Do or Die matche for both Mumbai Indian & Lions

Its around another 2 hours left for the T20 match between Mumbai Indian and Lions be begin. Both team have already lost their match match of Rajashtan Royals and once match was white washed to different opposition teams. So both teams have 2 points from equal number of matches.

Today both team will enter the stadium to seal their first win of CLT20 as a win here can only keep the hope alive in the tournament.  For the losing team today it would be end of qualifying to the semi-finals whoever for winning team also its not going to be an easy task and they need to win the next match as well and still can't be sure of the semis with Otago Volts team already 4 points ahead of both the teams.

Lets see what happens it the Champions League match today and then see the point table.

Good luck to both the teams and the retiring legend Sachin Tendulkar who is 31 runs short to become the 16 player to score 50,000 runs in all recognized form of cricket. Interestingly he'll be the first Indian to do so.

Thrilling match set up at Ranchi - CSK vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Chennai Super Kings will play their second match at Ranchi. This time they will face a team from IPL. Yes only once match will be played in Champions League T20 at Ranchi between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Chennai Super Kings is being lead by man with golden touch MS Dhoni while Hyderabad team has given the responsibility to man in super form Shikhar Dhawan.

Since dew played a major role in last match, where Chennai team chased 180+ score easily. In match today both captain might prefer chasing the score and bowling might be difficult specially spinner can face trouble bowling a bet ball.

Match will begin at 8 pm IST and both team looks in great form having won the recent matches in style. For Sunrisers the Indian players need to click as they are highly relying on Dhawan and overseas players. If the young guns click this team can not only give a tight fight to star filled CSK team but beat them as well.

This match I see as a direct competion between Dhoni and Dhawan and indirect competition between Dhawan and Kohli. If Dhawan can win this match  and the Champion League trophy he might be the one to give a competition to Kohli on leading the Indian cricket team. Well that's a talk of late, lets enjoy the T20 match today.

Ranchi here we come.

Double T20 fun at Jaipur - crucial matches for all teams

In the two matches being played today at SMS Jaipur, all the teams should be looking for a win today so as to make there chances to qualify for the further round little easier.  Two matches to be played today are as follows:

Otago Volts v Perth Scorchers
Rajasthan Royals v Lions

Rajasthan Royals have already won their first mach against Mumbai Indians and one win here would make them sure of qualifying to the next round. For the Lions, Otago Volts and Perth Scorchers the respective matched today would be to ensure first victory as their previous matches were washed our due to rain at Ahemdabad.

Lions today face a huge task to cause a upset win. Reason I use the word upset win is not because Lions is a weaker team but the fact that Rajasthan team is strong at home and they have not lost any match here since IPL last year. 

The other match between Otago Volts and Perth Scorchers is going to be a chance for both teams to prove their worth as chances like Champions League T20 might not come always for these teams. For many players this can also be a stage to get entry to the IPL auctions  for next season.

Best wishes to both the teams.

Can Mumbai Indians Stop winning marathon of Otago Volts

When I read the name of team Otago Volts in the list of pre-qualifiers, I' haven't heard anything about the team. This team came as unknown team in the CLT20 tournament but now they are being seen as a real threat by most of the teams. This team is lead by Brendon McCullum who is in great form at the moment. Also the team is doing great, Otago have won all the last 13 matches they've played so far. Last three won came in the Champions League Qualifiers stage where they defeated T20 teams from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.

Now it'd be interesting to see, how the IPL champions Mumbai India could stop the winning Marathon of Otago Volts. Mumbai Indians is a quiet experienced team but there bowling is little weak with Lasith Malinga opted not to play in the Champions League. As far as Mumbai Indian batting is concerned they were bowled out cheaply in the opening match against the Rajasthan Royals but this strong batting line can strike at any moment they have the ability to win high scoring matches.

The match between the two team would be played at Ahmedabad pitch known to assist the batsmen and this would be a testing phase for Otago Volts. Otago volts have played last three matches at Mohali pitch which assists fast bowlers.

So keep a check on the live scoreboard for the match and enjoy, this is going to be one of the best match of the tournament.

Mumbai Indian Vs Rajashtan Royals in CLT20 today

Qualifiers matches were over yesterday at PCA cricket stadium Mohali where both the two matches played were just a formality with no impact on the qualifying teams. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Otago Volts were already qualified.

