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On a high after sealing a playoffs berth, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) would aim for a top-two finish when they take on Kings XI Punjab in an <keyword id="6354831" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Premier-League">Indian Premier League</keyword> (IPL) match here on Tuesday. 
 
KKR bounced back in resounding fashion from their back-to-back defeats when they scripted a facile six-wicket win over hapless Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru on Sunday.

IPL 2017, KXIP vs KKR:
Kolkata aiming for a top two finish as they take on Punjab

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s rout against Mumbai Indians now means that Kings XI Punjab is the only unbeaten side left in <keyword id="3790674" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipl-2017">IPL 2017</keyword>. They beat RPS in <keyword id="470051" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Glenn-Maxwell">Glenn Maxwell</keyword>’s first game as captain and followed that up with another comfortable home victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Looking to make it 3 wins in a row- they take on KKR tonight.

IPL 2017, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab: Shakib Al Hasan to replace injured Lynn

On Tuesday, Kolkata Knight Riders will continue their fairy-tale run in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League with their Qualifier against pre-tournament favourites Kings XI Punjab. KXIP dropped just six points on their way to the Play-offs, while the 2012 champions began their campaign on a horrid note, picked up in the middle and made it into the last four thanks to a seven-match winning streak.
 

	Four players have played a crucial hand in their dramatic turnaround, and will hold the key in putting it past KXIP in front of a capacity crowd at their home ground, the Eden Gardens.
 

	Robin Uthappa
 Much like other teams, <keyword id="6354544" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="KKR">KKR</keyword> were also chopping and changing in their bid to find the right eleven players during the UAE leg of the tournament, a period during which they suffered. The opening combination didn't fit with Gautam Gambhir in woeful touch and Jacques Kallis failing to find fifth gear, while Manish Pandey and Manvinder Bisla couldn't answer the call. UAE leg over, and Uthappa was pushed to open the innings and to the average fan, he single-handedly scripted the turnaround. 

	Since opening the innings, Uthappa has gone on to topple Glenn Maxwell and Dwayne Smith to become the leading run-scorer with an envious run of form: 47, 65, 47, 46, 80, 40, 67, 83* and 41 have been his previous nine innings. Uthappa has been the backbone of KKR's batting thanks to which big-hitters like Shakib Al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan have flourished. Against KXIP, he will be the key to flatten a KXIP side who have been on a roll of their own.
 

	Sunil Narine
 

	The West Indian was retained by the franchise for a very specific reason, and he hasn't disappointed. Narine is the best on show as far as his craft is concerned, and remains a threat against any team thanks to his deadly accurate offspin. In the two previous games against KXIP, Narine had figures of 3 for 24 and 1 for 30 from his four overs. While KKR couldn't get over the line in Abu Dhabi, they managed to do so in Cuttack. Narine has also been the tournament's leading wicket-taker so far, tied on 20 from 13 games with Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
 

	While Bhuvneshwar's Sunrisers Hyderabad have been eliminated, Narine has a chance to consolidate his position further. While he hasn't taken wickets with as much regularity as he would have liked, teams have found it difficult to score against him. Gambhir has used him intelligently - Narine bowls two, sometimes three overs at the back end of the innings and that's where teams have struggled against him. In addition to his 20 scalps, Narine has been the most economical too, going at 6.00 runs per over. Only twice have KXIP not managed to score over 150 in completed innings, and both have come against the bowling attack featuring Narine.
 

	Yusuf Pathan
 

	KKR's batting order worries in the UAE were not only attributed to the top order, but the failure of their middle order to hold them together. Yusuf Pathan showed glimpses of his old spark in a defeat to Chennai Super Kings, but the Yusuf known for his belligerence was missing.
 

	Against SRH at Eden Gardens, however, Yusuf rose to the occasion with a blistering 72 from just 22 balls that took his team home in a big chase in just 14.2 overs. KKR had given themselves two chances at the final, and while everything else fell into place since returning to India, the spark in Yusuf that was missing ensured they were firing on all cylinders.
 

	Yusuf had tore into Dale Steyn for 26 in an over, and how he counters the pace of Mitchell Johnson and co. could determine the outcome of the fixture.
 

	Shakib Al Hasan
 

	Two agonizingly close defeats to Rajasthan Royals - the one with the Super Over and the other that featured the implosion - had threatened to derail KKR's campaign, but the Bangladesh allrounder ensured they came close. Since then, though, Shakib has played an important part in some of KKR's victories with both bat and ball.
 

