ANOTHER SEASON of the IPL has just come to a close, after a fitting finale between the Bangalore Royal Challengers and the Deccan Chargers. The Chargers were the better team on the day and from being the wooden spooners last year, they have climbed all the way to the top this year. What a transformation it has been from this group of amazingly talented players! A team touted to be one of the strongest on paper actually delivered, and how!
Super Shane and the road to glory
What is so strikingly similar bout the two editions of the IPL, is the fact that two Australians were instrumental in guiding their teams to the podium. Let’s consider IPL 2008, and it is not difficult to see that Shane Warne, a legend himself, mentored his side so magnificently. Local talents like Swapnil Asnodkar and Munaf Patel flourished under him. And we all know what Yusuf Pathan, Sohail Tanvir and Shane Watson did. This deadly trio of players delivered knockout punches to the opposition in almost every game. Sohail Tanvir won the purple cap and Shane Watson was player of the tournament.
Warne never let his legendary status overhaul his bonding with the team. His attachment with each and every single player was special. He groomed them, and made them a bunch of winners. He himself bowled some crucial overs and picked up wickets at the right time as well. Warne did not allow the barriers of language hinder him. He gave nicknames to each player according to the roles they played, instilled confidence when one was down, be it with a friendly pat on the back or with words of encouragement from mid off or mid on.
Even this year, Ravindra Jadeja and Kamran Khan contributed handsomely to the team’s cause. The latter was unfortunately quarantined because of a suspect bowling action. The Royals also missed Sohail Tanvir and Shane Watson and bowed out at the group stages itself.
Awesome Adam!
What can one say about Adam Gilchrist. He would easily make it to any All Time XI list with ease. The man who almost single handedly won two world cups for Australia is not at all a stranger for the big occasion. In fact, he thrives in big match situations. The Delhi Daredevils will second this statement after the mauling they received in the semi final. Gilly was second in the orange cap standings only behind Matthew Hayden.
Even with Gilly’s team, it was not a one man show. He along with Darren Lehmann (Coach of Deccan Chargers) groomed local talents and potential superstars into match winners. Take for instance Rohit Sharma, whose form poor in India’s ODI series against New Zealand just before the IPL. RP Singh was not a part of India’s ODI team.
The IPL saw a total change in the fortunes of these two players. RP Singh was the tournament’s best bowler and the purple cap rests on his head now. We all will not forget in a hurry how Rohit Sharma destroyed Mashrafe Mortaza in the last over of that match against the Knight Riders!
Herschelle Gibbs also grew in stature this year, and Ryan Harris was a revelation towards the end. Andrew Symonds made some key contributions as well with bat, ball and on the field. One more noticeable face in the Deccan lineup was Harmeet Singh. This quiet Sardar bowled some stingy spells, most noticeably in the finals, where he picked up two key wickets giving twenty odd runs.
Like Warne, Gilly backed each member in the squad and the result is there for all to see. So in the two IPLs, we have seen two Aussies guiding their teams to the throne. The two Australian legends never captained their country for long, but now, they have shown what they could have done given that role. Ricky Ponting as skipper of KKR next year might do the trick, Mr SRK!
