From World Cup excitement shifts to IPL

3 days more from today and IPL 2015 will start. After the hangover of world cup its a perfect time to beat the Indian summers watching IPL matches at home or in the stadiums. The first match of IPL will be played between the defending champions KKR and Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens, Kolkatta.

A total of 60 matches will be played in the IPL this year including the group matches, eliminators and the finals. Here is the full details of the matches:


Wed Apr 8 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians Eden Gardens, Kolkata LIVE

Thu Apr 9 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Fri Apr 10 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Sat Apr 11 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
 Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai 

Sat Apr 11 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
  Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bangalore Eden Gardens, Kolkata 

Sun Apr 12 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
 Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi 

Sun Apr 12 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
7th match - Mumbai Indians v Kings XI Punjab Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

Mon Apr 13 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Royal Challengers Bangalore v Sunrisers Hyderabad M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore 

Tue Apr 14 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad 

Wed Apr 15 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Kings XI Punjab v Delhi Daredevils Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune 

Thu Apr 16 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam 

Fri Apr 17 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

Sat Apr 18 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
 Sunrisers Hyderabad v Delhi Daredevils Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam 

Sat Apr 18 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune 

Sun Apr 19 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
 Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Super Kings Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad 

Sun Apr 19 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore 

Mon Apr 20 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi 

Tue Apr 21 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Rajasthan Royals v Kings XI Punjab Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad 

Wed Apr 22 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam 

Wed Apr 22 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Royal Challengers Bangalore v Chennai Super Kings M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore 

Thu Apr 23 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi 

Fri Apr 24 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Rajasthan Royals v Royal Challengers Bangalore Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad 

Sat Apr 25 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
 Mumbai Indians v Sunrisers Hyderabad Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

Sat Apr 25 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Chennai Super Kings v Kings XI Punjab MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai 

Sun Apr 26 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals Eden Gardens, Kolkata 

Sun Apr 26 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Delhi Daredevils v Royal Challengers Bangalore Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi 

Mon Apr 27 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Kings XI Punjab v Sunrisers Hyderabad Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh 

Tue Apr 28 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai 

Wed Apr 29 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Rajasthan Royals M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore 

Thu Apr 30 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings Eden Gardens, Kolkata 

Fri May 1 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
 Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi 

Fri May 1 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

Sat May 2 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore 

Sat May 2 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad 

Sun May 3 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
 Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh 

Sun May 3 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Daredevils Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai 

Mon May 4 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai 

Mon May 4 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad Eden Gardens, Kolkata 

Tue May 5 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

Wed May 6 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore 

Thu May 7 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
Rajasthan Royals v Sunrisers Hyderabad Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai 

Thu May 7 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils Eden Gardens, Kolkata 

Fri May 8 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai 

Sat May 9 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
 Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab Eden Gardens, Kolkata 

Sat May 9 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Delhi Daredevils v Sunrisers Hyderabad Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur 

Sun May 10 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
 Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

Sun May 10 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai 

Mon May 11 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad 

Tue May 12 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur 

Wed May 13 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh 

Thu May 14 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

Fri May 15 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bangalore Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad 

Sat May 16 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh 

Sat May 16 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai 

Sun May 17 (20 ovs) 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)
 Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Daredevils M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore 

Sun May 17 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
 Sunrisers Hyderabad v Mumbai Indians Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad 

Tue May 19 (20 ovs) (14:30 GMT | 11:26 IST)
Qualifier 1 - TBC v TBC Venue TBC 

Wed May 20 (20 ovs) (14:30 GMT | 11:26 IST)
Eliminator - TBC v TBC Venue TBC 

Fri May 22 (20 ovs) (14:30 GMT | 11:26 IST)
Qualifier 2 - TBC v TBC Venue TBC 

Sun May 24 (20 ovs) 20:00 local (14:30 GMT)
Final - TBC v TBC Eden Gardens, Kolkata

We at www.icccricket.blogspost.com are supporting Kings XI Punjab this year and hope team will play well, like they did last year.

