KOLKATA: IPL-6 will surely be poorer without Dada’s presence on the field.
By his own admission, he has had enough. "You can't go on forever. I enjoyed it for five seasons," said Sourav, who plans to follow the tournament on television this time. TOI caught up with the former India captain for his take on the new season which gets under way in his own backyard on Wednesday. Sourav, who played for KKR in the first three seasons and the next two with Pune Warriors, was strictly 'neutral' while making his assessments.
How tough will it be for KKR to retain the IPL crown this year?
It was a huge achievement for KKR to win the title last season. It was a long wait, but they deserved the success, having played consistently good cricket throughout the tournament. Now they have to do it all over again. It will be tough, no doubt, but having done it once, they certainly know what it takes to go all the way. Chennai Super Kings have shown that it can be done, so there is no reason why KKR can't do the same.
Do you agree that Mumbai Indians have underachieved in the first five seasons?
I wouldn't say that they have underachieved. Mumbai Indians have made the knockout phase in the last three seasons besides winning the Champions League T20 title once. They also made the final in 2010 when they lost to CSK. They are a good all-round side. It is just that they have come up short in big matches.
How do you rate Mumbai's chances?
This year, they have made interesting additions. They have a new but highly experienced coach in John Wright, the well-respected Anil Kumble as their mentor and senior pro Ricky Ponting as captain. Along with Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh's experience, you have exciting youngsters in Glenn Maxwell, Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu. They are a formidable unit and will be strong contenders for the title.
Which are the teams to watch out for?
I will be following the fortunes of KKR, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and, of course, CSK.
What makes CSK such a hot property?
Look, they have won the title twice (2010 and 2011) and lost two finals (2008 and 2012). The only year they failed to make the final was in 2009 in South Africa, but they still made the semis. They have the right mix and a very strong contingent of Indian players. Their biggest achievement is that they have built a strong team by retaining key players and not making too many changes in their line-up.
Any dark horses?
The tournament format, coupled with the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, makes it hazardous to make random guesses. The key to a successful campaign lies in making a good start and finishing strongly. It is tough for teams to perform every third or fourth day over eight weeks in extremely harsh conditions. You are bound to lose a few games along the way, but it is important to peak at the right time to be able to carry the momentum with you in the knockout stages.
What do you expect from Hyderabad?
They have a new-look side but have a strong pace attack led by Dale Steyn, Thisara Perera and Ishants Sharma.
© TOI
By his own admission, he has had enough. "You can't go on forever. I enjoyed it for five seasons," said Sourav, who plans to follow the tournament on television this time. TOI caught up with the former India captain for his take on the new season which gets under way in his own backyard on Wednesday. Sourav, who played for KKR in the first three seasons and the next two with Pune Warriors, was strictly 'neutral' while making his assessments.
How tough will it be for KKR to retain the IPL crown this year?
It was a huge achievement for KKR to win the title last season. It was a long wait, but they deserved the success, having played consistently good cricket throughout the tournament. Now they have to do it all over again. It will be tough, no doubt, but having done it once, they certainly know what it takes to go all the way. Chennai Super Kings have shown that it can be done, so there is no reason why KKR can't do the same.
Do you agree that Mumbai Indians have underachieved in the first five seasons?
I wouldn't say that they have underachieved. Mumbai Indians have made the knockout phase in the last three seasons besides winning the Champions League T20 title once. They also made the final in 2010 when they lost to CSK. They are a good all-round side. It is just that they have come up short in big matches.
How do you rate Mumbai's chances?
This year, they have made interesting additions. They have a new but highly experienced coach in John Wright, the well-respected Anil Kumble as their mentor and senior pro Ricky Ponting as captain. Along with Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh's experience, you have exciting youngsters in Glenn Maxwell, Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu. They are a formidable unit and will be strong contenders for the title.
Which are the teams to watch out for?
I will be following the fortunes of KKR, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and, of course, CSK.
What makes CSK such a hot property?
Look, they have won the title twice (2010 and 2011) and lost two finals (2008 and 2012). The only year they failed to make the final was in 2009 in South Africa, but they still made the semis. They have the right mix and a very strong contingent of Indian players. Their biggest achievement is that they have built a strong team by retaining key players and not making too many changes in their line-up.
Any dark horses?
The tournament format, coupled with the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, makes it hazardous to make random guesses. The key to a successful campaign lies in making a good start and finishing strongly. It is tough for teams to perform every third or fourth day over eight weeks in extremely harsh conditions. You are bound to lose a few games along the way, but it is important to peak at the right time to be able to carry the momentum with you in the knockout stages.
What do you expect from Hyderabad?
They have a new-look side but have a strong pace attack led by Dale Steyn, Thisara Perera and Ishants Sharma.
© TOI
