, though perhaps more logical.
Looking forward to see some great matches and a deserving winner!
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