The fourth edition of the IPL is expected to be ‘fatter’, with a larger purse for every team to buy players, and ‘bigger’, with the introduction of two new teams and 14 more matches. Ironically, though, despite the franchises having more money for distribution, the players might end up earning a lot less than what they did in the first three seasons, especially the first-class cricketers.

For the first time, a salary cap has been introduced for the uncapped players (first-class and under-19 cricketers who haven’t played for India yet). Now their IPL salary will be decided by their seniority in the domestic circuit and not by their performance. There were quite a few domestic players, especially the ones who came back to the BCCI fold from the ICL, who were raking in twice or even thrice as much as the new salary cap. These guys came in with a big reputation of being T20 specialists and hence demanded, and also got, mega bucks. Even the domestic cricketers who performed consistently in the IPL got a considerable hike after every season, which was again at least double the amount of what they stand to earn now. And no wonder that, until the new rules came out, they were negotiating a similar deal for the fourth season.

Now the dynamics have changed completely and instead of passing judgment on its merit, I’d put forth the arguments for you to decide.

Ideally, a person must get what he deserves for his services and that should be decided mutually by the employer (IPL franchisee) and the employee (player). His cricketing status with regards to whether he is good enough to play for India should not hamper his earnings in a domestic league. Also, why should the year of his first-class debut matter while taking a call on his capabilities as a player? Is it even mandatory to be a good first-class cricketer to be a good T20 cricketer? And more importantly, how would you explain to the same player, despite doing ever so well, earning X amount for one season and 1/3rd of it the next season, while the earnings of everyone around him goes up every year. Last but not the least, since he isn’t playing for India and perhaps won’t in the future too, he isn’t earning as much and now it will only come down further.

Perhaps, the idea behind the new rule was to ensure that the importance of playing and doing well in first-class cricket is not wasted on the younger lot. This ruling would ensure that players don’t chuck their first-class careers or dreams of playing for the country to make moolah in the cash-rich IPL. Hitherto, astronomical sums exchanged hands and were promised to even the domestic cricketers, enough make them one-dimensional. This new salary cap tells you in no uncertain terms that you have to don the national colours to earn top dollar and there is no alternative. Besides, IPL 4 may now escape the wrath of the cynics, unlike its precursors, blamed for indulging young cricketers in steep sums.

Also, all the contracts going through the BCCI means that there’d be a standard players’ contract and different franchisees won’t have different rules. A lot of teams have been guilty of riding on players’ ignorance of the laws and paid a lot less than they’d agreed on.

IPL lacked a rule book, and hence an overhaul was imperative to ensure a smooth run for both play and commerce. The redrafting may have settled some contentious issues and answered some basic questions, yet in the process, it may have popped up some more questions of serious concern.

	David Hussey pulls off one of the best catches on the boundary's edge © Indian Premier League

There’s no denying that IPL 2010 has indeed left a bad taste in one’s mouth. Still, the old school romantic in me prefers to turn its back on the cesspool of ‘alleged’ dirty dealings the tournament has got mixed up with. For me, the game is still intact because it is bigger than any given individual, situation or a particular tournament. And so, at the end of this season, I choose to draw my attention to those bits that spelled cricket all the way. While there were a lot more moments but I'd stick to my top five.

David Hussey’s catch: There were quite a few inimitable catches taken in this tournament, but Hussey’s catch to dismiss Paul Collingwood was my favourite for a couple of reasons. First of all, it was a flat shot that didn’t give him too much time to balance himself or react. Second, at one point of time both his feet were in air while pushing the ball back into the playing field. Since both feet were outside the line, had he touched one foot, it would have been a six.

Robin Uthappa’s switch-hit six: What an absolute visual marvel it was to see to Uthappa hit that six off Ajantha Mendis. It’s one thing hitting a reverse-sweep with power behind the shot, but a switch-hit goes one step ahead. You need to change your guard and grip completely and then play like a southpaw. It needed balance, strength and good connection. And it had all three.

