As an aside, why is that Badri’s contribution in the match against DDD was less talked about. I for one felt that he played really really well, after being quiet for 3 overs (7, 8 and 9). Badri contributed in a big way on the subsequent launch. With all this I was saddened to see Indian Express having a photograph of Raina in their sunday edition. Sigh!

Though I don’t have loyalty to any one team, I feel that reports are biased towards a subset of players. No wonder blogs like fakeipl feed the curious.

I had no sense of loyalty towards any team last year. I am struggling this year too! So I just sit back and watch the carnival in a dispassionate manner. It can be fun too!

Dhoni needs to junk Joginder Sharma for Thilan Thushara. Morkel needs to then make way for an additional bat (Arun Karthik), who needs to bat in Badrinath’s place with Badri coming in ahead of Dhoni. These few simple changes will do it for CSK.

Mohan

MSD is his own man. He has not deferred to ‘Seniors”in Team India. (Mohali Test Vs Aus, II Innings, a case point). I would imagine, he runs the CSK Team in the same way. In view of this, I would not be too critical of Fleming even if he were to influence these decisions.

In any case, coaches can influence the outcome only so much. Tactical, on field blunders are the captain’s baby.
When you get the credit for being ‘in control’ and the calmness ‘rubbing off on the team’ you lead, it is fair that you get panned for a no-show. The only coach Rajasthan Royals had last year was called Volvo,who waited in the parking lot for his players.

CSK look like a bunch of old men waiting for the 20 overs to end. This was not the same team which one saw in the initial stages of last year’s tournament

Coudn’t agree more. MSD is not “God” yet and so is not above criticism (even God isn’t spared when he has a ‘slump in form’ according to the pundits). He has not taken a single right decision in this second round. Also I have a feeling that Flems in his first attempt as a coach might be coming with lousy strategies – he does not know any of the Indian players and their potential – not sure if he is involved in team selection. Badri is the only player who is quite adept in playing all three forms but he is so underutilised and sent in wrong position that he is made to look incompetent – that’s not his fault – the fault lies purely and completely at MSD’s doorstep. How many failures does Parthiv need before being thrown out of the team? Vijay should replace Parthiv. Badri should go after Raina followed by Oram (if he is in) and then MSD to come. MSD has lost all his power strikes he had when he started playing int’l cricket. Same for Joginder – what’s he doing in the team when spinners are doing so well? Where is Ashwin – the guy can definitely bat better than Joginder. If Srinivasan doesn’t step in and get the team selection right, he is sure to lose his millions and marbles.

CSK going down in the last over is not a tribute to fighting ability – it only means they are not having enough on the board, in time.

I beleived in early 2008 somewhere in Australia, MSD realised that the bowlers have worked his game out and has moulded his game accordingly.Eschewing risk in favour of singles works for Team India in ODIS not CSK in T20s. While Ganguly and Dravid have been insulted by two pence half penny commentators, it would pay note that MSD is getting not more than a run a ball, which is way below par on this format. Sadly the pied pipers fail to point this out, when not losing an opportunity to say “Rahul Dravid needs time to build up steam” and the like. Hypocrisy at its worst.

MSD, when leading India has shown himself to be tactically very nimble. However, his bull headedness is letting the team down. For instance,

1. The continued underutilisation of Badrinath ( who got 2 fifties in less than 40 deliveries when given the chance in 2008). So there is proof. I only hope Dhoni does not have anything against his batsman. Badri should bat at 4 in EVERY match if CSK were to stay alive in the competition.

2. One dimensional bowling – Gony, Oram, Morkel – All trot up a few paces and release the ball. Sadly MSD refuses to even consider spin option from the local talent.

3. Freddie Flintoff is in a batting slump. He is being sent up to justify his price.

4. MSD is no number 4. LEt him not flatter himself.

5. Parthiv and Joginder – whatever are they doing in the team. They should have been shown the door last year.

I feel no loyalty to this badly led and awfully managed team. It has a very strong core group of players but are not doing well, thanks to very basis tactical errrors.

I and would rather root for teams which are putting their best foot forward.

1. DC – Born again
2. MI – Sachin to prove a point
3. DDD- Sheet natural ability

The one other point is that with spin doing so well pretty much in all the matches we should have one more spinner aiding Murali. Even today in addition to the part time bowling of Raina, if we had another spinner, it might have been an interesting option.