	Shakib is has been second best only to Narine in terms of economy rate, and has broken crucial stands with his left-arm spin, providing an able back-up to Narine from the other end. His hard-hitting innings of 60 and 46* ensured victories over Royal Challengers Bangalore and CSK, keeping KKR's winning streak unbroken. Together with Narine, he will be tasked with keeping a big-hitting KXIP batting line-up at bay, and batting at No 5 to see the team to either a big total or home in a chase.

IPL: KKR's Fantastic Four Who Will Be Key In The Last Four

<ul><li><keyword id="10177413" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-khichdi-experiment">The Khichdi Experiment</keyword> by Ola Foods is one of the fastest growing brands.</li><li>The cloud kitchen brand has already crossed the landmark figure of 1 million+ orders.</li><li> Through KPL, Ola’s Khichdi Experiment continues to share the success story of the brand and advocates the melange of Cricket and Food strongly.</li></ul>The Khichdi Experiment by Ola Foods, the food-first company and a part of Ola – steps up the excitement of this ongoing IPL season with its signature Khichdi variants along with catchy anthems for each of the eight IPL teams under the new campaign <keyword id="10177414" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="khichdi-premiere-league">Khichdi Premiere League</keyword> 2020. The campaign aims to uphold the spirit of cricket and take the whole match-day snacking experience to a new level. With revivification in progress, in the Covid times, the Cricket world in India is enjoying the 13th season of <keyword id="1219822" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Indian-Premier-League">the Indian Premier League</keyword> that is being played away from the shores of the nation, in the UAE. While the match-watching experience has been restricted owing to the social distancing norms, the IPL fever remains the same and the fans never fail to celebrate the potpourri of Cricket and Food. Interestingly, as people have adjusted to the new way of enjoying the match from the comfort of their homes, by offering food that is wholesome, exciting and adding on to tadka of supporting the team spirit, one can take the whole IPL experience to a new level. Every khichdi is unique in its ingredients and taste, therefore embodying the regional flavours of the state that these teams represent. From RCB’s Bisi Bele Bath to KKR’s Bengali Panch Phoran Khichdi, the KPL offers an exciting array of Khichdi variants infused with the modern twist of flavours and the excitement of Cricket. Few other notable variants includes a modern fusion such as Mumbai Indian’s Pav Bhaji Khichdi, Rajasthan Royal’s Leshun Aur Hare Pyaaz Ki Khichdi, CSK’s Sambar Khichdi, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Khatte Dal Ki Khichdi and KXIP &amp; Delhi Capital’s Langarwali and Tadkewali Khichdi respectively. As part of this campaign, Ola Foods has also customized and curated catchy anthems for the Khichdi variant of every IPL team. Tune in to the KPL anthem and indulge in a ride of flavours supporting your team on a match day with your bowl of Khichdi. Khichdi Experiment has also launched a social media campaign ‘Apna Game, Apni Khichdi’, which is currently underway and includes fun filled engagements such as a series of contests to keep the conversation brewing between Food and Cricket. Users are creating their own videos using the khichdi anthems to show support to their favourite team. Social media is abuzz with rap karaoke, dance steps and lip sync videos featuring the team’s khichdi anthems. As India watches this IPL season from the comfort of their living room, Khichdi Experiment by Ola Foods is adding to the much needed excitement with KPL. The Khichdi Experiment by Ola Foods is one of the fastest growing brands and is the category leader in the segment. The cloud kitchen brand has already crossed the landmark figure of 1 million+ orders and is consistently rated high by consumers across all food delivery platforms. Through KPL, Ola’s Khichdi Experiment continues to share the success story of the brand and advocates the melange of Cricket and Food strongly. <div type="Youtube" id="hG9TUQTzBfI" title="Khichdi Premier League | Bengaluru Anthem" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hG9TUQTzBfI/mqdefault.jpg"></div> <div type="Youtube" id="EcoA47BSePQ" title="Khichdi Premier League | Chennai Anthem" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EcoA47BSePQ/mqdefault.jpg"></div> <div type="Youtube" id="FFXgWGCURbQ" title="Khichdi Premier League | Punjab Anthem" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FFXgWGCURbQ/mqdefault.jpg"></div> <div type="Youtube" id="e469cQZWQAY" title="Khichdi Premier League | Delhi Anthem" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e469cQZWQAY/mqdefault.jpg"></div>

Ola Food launches Khichdi Premier League to bring India's love for comfort food and cricket together

The seventh edition of the Indian Premier League produced several memorable moments engineered by uncapped Indian players across the eight franchises. From game-turning to tournament-winning, gocricket.com takes a look at the uncapped players who made a telling impact from their performances during the 2014 season. 
 