Hayden’s Mongoose: The most awaited innovation in modern cricket. The Mongoose has an extremely short blade and a very long handle. The weight taken from the top is distributed in the remainder of the bat which makes it a lot thicker than the normal bat. The toe is three times thicker too. This design increases the bat speed, gives more control and allows the batsman to hit yorkers and low full-tosses with brute force. Hayden unleashed it against Delhi Daredevils at the Kotla and wrecked havoc. But unfortunately the Mongoose made only special appearances in the tournament. Perhaps the old fashioned bat is a better bet especially when you’re not in form.

Praveen Kumar’s hat-trick: Since the batsmen go after the bowling regardless of what happened on the previous ball, taking a hat-trick is a lot easier in this format as compared to the rest. But still it takes some good bowling to take three in three. Praveen did it beautifully against Rajasthan Royals. The highlight of the hat-trick was the juggling act of Manish Pandey to dismiss Sumit Narwal.

Vintage Sachin: This was not an event or a moment, it was an ongoing experience. Sachin reinforced the importance of technique once again. He showed that you don’t need to slog your way to big runs and that it’s possible to perform consistently in this format too. He seemed to have reached the state of Nirvana where he’s reading the bowlers mind or even better; he’s making them bowl where he wants them to. It took him a couple of years to crack the Twenty20 code but voila! When he did, it was pure class.

	Mumbai Indians warmed up for the IPL well before the tournament began, and their preparedness has taken them to the top of the table © Indian Premier League

There was never a question of ‘would they’ or ‘wouldn’t they’. Mumbai Indians just had to go pass the league stage. Right from the outset, they looked a unit with a mission. Those daunting 20 points on the rank table, tell a story that perhaps unfolded a few months ago. No, I am not hinting at the season’s biggest buy Kieron Pollard. Neither am I talking about the obviously in-form Sachin Tendulkar. I am talking about the inherent smart thinking that has assured them, if nothing bigger, a place in the semi-finals.

Interestingly, the four teams that found themselves languishing at the bottom of the chart were heard saying that they didn’t play good cricket at crucial junctures which cost them a place in the final 4. But the point isn’t just that.

The IPL, in its third season, has managed to see different teams gaining and losing ground every year. So, is it only about those few crucial overs that separate a win from a loss? Well, yes and no. The fact is that most teams did precious little in the last three seasons to strengthen their sides. One might argue that they bought good players in the auctions, and that they even scouted for talent from the domestic circuit. But is that enough? Isn’t that the easiest route to find players?

Well, that is perhaps the point most teams missed and Mumbai picked. While Twenty20 may seem to have inherent randomness, the preparation is rather systematic. Right from organising camps to holding practice matches, this outfit has been at the job right from the word go. And all this well in advance.

It is not smart to shut shop once the IPL gets over. But that is exactly what most franchises have been doing all this while.

Well, even now, nothing would happen till as late as after the Champions league, when the fresh auctions happen. But, I daresay that it’ll be too late by then. For one the first-class season kicks off; all the good players will be busy playing for their respective states. Yes, the scouting can be carried out but there’s very little time left to make the players IPL-ready. A player might be good for his state team in different formats but will he be a good player in the IPL is anybody’s guess.

The biggest problem these IPL teams face is the lack of time. The team gets together only a few days prior to the tournament which is clearly not enough. But unfortunately that is not going to change in the years to come. So, what can be done to minimise that handicap? While International cricketers won’t be available, the local talent definitely is.

The trick is to have a structure in place which is operational throughout the year. The beginning would be to find young players who have the ability to hit the long ball or bowl yorkers and slower ones with perfection. They may not be good first class cricketers but a good Twenty20 cricketer doesn’t need to be one. Twenty20 requires a different skill-set and if you tick a few boxes, the rest can be worked upon. And then that academy should put these kids through a tough regimen of physical fitness and specific skills training to make them IPL ready when it comes. A Wasim Akram would only be effective if he gets both quality and quantity time with the bowlers, for I didn’t see much of a difference in KKR’s bowling this season.