Who will stop Kings XI Punjab in IPL7

Kings Xi team so far has no so exciting outings in IPL history but they have made a very solid start in IPL this year. They have won all the first three matches they played so far  by chasing 200+ against CSK, 190+ against Rajasthan Royals and then defeating Sunrisers Hyderadbad easily yesterday.

Everyone is talking about how solid batting line Punjab have got and who will stop the Kings Xi team this year. The answer is simple anyone who can stop the big hitter and holder of the orange cap Glenn Maxwell can win the game against Kings XI easily. Thus other teams who will play Kings XI in the remaining part of the tournament need to do the home work on how to handle the brutal attack of Maxwell. Apart from Maxwell, David Miller is another threat for the teams. Punjab team on the other hand need to improve the opening attach so that there isn't much competition for the middle order. The other area of concern for Punjab is a weak balling attack, they certainly need to improve this area.

The next match Kins XI team will play is again a solid Kolkata Knight Riders, the batting of KKR is not so nice but they have got a lethal balling attack. KKR and RCB are the two teams I expect to defeat the Kings XI team. Bit given the form of the Maxwell and Miller it seems like this year Kings XI team could have the longest unbeaten streak in the history of IPL and also lift the title.

My best wishes to the Kings XI team and special best wishes for the openers Pujara and Sehwag looking for a opening stand from them that could last for minimum 10 overs.

Kings Eleven Punjab Team Overview - Kings XI Team Punjab

Kings XI as all the Indian cricket fans or fans of IPL must know is an IPL team owned by KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited. PCA stadium Mohali is the home ground  for the Kings XI team but they play few of the home matches at the beautiful and picturesque HPCA stadium located at Dharamshala, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Unfortunately there are no matches to be played in Dharamshala this year.

Kings XI team were the semi finalists in the first season of IPL in 2008 and that was the best ever performance of the team so far in IPL. Nest year they didn't qualified to the knockouts and in the IPL3 they finished at the bottom of points table.  Since then team is trying hard but failed to make it to the knock out stages.

This year in IPL7 team looks fresh, solid and right balance of fast bowlers and hard hitting batsmen. However the team has a few specialist spinners and that might be an issue since there are very few games to be played at the fast Mohali pitch.


A change in captain ship might also help the team, George Bailey the Australian T20 captain will lead the team who has stars like Virendar Shewag, Mitchell Johnson, S Marsh, David Miller, Balaji etc.

Listed below is the full squad of the Kings XI Punjab IPL team: 

Batsmen        

• Virender Sehwag    Right-handed    Right-arm off break    
• George Bailey    Right-handed    Right-arm medium    
• Shaun Marsh    Left-handed    Slow left-arm orthodox    
• David Miller    Left-handed    Right-arm off break    
• Cheteshwar Pujara    Right-handed    Right-arm leg break    
• Gurkeerat Singh    Right-handed    Right-arm off break    
• Mandeep Singh    Right-handed    Right-arm medium    
• Manan Vohra    Right-handed    Right-arm medium    

All-rounders       

• Rishi Dhawan    Right-handed    Right-arm medium-fast    
• Glenn Maxwell    Right-handed    Right-arm off break   
• Akshar Patel    Left-handed    Slow left-arm orthodox    
• Thisara Perera    Left-handed    Right-arm medium-fast   

Wicket-keepers

            

• Wriddhiman Saha    Right-handed        

Bowlers    

• Parvinder Awana    Right-handed    Right-arm medium-fast    
• Lakshmipathy Balaji    Right-handed    Right-arm medium-fast    
• Beuran Hendricks    Right-handed    Left-arm medium-fast    
• Mitchell Johnson    Left-handed    Left-arm fast    
• Murali Kartik    Left-handed    Slow left-arm orthodox    
• Anureet Singh    Right-handed    Right-arm medium-fast    
• Karanveer Singh    Right-handed    Right-arm leg break googly    
• Sandeep Sharma    Right-handed    Right-arm medium-fast    
• Shardul Thakur    Right-handed    Right-arm medium-fast    
• Shivam Sharma    Right-handed    Right-arm off-break    

 Playing with only one specialist batsmen might not look good but in IPL its hard to get the beast deal from the auctions. Still it seems like Kings XI owners have stroked the best deal here and got the most powerful combination for the team.