Akshar Patel, <keyword id="13883" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kings-XI-Punjab">Kings XI Punjab</keyword> 
17 matches, 62 runs, highest score 42*, 17 wickets, economy 6.13, best bowling 3/24 
 
The Gujarat left-arm spinner, 20, impressed with his control and variation for KXIP right from the first game and went on to feature in all the games ahead of the much-experienced Murali Kartik, finishing with 17 wickets, one behind Sandeep Sharma and tied with Mitchell Johnson for the franchise. His economy rate of 6.13 was a tournament best among players with more than three games and even bettered that of Sunil Narine, which gave a sense of the hold he kept during the middle overs. His 42* against Delhi Daredevils took KXIP to victory in a tense chase which highlighted his all-round skills. He was later rewarded with a call-up to the national side for the ODI series in Bangladesh. 
 
Manan Vohra, Kings XI Punjab 
8 matches, 324 runs, strike rate 139.05, highest score 67 
 KXIP retained the uncapped Manan Vohra, showing faith in the Punjab batsman after he promised in his debut season in 2013. But Vohra wasn't part of the playing XI in the first half of the tournament as KXIP preferred Cheteshwar Pujara over him to partner the volatile Virender Sehwag. Pujara was replaced by Mandeep Singh, and it was only after Mandeep's failure that Vohra finally got his chance against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a game where he produced an eye-catching knock that included two sixes off Dale Steyn. He cemented his place after that and reserved his best for the last, as his 67 anchored KXIP in the <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> final. Vohra showed big-match temperament, but will have to improve on his running between wickets. 
 
Sandeep Sharma, Kings XI Punjab 
11 matches, 18 wickets, economy 8.81, best bowling 3/15 
 
KXIP emerged the biggest contributor to the 'best uncapped players' list with Sandeep Sharma becoming the third entry from the team. Sandeep was the pick of the KXIP fast bowlers with 18 wickets from 11 games and made an impact immediately after he was drafted into the team. His opening spells proved pivotal as he swung the new ball to snare early wickets, twice dismissing Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli off successive balls. He wasn't as effective when the ball didn't swing, going for plenty in the final few games indicating inexperience. Still 20, Sandeep will become a better bowler by adding an extra yard of pace and with experience. 
 
Yuzvendra Chahal, <keyword id="12643" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers">Royal Challengers</keyword> Bangalore 
14 matches, 12 wickets, economy 7.01, best figures 2/17 
 
In a tournament that will be remembered for its legspinners, Yuzvendra Chahal was one of the standout exponents, proving to be the bright spot in a forgettable season for RCB. Chahal's exploits playing junior level chess for India were often spoken about, hinting at his ability as a thinking bowler. Chahal picked up 12 wickets and bowled with great accuracy, holding his own against some of the hardest hitters in the game. Karanveer Singh, the KXIP legspinner, warrants special mention as he picked up 11 wickets from just the five games he played, and even though he went for runs in the final, he ended up with four key wickets. 
 
Karun Nair, <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> 
11 matches, 330 runs, strike rate 142.24, highest score 73* 
 
Rajasthan Royals have showed the propensity to unearth promising talent in the IPL, and this season was no different as Karnataka batsman Karun Nair made handy contributions opening the innings with Ajinkya Rahane. Two of Nair's major contributions came in games where other RR batsmen were found wanting, against RCB and Mumbai Indians. Against MI in the last league game, it was on the back of Nair and Sanju Samson's crucial partnership that helped RR post a big total. 
 
Pravin Tambe, Rajasthan Royals 
13 matches, 15 wickets, economy 7.26, best figures 4/20 
 After impressing in the 2013 Champions League, 42-year-old Tambe earned a first-class debut for Mumbai last season, before ending the season with an impressive IPL 7. The legspinner was difficult to put away as he finished the tournament with 15 wickets and took the first hat-trick of the season in a match-winning effort against <keyword id="6354467" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kolkata-Knight-Riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</keyword>. He made the list just ahead of fellow legspinner Karn Sharma, who had an equally impressive season for Sunrisers Hyderabad, but played one game more for his 15 wickets. 
 
Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai Indians 
11 matches, 5 wickets, economy 7.58, best figures 2/22 
 Mumbai Indians direly missed the services of Lasith Malinga after he left to join Sri Lanka for the tour of England, but Gujarat pacer Jasprit Bumrah filled in admirably for his more illustrious teammate. Bumrah finished with just five wickets from 11 games, but he bowled plenty of overs in the Powerplay as well as in the death, and led the line in the absence of the injured <keyword id="12644" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Zaheer-Khan">Zaheer Khan</keyword> first and Malinga later. His ability to fire in yorkers consistently with an unorthodox action meant he kept things quiet with a tournament economy of 7.58. 
 
Manish Pandey, Kolkata Knight Riders 
16 matches, 401 runs, strike rate 117.94, highest score 94 
 
After arriving in the IPL with a century five years ago, Manish Pandey's contributions largely went unnoticed in between. This season, however, Pandey benefited from being a consistent member of the side and the clarity of being KKR's No 3 batsman. He made handy contributions throughout the tournament but brought out his best in the final. His game-changing 94 in a chase of 200 took KKR to their second IPL title and earned him a Man-of-the-Match award. 
 
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The Best Uncapped Players Of IPL 7

New Delhi: While all the early spotlight of Kings XI Punjab's success story in <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> 7 was hogged duly by the batsmen, Glenn Maxwell in particular, the bowlers too have come to the party for the Mohali-based franchise. KXIP heads home after an eventful UAE leg during which they were unbeaten, winning all five matches, and it is not just because of the big-hitting Maxwell, but a major contribution to the streak has been provided by the 20-year-old medium pacer Sandeep Sharma. 
 
With two back-to-back Man-of-the-Match awards, the Punjab pacer is very quickly becoming one of the vital cogs of this KXIP team, and this after not being picked for the first two games. Delhi medium-pacer Parvinder Awana was the original choice, but after he leaked75 runs in seven overs from the first two games, Sandeep got his chance and he seized the opportunity with both hands. 
 
He followed up his match winning 4-1-21-3 against Kolkata Knight Riders two nights ago with an even better figures of 3-1-15-3 against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Dubai on Monday. A swing bowler by trade, Sandeep is not the typical tall and strapping fast bowler one would associate with Punjab, but the hunger for doing well and the confidence is exudes is definitely very Punjabi. 
 
Against KKR, Sandeep got the better of a struggling Gautam Gambhir and an in-form Manish Pandey with his swing. While Pandey got a sharp indipper off a good length area, Gambhir could not cover for the away swing hitting the length ball straight to mid-off. On Monday too, against the marauding Chris Gayle, the 20-year-old did not shy away from bowling the ball up and he reaped the rewards when the ball swung away from the bat of the big West Indian and crashed on to the stumps. 
 
Kohli too was undone in a similar fashion to Pandey with the RCB skipper not able to connect to a sharp inswinger. Sandeep knows his strengths and to get his captain's full support has been the secret of Sandeep's success. "I can swing the ball very well. I know that and Bailey [George] is showing full faith in me," Sandeep had said after the KKR match and during the post-match presentation after RCB game too, Sandeep has nothing new to say only adding that he can swing the ball both ways. 
 
A mid 130-135 kmph bowler, Sandeep is not express pace and he has always stressed on the fact that he will not comprise on his swing in order to up his pace. He said this after the India Under-23 team lifted the Asia Cup in 2013. Sandeep was part of the India squad taking seven wickets from four matches. 
 
Sandeep was also part of two India under-19 World Cup squads - 2010 and victorious 2012. While in 2010, the very young 16-year-old Sandeep failed to make an impression, in 2012, under the leadership of Unmukt Chand, he charted a path of his own taking 4 for 54 in the final against Australia and ended the tournament with 12 scalps. 
 
Punjab Ranji call-up beckoned and amongst the established names like Siddharth Kaul and Manpreet Gony the talented Sharma was at his best. With 39 and 41 wickets respectively in the previous two Ranji seasons there is not doubt in the 20-year-old calibre and now with stellar performances against the world's best in the grand IPL stage, the medium-pacer has surely caught everyone's eyes. 
 