We have seen that lesser known players like T Suman and Kedar Jadhav can make an impact, hence there is no harm in investing in them. In any case, they come a lot cheaper than the rest. It’s imperative that the IPL teams don’t see this as a 45-days tournament but a year-long activity, something that the Mumbai Indians have incorporated well in their plan.

It’s about time that franchisees go beyond the first class and under-19 circuits to recruit players. Yes, those players might need more nurturing but I’m pretty sure that it’ll be worth the effort.

	Blinders such David Hussey's involve several hours of practice © Indian Premier League

IPL 2010 may well be about the Mongoose, the inexplicably mammoth fines for slow over-rates, Yuvraj Singh’s incessant form-woes, Sreesanth’s daft flare-up, and other peripherals that have the tendency to become talking points. Yet, there is something about this particular season that reassures me, there is still much cricket left.

Remember that stupendous catch David Hussey took on the boundary line to dismiss Paul Collingwood? Or the one that Doug Bollinger grasped to get rid of the dangerous Yusuf Pathan? And many more such moments of brilliance that strike when you least expect them to. Yes, I am talking about fielding, the one aspect of the game that has been beyond belief during this IPL.

Both these catches were exceptional, involving presence of mind to keep the ball in play, immense core strength to come back into the field of play after stepping out, and above all a lot of practice. While some may dismiss them as flukes, I choose to give credit to the amount of practice involved. Yes, players do practice taking such catches and several other fielding moves in this day and age. While saving runs and taking catches are important in all formats, it is at times, the deciding factor in Twenty20 where the difference between a win and loss is only a few runs.

It’s not only the youngsters who’re raising the bar, seniors are also contributing equally. Remember those sparkling catches by Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid? Dada’s direct-hit to get rid of the hazardous Gautam Gambhir, a quick runner between the wickets, is certainly etched in our minds.

So what has made this turnaround on the field that has made us sit up take notice? Most teams get together only a few days prior to the tournament. There’s only so much a team can do in such a short time. With regards to batting and bowling, it’s mostly about assigning roles to individuals, for if you try to change the way someone plays, there isn’t enough time to imbibe the changes.

The only practical thing that a team can and must do is spend time on getting the fielding right. Last year, at Kolkata Knight Riders, we had spent countless hours in improving our fielding skills: in getting our throws more accurate and getting our slides perfect and even the bare basics such as calling loudly to avoid misunderstandings in the noisy match-situations. Since diving did not come naturally to a lot of players, the coaches had spread mattresses for us to jump on. We were told that at least two players should converge on every ball and try to help each other. We even practiced relay throws in case the situation demanded it. The idea was to cover all grounds with regards to fielding; indeed, every run saved, is a run scored.

Most teams are doing the same this year and the brilliance on the field is an outcome of the efforts put in the practice sessions.

Coming back to Hussey’s and Bollinger’s catches, teams have included that drill in their fielding sessions where you stand next to the rope and try to save the six or catch it, if possible. I saw Jonty Rhodes showing the fielders from Mumbai Indians how to do it. Similarly, Ponting taught us how to line ourselves up while attempting a direct hit. There’s a specific way of throwing which increases the chances of a hitting the stumps. I daresay, Dada might have picked up the basics from him. David Warner would tell his teammates how to cut the angles on the field to cover more ground and also restrict the batsman from taking that all-important extra run.

The IPL has indeed brought together an array of thinking cricketers and coaches. Their attention to detail is what makes them brilliant in specific deartments and they’re happily sharing it with others.

	Yuvraj Singh skies a catch in an attempt to rediscover form © Indian Premier League

Yuvraj Singh’s form, or the lack of it, has been the talk of the town for since the beginning of IPL 2010. The Twenty20 pros Dilshan and Jayasuriya have also already lost their places in their respective sides. And there are others like Kumar Sangakarra, and AB de Villiers who are getting a lot of flak too.

