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.

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.

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.

Mumbai Indians Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore @ Nokia Champions League T20 Finals 2011

As predicted in my last post Will it be RCB vs MI or a foreign team in Champions League finals,
is was once again one man show for Mumbai Indians by L. Malinga, he once again won the match single handily for the Mumbai Indians team. Both the teams faced each other in the semi finals of IPL this year as well, which was won by RCB team.

Thus its time for Mumbai team to take the revenge of IPL semi finals defeat and for RCB its a chance to achieve but they were unable to in the IPL.

Now coming to the finals to be played today, you can catch all the live updates of the match online. It'd be interesting contest between Malinga & Gayle and I am 100% sure the battle between these two will be the decider for this match. Its just around 12 hours wait to catch the live action of the finals. Keep reading.

Will it be RCB vs MI or a foreign team in Champions League finals

Royal Challengers Banglalore made it to the finals of the T20 Champions league and during this journey they chased score of 200+ amazingly twice in the series. Thus they are now strong contender to win the finals. Selecting Chris Gayle in the team has changes the RCB teams fortunes dramatically. Chris Gayle not only helped team enter the finals of IPL this year but he also contributed to the journey to the finals of Champions League. And I am sure if Gayle keeps his form in finals this years Champions are the Royal Challengers.

Now second semi final of the tournament is between two unlikely team Mumbai Indian who strongly rely on Lasith Malinga, who is the only player who can single handily guide the team to victory, other Mumbai Indians team is most likely the injury hit Indain cricket team.

Let see who wins the semi final between Mumbai Indians and Somerset to take RCB in finals.

England Team Arrives in India & Champions League T20 Matches Update

England team arrived in India and this team is now the number 1 ranked in ICC test rankings also the team is on a high as they have not let India win a single game in last series in England. Indian team was humiliated like its not a test playing team but a contracted nation of ICC.

England defeated India 4-0 in test, won the only T20 match in which we saw the debut and retirement of Rahul Dravid fr4om the T20s. Also they won the 5 match ODI series 3-0. Now the challenge for England to win the series here in India as well and if they manage to do so then in no doubt they will remain in the top of ICC rankings no matter how many matches they play.

For Indian cricket team there is no need to worry as they already had the excuse to unfit players and one statement for MS Dhoni in post match ceremony that we are playing without key players and its difficult to win matches under such circumstances.

This time there isn't much excitement about Champions league T20 and the updates from the series is that Mumbai Indians, New South Wales, team has qualifies for the semi finals of the tournament whereas the defending champions Chennai Super Kings are out of the tournament with three defeats.

Champions League Twenty20 & Australia tour of Sri Lanka Updates

In my last post about retirement of Rahul Dravid from One day international cricket matches, it felt like that I'll have to wait for a long time to watch him play cricket as team India next test match series yet have few months to go. Perhaps he will be available for the India Vs Australia matches in December.

Since Dravid is not a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore this years other wise we can have him watch playing in Champions League Twenty20 series that began today. However I am sure he will be available for another season of IPL at least.

Today in Champions League Twenty20 qualifiers two matched were played i.e.:

1. Auckland v Kolkata Knight Riders - KKR pulled out a win by just 2 runs defending a small total of 121 runs. Perhaps it was hard luck of Auckland who were once looking as they were win the match bu huge margin and thus can get big net run rate advantage. But few runo outs and inability to play slower bowlers well turned the match in KKR's favor.
   
2. Ruhuna v Trinidad & Tobago - T&T wun the match against Sri Lanka's team Ruhuna by 5 wickets. Trinidad & Tobago had a good Champions League Twenty20 season last time also and it seems they will do well this time as well. May be some players from this team will play in IPL next year as well.
   

Now coming to Australia vs Sri Lanka test match the match seems to be headed towards a draw. Australia lead by 52 runs with 7 wickets remaining at stumps on day 4 thus only one days play left we can expect an early close of the match if both captain agree.

Mumbai v South Australia Champions League T20 Match

Top batsman, top bowlers and a solid hitter, Mumbai Indians team has got a brilliant combination needed for being number one cricket club team. They missed the first match by a small margin and today they must win the match today. Being a solid they still haven't any title to there name. They had a bad IPL 1 and lost IPL 2 final due to some bad captaincy and team strategies. Here are the points why Mumbai Indian lost the IPL 2 final:

• Injured Sachin - An injured horse can win a race only in stories not in real life, Sachin himself should have taken the call not to play the final (perhaps selfishness come to play here) Jaaysurya or any other experienced ply in the team should have lead the team in the final
• Pollard coming late: He should rather be given the chance to open the innings in bing matched.
  

that was the thing of pst now for todays match what Mumbai Indian need is they play the best combination i.e. players like Bravo and Saurabh Tiwary cannot be kept in the dugg out are and the major are of concerns is despite having 5 leading bowlers why part time bowlers bowled 4 overs as in the first match.

Champions League Twenty 20 - Champions league 2010

Well it was a great match every tournament would like to have as beginning match. Close encounter that in the end Lions managed to win. They defeated Mumbai Indians by 9 runs. I think Kevin Pollards wicket was the turning point of the match had he playeh one over more result of the match would have been different.

I still favor him being pushed little ahead in the batting order, a pinch solid hitter like him should be given chance to play more ball, I even don't mind him opening handful of matches as an experiment. Perhaps Mumbai Indian had moved him to bat earlier in the IPL final against they would not be the runners up they could have been the champions.

Tomorrow is a double masti day, you can watch Wayamba from Sri Lanka playing the hosts Warriors, and in the second match you have IPL champions Chennai Super Kings compete the Central Districts from New Zealand.

Good Luck Mumbai Indians for Champions League Twenty 20

Todays Match Mumbai Indians Vs Lions at Johannesburg South Africa
Its nice to see the favorite teams and stars in T20 action once again. Once again I am supporting Mumbai Indians team the runners up in the IPL 2010. I hope playing away from home with seamer friendly conditions will not be an issue for the team.

Catch the lice score from 9pm IST today. More action will follow sooon