During his debut IPL season in 2013 with KXIP, Sandeep played just four games and returned with eights wickets including the likes of Kieron Pollard, Mahela Jayawardene, David Warner and Cameron White. This year, he has done even better and has helped his team win matches. While the credit for the first three victories of KXIP goes to the big-hitting Maxwell, Sharma has stepped up to the plate when the batting failed and with the IPL 7 returning to familiar territories, Sandeep will be all set and raring to show what he is made of at home.

IPL: Sandeep Sharma On The
Fast Lane To Recognition

With IPL 7 moving into the business end, the big-ticket players are taking centerstage but there are some uncapped Indian players who have matched the international star cast in their performances so far. Here, gocricket.com takes a look at the top five uncapped players who have surprised everyone in IPL 7. 
 
Yuzvendra Chahal - seven innings, eight wickets, economy 5.96 
 Picked up for Rs 10 lakh, the legspinner has not only justified his place in the star-studded playing XI of <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword>, but has done remarkably well for the franchise. Chahal has been preferred ahead Muttiah Muralitharan and has reaffirmed RCB's faith by claiming seven wickets from seven matches, most importantly at a miserly economy of 5.26 runs per over. The 23-year-old's guile has left many big players in a tizzy and he has so far reaped the rewards flighting the ball up to the batsmen. His bowling against <keyword id="6354884" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Delhi-Daredevils">Delhi Daredevils</keyword> and <keyword id="13880" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Mumbai-Indians">Mumbai Indians</keyword> in the UAE were exemplary performances, for which Chahal won one Man-of-the-Match prize and deserved a second. 
 
Suryakumar Yadav - eight innings, 127 runs, average 42.33 
 Suryakumar Yadav played just one game in the IPL for Mumbai Indians last year and scored a duck, but glimpses of his a hard-hitting pedigree were on view at the <keyword id="6360761" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Champions-League">Champions League</keyword> Twenty20 later in the year, and <keyword id="6354467" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kolkata-Knight-Riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</keyword> roped him in for 70 lakh and slotted him as a finisher in their XI. Despite KKR's poor run of form, Yadav has managed to string together decent scores - 24*, 34, 31 against RCB, KXIP, RR - coming in during the slog overs. His enterprising brand of strokeplay has lifted the team as well. His 31 off 19 balls helped spark life into the KKR chase in the Super Over match versus <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> and even in the field he has been a live-wire - a total value for money for KKR. 
 
Karun Nair - five innings, 138 runs, average 34.50 
 
Coming into IPL 7 on the back of a stupendous 2013-14 first-class season in which he hit centuries in three successive Ranji Trophy matches for Karnataka, RR decided to be give the 22-year-old a chance in the fourth game after Abhiskek Nayar's continuous failure as an opener. Nair did not start off well scoring 8 and 1, but RR persisted with him and he hit 73 off 50 balls leading his team to a win against Daredevils. In the next game, he contributed a brisk 44 against KKR. Picked up for Rs 75 lakh, Karun has so far proved to be a good gamble for RR and in all probability will continue to open. 
 
Pravin Tambe - eight games, 13 wickets, economy 6.21 
 
IPL's very own Cindarella story. The 42-year-old legspinner has been a revelation in IPL 7 with 13 wickets in eight games, briefly holding the Purple Cap for most wickets. Again part of the RR setup, who have the knack of getting the maximum out of their budget players, Tambe has proved to be the most vital cog in the bowling attack. In IPL 6 Tambe played three matches taking two wickets but it was in the Champions League that he made headlines by picking up 12 wickets in five matches. Getting the services of the Mumbai legspinner by using their right-to-match card at the IPL auctions, RR got it right - and Tambe has proved an excellent purchase for just 10 lakhs. 
 
Akshar Patel - seven innings, six wickets, economy 6.50 
 
While all the talk around KXPI has centred on their explosive batting and foreign imports, the impact of allrounder Akshar Patel has gone by under the radar. Used more as a bowler than a batsman, the left-arm orthodox spinner has been able to provide vital breakthroughs. Patel, 20, features very high among those who have sent down the most dot balls in IPL 7 and has taken six wickets at an economy of 6.50 runs per over. The BCCI Young Player of the Year Award for his stirring performances in Under-19 tournaments in 2012-13, purchased by KXIP for 75 lakhs, is clearing finding his footing among the big boys and should be a regular in the coming matches.

IPL: Five Cut-Price Indians Who've Outshone Pricey Stars

The third week of IPL 7 in India was probably more exciting than the previous two weeks in the UAE thanks to some great individual performances and a big run-in between <keyword id="61632" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kieron-Pollard">Kieron Pollard</keyword> and Mitchell Starc. Here, gocricket.com chronicles the eye-catching events that unfolded over the course of last week. 
 