Ever wondered why more than half a dozen good players are struggling to excel in this format? Well, Twenty20 is a ruthless format. It not only magnifies your weakness but also refuses the time to rectify them. So, if you happen to walk into this format without form and confidence or if you happen to hit a rough patch in the middle of the tournament, you’re most likely doomed.

The golden rule of scoring runs is to spend time in the middle. Ideally instead of looking for runs, one should not be averse to paying a few dot balls in the beginning. Then take a few singles and twos before going for boundary shots. In a fifty-over game, you can always make up for the dot balls later but Twenty20 doesn’t give you that luxury.

The construction of a Twenty20 innings is quite different to how it is done in ODIs. Even in a Twenty20 game, one can afford to start slowly. Yet, starting slowly in Twenty20 does not mean playing dot balls, but aiming to take those vital singles.

A strike-rate of 100 is the bare minimum that a batsman should strive for, that too only for the first 6-7 balls. A boundary must follow soon or else you may be jeopardising your team’s chances of scoring big. The only exception to this rule is if you’re blessed to have a Yusuf Pathan-like- batsman at the other end or your team is chasing an insignificant total. Gautam Gambhir found that ally in Dinesh Karthik against the Royals. Karthik’s heroics allowed Gambhir to bide his time. On the contrary, Ganguly tried something similar against Mumbai Indians but unfortunately Gayle wasn’t batting that fluently either and hence he received a lot of flak for playing slowly.

Bowlers too have to put up with form blues. A bowler low on confidence might just bowl a couple of loose balls in the beginning. In a fifty-over game, he might get away with it because the batsmen are not always on the offensive. But in Twenty20, even good balls disappear for fours and sixes, let alone the bad deliveries. So he better be on the spot from the first ball or perish.

But this format also dictates that you fail more often than you succeed. The averages tell the story. Most batsmen average in the mid-20s and only a few in the 30s. I’m yet to see a batsman averaging in 40s in this format. So how do players get back to scoring after a failure or two? Since biding time is not possible in this format, the only way to come back to form is to be positive and take the initiative. You must get to your opposition before they get to you. Certain players hit their way out of trouble, which is considered almost blasphemous in other formats, but in Twenty20, the ones who do so, make the quickest comebacks.

	Kumar Sangakkara might not have a problem in paying $110k, but the Indian recruits are likely to feel the pinch © Indian Premier League

This was perhaps in the offing. Kumar Sangakkara’s ban for a match didn’t really take me by surprise. After being penalized twice in five games for the same offence, the third faux pas just had to be dealt with severely. Yet, it would be too naive for us to take this slip-up as just that. Had it been the case, the mammoth fine of $140,000 would’ve undoubtedly served as a good enough deterrent. Perhaps, there is more to the story than what meets the eye.

Since it takes only four minutes to finish an over, 80 minutes should be enough to finish 20. Two strategic time outs of 2.5 minutes each should then settle the innings at around 85 minutes in total. This time span becomes lesser, if you happen to have spinners in the side, bowling at less than three minutes an over.

But what’s transpiring on the field is quite the opposite. As many as four captains have already been fined once for slow over-rate. This tells us that the estimations aren’t as clear-cut as they sound, at least not in this format. While T20 runs at its own rapid pace, there’s always the danger of a captain going with the flow. But if the captain allows that to happen, the team is doomed. He needs to break the momentum at regular intervals to ensure that the opposition doesn’t run away with the game. And that’s where the problem starts.