Now all the focus moves from Mohali to Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur where the IPL champions Mumbai Indian will play against Rajasthan Royals. Rajasthan Royals who is playing at home ground would be high on confidence because of the fact that they didn't lose any match in IPL 2013 at this ground. Though the team has been hit by some spot fixing scam, probe and trial for which is already in progress. Team still is hopeful for a good start to the tournament.

It'd be last tournament that two star performers from both the team (Sachin for Mumbai Indians and Rahul Dravid for Rajashtan Royals) would be playting in the T20 format, thus it'd be a great values to the fans if both the team stay in the tournament for a longer time.

The match will begin at 8 pm IST and you can catch all the live score of the match from the scorebaord widget added at the blog.

Hope you enjoy the match today. Good luck to both the teams.

Champions League Twenty20 Matches Today

Today is the beginning of the qualifiers stage matched of the Champions League Twenty20. Two matches would be played today at PCA stadium in Mohali, North India. Previously these matched were sheduled to be played at Hyderabad but later venue was changed to Mohali. Read full story here.

Now lets come to the matches to be played today. As in the past you can enjoy the live scorebaord ofthe matches today from  the live scoreboard widget added the this blog.  Two matched scheduled to be played today are:

1. Faisalabad Wolves Vs Otago Volts
2. Kandurata Maroons vs Sunrisers Hyderabad


Faisalabad Wolves Vs Otago Volts: Its first time that the Faislabad Wolves have qualified for the qualifiers stage. This team to Pakistan has to face some tough time with Visa issues etc, but now they are clear to play in India to face Otago Volts, the team that qualified for the inaugural Champions leagues T20 tournament in 2009 but failed to qualify all the following seasons. This is another opportunity for them to shine. Both the teams have some international names to bank upon. Interestingly the Otago team has won 9 matches in a row to qualify for the Champion league. For the Wolves the positive point is that they will find pitches in India similar to home pitches whereas the Volts needs to adjust a bit there, specially the fast bowlers.

Kandurata Maroons vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Here is the irony of club cricket. Kumara Sangakara of Sri Lanka who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL will play against them in the Champions League. He choose the play for this country team in the tournament. Interestingly for both the teams its a first time appearance in the CLT20. Since Dale Steyn in on fire when he bowls in the T20s I'll be supporting Sunrisers team if the qualify for the second round of the tournament. Else I'll be backing up the IPL winner, Mumbai Indians team

Catch all the live action in just around 2 hours from now. Best of luck to all the teams, let the best  qualify for the next round of the tournament.

Pakistan T20 champions granted visa for Champions Leagues T20

 After some days of uncertainty, finally the Pakistan T20 champion team Faisalabad Wolves has been granted visa for India.  In my last post is was stated that  Faisalabad team is not given visa for the tournament but things are clear now for the participation of Pakistani team. This team will play their first match on 17 September at Mohali cricket stadium against Otago Volts, which is also the opening match of the qualifiers stage.

Now matches will go on as scheduled just with minor change of match venues.

My best wishes to all the teams. Looking forward to see all the players hitting sixes, taking hattricks etc.

No Champions league T20 Matches in Hyderabad this year

 Hyderabad which was to host 12 matches including the qualifying group matches will not be hosting any of the matches due to the security issues. Ganpati Mahotsav is being celebrated in the state during the tournament and thus the Hyderabad police said they were not in a position to provide the adequate security needed.

Now the matched of the Hyderabad would be share among  Mohali, Ranchi and Ahmedabad. All the qualifying matches of 17, 18 and 20th September will be played at PCA stadium, Mohali. Mohali will host another group B match on 24th Sept.

Other News about ICC Champions league T20 - 2013

Apart from this matches being shifted from Hyderabad, it seems that the team from Pakistan might not be able to play the tournament. Indian government might not issues visas to the Pakistan players. Faisalabad Wolves might fall prey to the political tensions between India and Pakistan. In case the Pakistan team doesn't make it to the tournament no other team would be called for replacement.  Tournament qualifying stages would continue with some changes.

Lara might assist West Indies team T&T for the Champion league matches. His experience in cricket might be helpful for the team.

Mitchell Marsh will miss CLT20 due to injury.