Tambe spins magic with first hat-trick this season 
 At the age of 42, <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> legspinner Tambe is having the time of his life. Look at his performances in the tournament from day one, he has been nothing short of brilliant. However, this week Tambe took his game to another level and helped RR register a win from an unlikely position against Kolkata Knight Riders in Ahmedabad on May 5. Chasing 171 to win, the Gautam Gambhir-led KKR were cruising at one time at 121 for 0 in 14 overs before RR captain <keyword id="6378477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Shane-Watson">Shane Watson</keyword> took three wickets in an over to provide a big opening for his team. However, it was Tambe's hat-trick in the next over that actually put the nail in KKR's coffin. The wickets of Manish Pandey, <keyword id="18938" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Yusuf-Pathan">Yusuf Pathan</keyword> and Ryan ten Doeschate broke KKR's back badly and they ended up losing the match by 10 runs. Tambe's performance this season has proved that age has little significance nowadays in cricket and that it's fitness and willingness to do well that shapes a player's career. 
 
de Villiers breaks run-drought in style 
 It was long coming. AB de Villiers had an ordinary season prior to <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword>'s game against <keyword id="1494441" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sunrisers-Hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword> on May 4 and when Virat Kohli's men were reduced to 59 for 4 in 10.1 overs chasing 159 to win, it appeared the match was as good as gone for RCB. Against all odds, de Villiers launched a rearguard action and smashed 89* off 41 balls with the help of six fours and eight sixes to see his side home in the last over. While de Villiers punished all SRH bowlers, his face-off with fellow South African and arguably the greatest bowler in the world at present, <keyword id="12829" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dale-Steyn">Dale Steyn</keyword>, will be remembered for many years to come. In the penultimate over of the innings, de Viliers took 24 runs off Steyn, hitting three sixes and a four to turn the match on its head. 
 
Pollard-Starc altercation 
 The game between <keyword id="13880" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Mumbai-Indians">Mumbai Indians</keyword> and <keyword id="12643" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers">Royal Challengers</keyword> Bangalore on May 6 will long be remembered for an ugly altercation between Kieron Pollard and Mitchell Starc. The run-in - towards the end of MI's innings - that saw the West Indian and the Australian almost come to blows, influenced the outcome of the match a great deal as MI took 54 runs off last 20 balls, thanks largely to captain <keyword id="13937" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rohit-Sharma">Rohit Sharma</keyword>'s 59 off 35 balls, to post a mammoth 187 for 5. 
 
The drama began in the 17th over when Starc used some pretty choice language against Pollard after beating him with a bouncer. The West Indian disdainfully signed to Starc to go away, and off the next ball backed away from the crease at the last minute. Starc, instead of stopping himself, followed the West Indian on the legside and almost hit him, leaving a seething Pollard to throw his bat towards the bowler in a menacing way. 
 
However, the West Indian had the last laugh when he took a simple catch at extra cover to send Starc (5) back to the pavilion off the bowling of Lasith Malinga. Not just that, earlier in the match he had also accounted for the dangerous Yuvraj Singh's run out (6) using his footballing skills to great effect. 
 
The IPL Governing Council later on Wednesday fined both Pollard and Starc for breaching its code of conduct. 
 
Maxwell at it once again 
 Orange Cap holder Glenn Maxwell (435 runs in seven matches) fuelled his legend further smashing 90 off 38 balls in Kings XI Punjab's 44-run win over <keyword id="13886" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chennai-Super-Kings">Chennai Super Kings</keyword> on May 7. The Australian put on view the switch-hit several times hitting eight sixes and six fours and it surely was his innings that made the difference. His approach against R Ashwin was particularly impressive. The India offspinner is normally very effective bowling around the wicket, but not against Maxwell on Wednesday evening. The Big Show smashed back-to-back sixes in the 11th over against the India offspinner who looked befuddled not knowing where he should land the ball, bowling two wides to boot. Things changed drastically after Ashwin's over, with KXIP scoring 162 in the last 10 overs to finish on 231 for 4. With the win against MS Dhoni's men, KXIP made it back to the top of the table with six wins in seven matches, while CSK go down to second after their second defeat in eight matches. 
 