Most bowlers take a few extra minutes at the start of a spell, to warm-up, get the run-up and think right, which they make up for in the following overs. Unlike 50-over cricket, where bowlers get to bowl longer spells, in T20, bowling changes are introduced after every couple of overs, which in turn is not always easy on them. While most bowlers mark their run-ups in advance, it’s only natural to be 100% sure every time they start a new spell. Because one no-ball followed by a free-hit can change the complexion of the game. Also, most teams have at least three-four quick bowlers who take a lot more time than the spinners. In ODIs, longer spells from spinners make up for the extra time consumed by the quick bowlers, but four-over spells in T20 are not enough.

To add to a captain’s woes, the noise in the stadium makes it almost impossible for him to convey messages to his out-fielders. But you can also not have the fielders in the right place. Hence, the field change too consumes another couple of crucial minutes. I won’t be surprised if Sangakkara has had a quiet word with the DJ in Mohali to avoid further penalties.
Slow over-rate might have an explanation or two; unfortunately it doesn’t have any real solution, except of course running between the overs and even the deliveries.

While a fine is perhaps the only way to book the guilty, the flip side of it baffles me. The third offence not only led to Sangakkara's ban but also another whopping fine of $250,000. Sangakkara might not have a problem in paying $110k ($20k for the first offence and $40k & $50k for the other two), others in the team, especially the local Indian recruits are sure to feel the pinch shelling out $30,000 each. Some of them are earning no more than a few lakhs for the entire tournament and if they happened to be fined twice, they may take home nothing. One more offence and these players will have to pay from their pockets to play in the IPL. Most franchisees would happily pay the fine, but it’s only a gesture. Since they are not forced to pay, one cannot really hold it against them if they decide otherwise.

"That small-looking thing in the hands of someone as huge as Hayden deceived everyone" © Mongoose

Matthew Hayden allowed his Mongoose bat to run a riot against Delhi Daredevils at the Ferozshah Kotla. Whenever he hit the bat, it stayed hit. But haven’t we already seen Hayden doing exactly the same thing with a regular bat? So what is really the difference between a regular and a Mongoose bat? For starters the blade is remarkably shorter than the regular bat, in fact, 33% shorter to be precise. But it weighs exactly as much as the regular bat. The weight which is taken away from the top is redistributed in the remaining half. It bears a striking resemblance to the bat we use during fielding drills. That bat is a lot lighter than the regular bat which is perhaps one of the reasons for using it. Hitting hundreds of balls during fielding drills takes a toll on the arm and that’s why most people prefer using a smaller bat. Also, since you mostly have to hit a stationary ball, the lack of blade isn’t a concern. A competitive match doesn’t give you such luxuries.

My first look at the Mongoose bat made me believe that the bowlers would easily get through under the bat. Bowling yorkers would prove to be an easy way to get rid of the dangerous man. Perhaps, even the Delhi bowlers thought along similar lines and bowled yorkers. But Hayden had it all planned.

Obviously we didn’t take into account the length of the handle which is remarkably longer to make up for the shorter blade. Looks can be deceiving and that small-looking thing in the hands of someone as huge as Hayden deceived everyone.

Another thing that baffled me was how effective this bat would be on the slow and low subcontinent tracks. Yes, the bat has a bigger sweet spot but what about the balls hitting the bottom of the bat? But my doubts were put to rest when I spoke to the director of the company which produces these bats. According to him the Mongoose bat has three times more wood at the bottom than the conventional bat which allows the batsman to hit even the yorkers and the low full tosses with a lot of power. And it was visible on Friday.

The Mongoose bat not only gives you more control over the willow but also increases your bat speed. The bat speed comes in quite handy when you’re trying to play an aggressive shot.

But the clincher came when the director confirmed the bat is made for playing in Twenty20 cricket and not in the other formats. And the reason for this is the missing top half of the bat makes playing the short-pitched deliveries slightly difficult. It also doesn’t give you any back-up in case of uneven bounce. You either hit the ball or run the risk of getting hit on the body. Obviously then, Hayden is willing to punt in order to hit bigger and better.

