Assessment time for the teams who are out of the knock out

IPL was a big hit in South Africa. This also proves that it will always be a hit, wherever it is played. But it brings more excitement when it is played in front of the home crowd.

Now, when all the league matches are completed and only the final and semis are left, it is the time to assess all the teams who are out of the knock out stage.

Knight Riders

Before the start of the IPL, this team was looking good with the likes of Gayle, McCullum, Hussey, Ponting, Ganguly, Mendis, Ishant etc. Especially with big hitters like Gayle and McCullum at the top. These two can take away the game from any opponent with fierce batting. But it didn't happen. Firstly, the controversies about the multiple captaincy theory was taken too much attention. And lastly they fall to single captain. SRK and Mr. Buchanan should take this responsibility of debacle. Why would a person choosed as a captain who hasn't has the prior experience of handling a team with good record? McCullum is a part time captain. He only leads a team when the main is not available. Also, he doesn't have a proven record as part time captain. The captaincy should always be shouldered to a person who knows how to handle his resources and has a bit proven record. McCullum has played in the last season of IPL 2008, but he went back to his national duty. He know little about his resources and thus he was failed with his captaincy. And also the extra responsibility failed him to deliver with the bat.Secondly, the fielding was also a main concern for KKR. It wasn't good enough. Except few, all the players were struggling in the field. The confidence and body language never made opponents feel any kind of threat.

It is now up to the team management to look and start from the scratch for the next year edition(If they want to win).

Mumbai Indians

When the tournament started, it looked like that MI are the best team and can make to the semis very easily. But it was a very short lived dream.They became vulnerable in between. Sachin is undoubtedly the best player. And Sanath as an opening partner makes the team more lethal. But it didn't happened as anyone would have imagined. They lacked a good finisher for the team. I read a column of Harbhajan Singh that a week long break was a problem to lose there momentum. But if they would have continued without such long break then also it would have happened with MI. And the excuse would have, "not enough time to relax and perform". It was the performance which is counted, not the excuses. MI always came closer to win the matches but they lacked a quality finisher. Duminy can be a good batsman but he still need to hold his nerves to become a good finisher.Even the bowling never look good except the international players. Also Sachin's captaincy doesn't came good. I will always love to see Sachin bat at the top and destroy the opponents bowling confidence while he gets going. But it didn't happened this year(except 2 matches).

Pull up your sleeves and look for more talents from the other part of the country for next season.

Rajasthan Royals

The team with a blend mixture of experience, leadership and raw talents. You can never under estimate a team like this. They will come firing next year. RR is team which plays like unit and also have a good thinking leader in Shane Warne. He(Shane) doesn't gives a win to the opponent very easily. But this time around, the players were thrown to a totally different conditions which many would have not played before.The bounce of the wicket and the weather, which, most of the players didn't played before. But still they managed to be on Sixth position. They should have not dropped Kaif from there squad as he was one of the players who knows the SA condition well. Though, he(Kaif) cannot score quickly, he can hold one end to make others to perform.But he was sent back, without having a chance.Also, Smith didn't made to the final eleven in their last league match. It was a blunder made by RR. I hope they will not make these kind of mistakes in the next.

Watch for this team again in the next year IPL.

Kings Eleven Punjab

The team was looking good and had all the abilities to make the final four. But it didn't happened and especially after Mahela got injured. Mahela was key player in the middle order who can play the spin and hit them a long way. But once he(Mahela) got injured, everybody was struggling with the spin and slow bowling. And also they lacked a player who can burdened the responsibilities to see the team through. It wasn't a great show by the Kings. They really need to groom players to the likes of Mahela, who can take responsibility. And then only a good finisher like Yuvraj can perform and take the team to the new highs. Also they should look for a solid start which can give others a solid platform to perform.

Get prepared for the next season and make Priety show her dimples maximum.

Overall , it was a good outing for all the teams and especially to the youngsters who played in a different conditions and has given their best. Its time to move forward and carry on the positives from this year IPL and perform better in the NEXT. All the very best to all the teams for the IPL 2010.

CHEERS