Delhi Daredevils' sorry state 
 Delhi Daredevils took the wooden spoon last season and looking at their performance so far it seems another is on their way. The team under Kevin Pietersen looks absolutely spineless, especially in the bowling department. DD's defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders on May 7 was their sixth in eight matches and the way Pietersen ran himself out tells a great deal about his current state of mind. The former England batsman tapped a Shakib-al-Hasan delivery to offside and ran away for a single straight away, head down and without looking at non-striker batsman <keyword id="57265" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Murali-Vijay">Murali Vijay</keyword>. Wicketkeeper <keyword id="2231057" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Robin-Uthapa">Robin Uthapa</keyword> charged towards the ball, picked it up and ran Pietersen out in a flash with Vijay shaking his head in disbelief at the other end. 
 Pietersen's captaincy is also under the scanner for repeatedly not bringing the in-form duo of <keyword id="69475" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="JP-Duminy">JP Duminy</keyword> and Kedar Jadhav up the batting order. Fast bowler Mohammad Shami is another big concern for DD. He is one of the promising bowlers in the country but his performance so far in the tournament is worrying. Four wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 8.34 don't justify his talent. At present, it's hard to imagine how DD are going to turn their fortunes around.

IPL Week 3 Review: Tambe, De Villiers, Maxwell Steal The Show

In terms of ambition, the Champions League T20 was to be the perfect tool to showcase, and popularise, franchise cricket. It was modelled on the UEFA Champions League, with clubs from cricketing nations teaming up for a short T20 event. But into its sixth edition, it hasn't delivered on the promise front. The <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> in India is still the benchmark, and the involvement of international teams somehow fails to pique interest among fans who get behind their local franchises (a reason to include a fourth Indian team). From September 13, however, up until October 4, the disappointments of the England tour will be forgotten, and cricket's shortest format will once again drum up the entertainment before the home season in India gets under way. 
 
In many ways, the timeframe set apart for the Champions League is about perfect for a T20 competition. The IPL lasts two months; back-to-back games in the middle of the Indian summer making it an annual TV soap opera. The expectancy of home advantage is less; teams from South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand make it a more global event, and the chance to see several international players, who could soon be seen being snapped up by several franchises in next year's IPL. The Champions League then is the IPL's poorer cousin, but the unpredictable nature of the competition could make it for interesting viewing. 
 
Chhattisgarh's Raipur International Cricket Stadium will host the six qualifiers featuring Lahore Lions (Pakistan), Mumbai Indians (India), Northern Knights (New Zealand) and Southern Express (Sri Lanka), before the main league kicks off with games scheduled in Hyderabad, Mohali and Bangalore. Gocricket.com takes a look at the teams making up the competition: 
 
Kolkata Knight Riders: The IPL champions gained direct entry into the league stages by virtue of their title triumph a few months ago, but have been hampered by injuries to Morne Morkel and <keyword id="258312" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Chris-Lynn">Chris Lynn</keyword>, who have been ruled out of the tournament, as was Shakib Al Hasan, serving a disciplinary sanction by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The Indian domestic season was over before the IPL meaning several Indian players will be without practice, a situation that forced <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/yusuf-pathan/30001/4096">Yusuf Pathan</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/piyush-chawla/30001/4089">Piyush Chawla</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/manvinder-bisla/30001/27013">Manvinder Bisla</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kuldeep-yadav/30001/4133">Kuldeep Yadav</a> to undergo a boot camp in South Africa. <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/gautam-gambhir/30001/4043">Gautam Gambhir</a>, the inspirational two-time IPL-winning captain, however, is back playing franchise cricket after a nightmarish return to the Indian team on the England tour. Gambhir would have to brush aside that traumatic experience to lead his troops. 
 
Perth Scorchers: Like KKR, Perth Scorchers triumphed at the Big Bash League, but like the Indian franchise, they too come into the tournament with a depleted squad. Simon Katich was their leading run-getter but is not available, nor is Shaun Marsh, who was injured. The franchise will rely heavily on <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mitchell-marsh/1001/27022">Mitchell Marsh</a>, who is coming off a successful trip with the Australian team in Zimbabwe. 
 
Dolphins: Winners of South Africa's domestic T20 competition, Dolphins make their Champions League bow under former South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Morne van Wyk, who has previously turned out for KKR. With <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/david-miller/8001/8076">David Miller</a> opting to play for Kings XI Punjab, the Dolphins squad will miss the services of their explosive batsman, but <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kyle-abbott/8001/29036">Kyle Abbott</a>'s presence in the bowling line-up gives them some international quality. 
 