Also this bat is not for the people who bank on using the pace of the ball. Hayden’s batting wagon wheel showed that no runs were scored behind point on the off side which suggests that if you have a Mongoose bat in your hands that’s not the area you should be targeting. But that’s a small price to pay for being able to hit the yorkers and low full tosses because not many people are going to provide width in this format.

	A lot of players faced a similar situation (like Jadeja's) in the first edition of the IPL when they were found negotiating with other franchisees despite already signing an MOU with one © Associated Press

‘I hate Ravindra Jadeja. He’s betrayed Rajasthan Royals’, wrote a Rajasthan Royals fan on my Facebook page. ‘Jadeja should be banned for longer’, wrote another on Twitter. I felt bad for him. He reminded me of classic western tragedies and a fallen hero, doomed to a life of retribution, for he fell for the lure. No doubt, he should have been penalized. Yet, I consider the fine just a deterrent, not the solution. Jadeja’s story didn’t come as a shock, for I had seen it all coming and was surprised that no one else did.

A lot of players faced a similar situation in the first edition of the IPL when they were found negotiating with other franchisees despite already signing an MOU with one. Back then, they were let off with a stern warning. Ironically enough, it was never considered an issue, but an aberration.

But ever wondered why players didn’t take the MOU seriously? Well, it wasn’t just plain foolishness. Perhaps, we missed a story there.

The contract stand-off between agents and players has continued to be an eye sore for both the parties for ever now. The latest case in point being boxer Vijender Singh. Apparently, he signed a rather odd contract in which he agreed to share 60% of the revenue generated with the agency. It was a long contract with no option to walk out. And it isn’t just the newbies who’ve succumbed to the pressures. Big guns like Sourav Ganguly, Zaheer Khan, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh too have had their share of unpleasant trysts with legal modalities.

What troubles me is this – why did Vijender agree to such obscene terms?

Well, as kids when you go to an academy the only thing you learn are the nuances of the game. You ask your seniors and coach how to play a certain shot or bowl a certain ball. You never ask them how to find the right agent and how to deal with the media. Neither do the seniors offer you such an advice. But the moment you graduate to the next level you’re suddenly exposed to a world of a different kind. Not only do you face better bowlers and batsmen but also different kinds of pressure from all quarters.

If you perform, even moderately enough, an agent/manager and nowadays the IPL scouts approach you with an unimaginable booty in hand. With cricket fast becoming mercurial in nature, the insecurities loom large on its players. And the agents cash in on just that. A rosy picture is painted and a world, hitherto unseen, is promised to these kids. Would you then blame these teenagers or 20-somethings for falling for it?

But, it’s not only the contracts where players find themselves on a sticky ground. A certain sense of high headedness amongst cricketers has also been a constant media grouse. Even the officials within the board have aired their concern with regards to the priorities of the younger lot. Add to this the danger of success going to a players head and one has a lot of issues to deal with. But are the young players equipped to deal with these non-cricketing issues? My answer is a firm ‘no’.

With the average age of a player making some quick bucks coming down considerably, there’s certainly a need to address these issues. These players need professional help on various quarters. We need a mechanism in place which would reach out to these kids and teach them how to deal with the media, how to choose the agent judiciously, how to honor a contract and its repercussions and above all how to set your priorities right with regards to playing for the country. It may sound a lot of work but England Cricket Board does it efficiently every year. They have a drug menace to deal with and hence to educate their cricketers, they’ve formed a committee which visits every county and speaks to every first-class cricketer. We need something similar keeping our issues in mind. Such mechanism would not only avoid Jadeja-like cases to occur but also will empower players to deal with the over-the-top criticism Jadeja has been subjected to.

	What was the Kings XI Punjab management thinking when they decided to replace Yuvraj Singh with Kumar Sangakkara? © Associated Press

Yuvraj Singh has been replaced by Kumar Sangakkara for the top job of Kings XI Punjab for IPL 3. Some may call it a wise decision to ease off Yuvi from the responsibility of leading the side, which, in turn, may result in him prospering as a player. Some (the right wing people) may take it otherwise – “Alas! Yet another ‘essentially-Indian’ Premier League team is to be led by a non-Indian.”

