Page 96 - IPL1

the momentum of many an opposition. But there were star seam bowler Siddarth Trivedi contributed 13 wickets to the
turns from almost everyone in his team. None deserved more team effort. The sustained success of the attack was such that
accolades than the Pakistani left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir, a Dimitri Mascarenhas, Warne’s Hampshire colleague and the only
beanpole of a man who bowls off the wrong foot in the manner England player to take part in the IPL, was limited to a single
of a modern-day Mike Procter and who couldn’t even make the appearance, scoring nine runs and taking two for 29 in the win
starting XI for the first three matches. Tanvir ended up as the over Delhi – suitable revenge for the opening-match drubbing.
tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 22 at the phenomenal
average of 12 and with an almost ridiculous strike-rate of 11. Just More than anything, Rajasthan Royals were a team both on and
as tellingly, he conceded as little as 6.46 runs an over, and his off the pitch. Warne agreed to take on the role of captain only
efforts included six for 14 against Chennai Super Kings, four for if he could double up as coach – he has famously said that the
14 against Mumbai Indians and three for 10 against Bangalore coach is the thing the players get to the ground in – but he was
Roayl Challengers. He was the bowler of the tournament. wily enough to take on a pair of assistants in the form of Darren
Berry, the former Victoria wicket-keeper and a long-standing
Warne’s fellow Australian Shane Watson emerged as an all- friend, and Jeremy Snape, who had played one-day cricket for

rounder of world-class standing, having previously shown mere England as an off-spinning allrounder and had been used by the
glimpses of his potential. He regularly opened the bowling, but England team as a part-time psychologist during the 2007 World
responded with 17 wickets while going for a bit more than seven Cup. Berry organised practice sessions; Snape was available to
an over, and hammered 472 runs at a strike-rate of 151. With his help players on a one-to-one basis, both with their training and
powerful arm in the field and inspiring presence among the with their mental approach. As the wins mounted up, Warne
younger Indians in the side, he was almost four cricketers rolled barely missed an opportunity to praise his two assistants. No
into one. The South Africa captain Graeme Smith had a similar side gelled as well as Rajasthan Royals.
impact, despite some high-profile fall-outs with Warne during
their time as opponents in the international arena. But any For proof, you simply needed to look at the scorecards. After
differences were put to one side as Smith began his campaign that potentially dispiriting defeat to Delhi, Rajasthan hit back
with 71 against Deccan Chargers, 49 against Bangalore Royal with a six-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab, inspired by Warne’s
Challengers and later crowned it all with an innings of 91 off just haul of three for 14 and a brutal unbeaten 76 off 49 balls from
51 deliveries against Chennai Super Kings. In all, Smith biffed Shane Watson. A memorable win followed in Hyderabad as
441 runs at an average of 49 and scared the living daylights out Warne slammed 16 off three balls from Andrew Symonds to help
of one opening attack after another. his side chase down Deccan Chargers’ 214 for five with a ball
to spare, before Bangalore Royal Challengers, Kolkata Knight
The overseas players were one thing; the local picks were quite Riders and Chennai Super Kings were all seen off with plenty
another. Yusuf Pathan, younger brother of the better-known to spare. A rare poor display with the bat led to a shock defeat
Irfan, came of age with a string of spectacular performances against lowly Mumbai Indians, but six straight wins confirmed a
with the bat and chipped in with his off-breaks, even responding semi-final spot, and one last defeat to Kings XI Punjab in Mohali
to Warne’s request for him to open the bowling against Adam seemed to serve as a timely wake-up call before the knockout
Gilchrist during the game against Deccan Chargers: Pathan stages. In the semi-final, Delhi Daredevils were treated with
responded by removing both Gilchrist and the equally dangerous contempt: bundled out for 87 in reply to Rajasthan’s 192 for nine,
Shahid Afridi. Swapnil Asnodkar, a pint-sized opening batsman, and the side had to draw on all its experience and competitive
was not unveiled until the Royals’ fifth game, but immediately zeal to ensure victory by one run in a thrilling final against
cracked 60 in the win over Kolkata Knight Riders and messed Chennai Super Kings, with Pathan’s three for 22 proving the
with plenty of bowlers’ line and length thereafter. Ravindra difference. After the journey Rajasthan Royals had been on, any
Jadeja was hailed by Warne as a star of the future, while the other result just wouldn’t have seemed right.

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