Let me introduce you to the owners of King XI Team: 

• Preity Zinta - Famous bollywood celebrity, worked in lots of hindi movies
• Ness Wadia - of Wadi Group
• Mohit Burman - of Dabur Group
• Karan Paul -  of Apeejay Surendera Group
•  Praneeth Kumar

Coach of Kings XI - Interestingly the Kings XI is the only IPL team that have Indian coach, all other team have got foreigners as coaches. This would be interesting to see how Sanjay Bangar, who has played in IPL, performs as the coach of Kings XI.

Kings XI will play first match on 18th  and we wish the team good luck for this tournament. Hopefully the team will show the best performance in the history of IPL this year.

Sunrisers and Kings XI seek golden opportunity

Only one match is scheduled to be played in IPL today. Match would be played between Kings XI Punjab and the Sunrisers Hyderabad at Hyderabad. For both teams its a golden opportunity to make the chances of qualifying to the play offs little easier. Sunriser team is currently placed at number 3 in IPL points table and a victory today will push them to number 1 position. Sunrisers need to win this match for sure as today they would have played seven IPL matches. They must win and keep life easy.

Kings Eleven on the other hand have played 4, won 2 and are placed in bottom 4. A win here would not only push the team higher in points table but also they can play remaining matches with less pressure.

While Kings XI has the firepower in batting and bowling both the Hyderabad team is the one who is capable of defending lower totals. They have the balance in the spin and fast attack with Amit Mishra, Dale Steyn and Ishant Sharma. In any day these bowlers can win the match for the Hyderabad team.

Punjab team on the other hand is known to defeat opponents at their home ground. They have done that many times and this time can be no different at Deccan as well.

Just wait for few hours to see all the live action of IPL match today.

KKR to bowl first in IPL Match against Punjab Today

KKR team won the toss first and the captain Gutam Gambhir has decided to bowl first against the hosts Kings XI Punjab team. The main problem with matches in Mohali is that they are not entertaining and many time low scoring. I've watched a couple of IPL matches in Mohali and sometimes the matches end up without even a single sixer being hit in the two innings.

I hope the match between KKR and Kings XI today won't be that dull and we'd be able to see a entertaining T20 encounter today. Its just 15 minutes left for the Kings XI teams batting to start and we'll be able to see the progress of the match from the live scoreboard updates tickling.  Punjab team started the IPL season with a win first time in the history of IPL this year but they are lacking the firepower in the batting. KKR on the other hand is quiet strong team and they might be able to make it to the semifinals this year.

After this match RCB will play against Delhi Daredevils. The Delhi team is the only team in IPL that haven't won any match yet. I wish Delhi team all the best and hope they will win the match today.

Kings XI Punjab got new assistant coach this IPL

The Kings XI team has been unlucky in the history of IPL so far. Lot was expected from this team in the IPL but so far they have not got any significant success in the tournament. They've tried change of captains, change of players but nothing seemed to be going in the positive directions so far.

In the current IPL 2013 the team management has hired a new assistant coach for the team.  Name of the new assistant coach is W V Raman, who will be the deputy to the foreign coach Darren Lehmann. The 47 years old Raman has represented India and Tamil Nadu during his playing days and has played in both tests & ODIs for India where he opened batting for India.

Raman has plenty of coaching experience behind him as well. He has been coaching domestic team like Tamil Nadu and Bengal from some time. This would be first IPL assignment for Raman and we at ICC Cricket Blog wishes both the assistant coach and his team all the best for this season. I am hopeful this will bring some change of fortunes for the Kings Eleven team.




Many of the young IPL fans might know much about W V Raman, so I'd request them to kindly take a look at his cricinfo profile and know more about the ex-opening batsmen of team India.