Well, to the detriment of camping with the rightist, I’d insist that perhaps, for once, the wing might just have a point there. My endorsement of it though is based purely on reasons Greek to them. Of course, unlike them, I’m talking cricket.

Now don’t they say – “When in Rome, do as the Romans do!” Let’s face it – a) seven out of 11 playing members of any given IPL team are Indians, b) The setup, right from the board, management and the owner(s) are all Indians, c) Spectators/viewers are also mostly Indians.
One certainly needs to understand the dynamics of the IPL. While it boasts of a popular lineup of reputed players, it also proves to be a Mecca for domestic players waiting in the wings to make their big International debut of sorts. Playing along side their Indian idols means a world to them and trust me on this; they would go through a wall for them.

They would certainly not appreciate their heroes getting marginalised, or perhaps, getting a raw deal in the hands of a certain ‘foreigner’. I don’t have to remind you of the furore Brendon McCullum’s choice over Sourav Ganguly created in the last IPL. Deccan Chargers may have lifted the trophy, but were an unhappy side when it came to Laxman not being given the place he ought to get.

Most teams, in any case, hire foreign coaches and if the captain too happens to be a non-Indian, the majority of the players in the team (read Indians) feel that they don’t have a representative in the decision-making process. Yet, this isn’t just about high-riding emotions.

Kevin Pietersen, the Bangalore Royal Challengers captain, had a tough time remembering the names of his seven Indian team-mates. Could you then possibly expect him to understand their individual game, their strengths and weaknesses, and to then exploit it lucratively? Perhaps not, which is why, the team called in Anil Kumble to relieve Pietersen of his duties. A move which did them wonders.

The obvious question of how well informed a ‘non-Indian captain’ is about the Indian playing conditions also pops up, especially now that the IPL is all set to move into unchartered territories like Visakhapatnam and Dharamshala.

So what was the Kings XI Punjab management thinking when they decided to replace Yuvi with Sanga? Stats drop a hint.

Yuvraj’s team, in the last two seasons, hasn’t managed to win the trophy and in this corporate world one failure is enough for a few heads to roll. Captain Yuvi’s animated and overtly aggressive behavior on and off field hasn’t found too many admirers either.

Wonder if all this makes for a strong case against him. In fact, a closer look at the team’s performance might tell a different story. Kings XI Punjab hasn’t done as bad as it is perceived to have. After all, they reached the last four in the first season when Yuvi’s team managed to turn it around after a disastrous start. There weren’t in the bottom two in season two either.

Yes, things could have been better but then most things can be! Also a captain is only as good as his team and Punjab were missing a few key players for the most part of the second season. And the impact was there for everyone to see. Even a magician called Shane Warne could do little (in IPL II) when his resources were limited. A captain can make plans, but the execution depends on a concerted team effort.

I’m neither a fan of Yuvi’s leadership skills nor am I a critic of Sanga’s. In fact I think that Sanga is a level-headed guy with a great knowledge of the game. Yet, I may, in the same breath, also voice my utter disappointment of the way he led Sri Lanka in the last couple of months, all thanks to his tactical bloopers. No, I’m still not holding that against him in my assessment of the issue at hand.

The big question here is about the practicality of such a decision. In my opinion, the owners/coach should strongly consider the option of having an Indian leading the IPL team. Exempting an odd exception of the Rajasthan Royals who couldn’t boast of a single big Indian player. Shane Warne was perhaps their biggest catch and hence became the captain by default. But the other teams aren’t facing such a problem.

Perhaps, the Indian/non-Indian issue may become null and void if the captain happens to be a really good one - someone who’d be willing to go that extra yard to ensure that every member of the team is on the same page; someone who’d cross the language/nationality barrier and gain everyone’s confidence.