Barbados Tridents: The 2014 Caribbean Premier League champions will be without <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dwayne-smith/26001/10043">Dwayne Smith</a>, Shoaib Malik and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kieron-pollard/31001/10060">Kieron Pollard</a> but still have enough quality to surprise bigger teams. Zimbabwe's hard-hitting ODI captain <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/elton-chigumbura/11001/11033">Elton Chigumbura</a>, James Franklin and <keyword id="1319274" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Dilshan-Munaweera">Dilshan Munaweera</keyword> will bolster the batting, while Ravi Rampaul will lead the bowling attack. 
 
Kings XI Punjab: KXIP turned out to be the surprise package of the IPL and despite falling short of a maiden title, turned heads with their all-round performances. Despite an injury to Sandeep Sharma, who was a revelation with the new ball, the KXIP line-up screams quality under the astute leadership of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/george-bailey/29001/26015">George Bailey</a>. Add to that the explosive batting order comprising <keyword id="7567" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Virender-Sehwag">Virender Sehwag</keyword>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/glenn-maxwell/29001/36006">Glenn Maxwell</a>, David Miller and Thisara Perera. 
 
Hobart Hurricanes: Bailey's absence from the Hurricanes has given discarded Australian wicketkeeper-batsman <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/tim-paine/1001/1088">Tim Paine</a> a chance to step up. Former Pakistan captain <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shoaib-malik/7001/7011">Shoaib Malik</a> will give the side important advice about playing on subcontinent surfaces, while Chennai Super Kings' pace bowling duo – Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus – would know a thing or two about their former team. Aiden Blizzard and Ben Dunk add muscle to their batting order. 
 
Cape Cobras: After falling two runs short of the Ram Slam T20 title, Cape Cobras will be out to go one better at the Champions League with a team full of South Africa's top players. Justin Ontong has at his service the class of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/hashim-amla/8001/8034">Hashim Amla</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/jp-duminy/8001/8053">JP Duminy</a> and Vernon Philander, and their most successful domestic spinner, Dane Piedt. Veterans Justin Kemp and Robin Peterson are sure to lift the team with their all-round skills. 
 
Chennai Super Kings: CSK are out to emulate Mumbai Indians by attempting a second title. Free from international duty, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ms-dhoni/26001/4057">MS Dhoni</a> will look to his franchise to give his much-criticised captaincy a boost. Their all-round T20 skill under the Indian captain makes them one of the most feared sides in the competition. 
 
Besides the sure-shot contenders, four teams will contest the qualifying stages with two of them set to go through: 
 
Mumbai Indians: The defending CLT20 champions had to endure a difficult IPL but emerged late to snatch fourth place to earn a shot at a title defence. For majority of the competition, MI suffered by failing to field the right combinations and captain Rohit Sharma's absence means fellow seniors like Kieron Pollard, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/harbhajan-singh/31001/4008">Harbhajan Singh</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/lasith-malinga/31001/9036">Lasith Malinga</a> will have to step up. Star signing Corey Anderson's lack of form was a subject of great debate during the competition, but his game-changing 94 against Rajasthan Royals proved how dangerous the side could be with the big players firing. 
 
Lahore Lions: Pakistan's T20 champions had to endure a difficult passage into India with a visa delay, but on match day, their quality is set to leave an impact on the competition. The absence of Pakistani players from the IPL means the Lions will lend additional charm to the event, and the team is full of quality with six Pakistan internationals – <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ahmed-shehzad/7001/7070">Ahmed Shehzad</a>, Umar Akmal, Nasir Jamshed, Aizaz Cheema, Wahab Riaz and captain Mohammad Hafeez. 
 
Nothern Knights: <keyword id="13837" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Daniel-Vettori">Daniel Vettori</keyword>'s withdrawal from the competition wouldn't affect the side that already boasts of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kane-williamson/6001/6071">Kane Williamson</a>, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, BJ Watling and Ish Sodhi, the fulcrum of the revival in New Zealand cricket. Scott Styris brings in years of experience, most importantly of having played in India on several occasions. 
 
Southern Express: Without Lasith Malinga and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/tillakaratne-dilshan/9001/9034">Tillakaratne Dilshan</a>, the Sri Lankan side does look weak but expect them to fight tooth and nail. The familiarity with conditions in the subcontinent will make them a force to reckon with.

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