**Official* IPL 2016

[Shady Slim]

i guess the fact that rahane dropped anchor immediately meant smith had to realise he too couldn't drop anchor

likewise if it was rahane coming in and smith opening and smith dropped anchor initially rahane should realise he has to... aggress... the partnership

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah, Rahane's innings wasn't too bad really but that partnership was pretty terrible.

56 off 50 balls when you are one wicket down has little to no value in a T20 unless the pitch is a pig.

 

[weldone]

Nah.. Ash is not in form and MS still has to use him in powerplays coz rest of his bowlers pretty much suck at that stage anyways.

'R Ashwin not in form' is much better than 'Ankit Sharma in full form'. If Ravi has to bowl in the powerplays, then that's more reason for him to bowl 4 overs! I fail to understand your logic - do you think if he bowls in the powerplays then he can't bowl outside the powerplays too?

 

[honestbharani]

'R Ashwin not in form' is much better than 'Ankit Sharma in full form'. If Ravi has to bowl in the powerplays, then that's more reason for him to bowl 4 overs! I fail to understand your logic - do you think if he bowls in the powerplays then he can't bowl outside the powerplays too?

He is bowling Ash in powerplays and obviously Ash is getting tonked coz he is not in the best form. So MSD's confidence in Ash is taking a even bigger hit and hence he is not coming back to him after that point. Now, if they had at least 3 semi decent bowlers who can do a job in the powerplays then I am sure Ash will be given overs more than he has been so far.

 

[Pratters]

'R Ashwin not in form' is much better than 'Ankit Sharma in full form'. If Ravi has to bowl in the powerplays, then that's more reason for him to bowl 4 overs! I fail to understand your logic - do you think if he bowls in the powerplays then he can't bowl outside the powerplays too?

Well said.

 

[viriya]

There is no argument for not bowling out Ashwin that makes sense. Even if he's getting hammered he is India's best bowler.. You don't underbowl your best bowler.

 

[91Jmay]

Another poor MI powerplay. Johnson bowling like a drain only thing keeping them above water.

 

[weldone]

He is bowling Ash in powerplays and obviously Ash is getting tonked coz he is not in the best form. So MSD's confidence in Ash is taking a even bigger hit and hence he is not coming back to him after that point. Now, if they had at least 3 semi decent bowlers who can do a job in the powerplays then I am sure Ash will be given overs more than he has been so far.

There's rust in MSD's brain if his thought process works like that these days.

My personal guess is that there's strain in their relationship. Dhoni somehow wants to prove Ashwin is not a great bowler (maybe Ashwin bragged about something during the nets).

 

[Scaly piscine]

Yea unless he's bowling a load of full tosses and long hops you have to bowl him. Hide him in overs 7 onwards if you have to. But he's not going to get 'in form' (most of the time form is an illusion anyway) by bowling 2 overs in a T20 every few days. 4 overs gives him a bit more time in the middle, particularly if it is in one spell.

 

[weldone]

There is no argument for not bowling out Ashwin that makes sense. Even if he's getting hammered he is India's best bowler.. You don't underbowl your best bowler.

exactly...and he's not getting hammered in a '30 runs off 2 overs' kind of way

 

[weldone]

feels good knowing that we're likely to see a team batting 2nd lose tonight

 

[91Jmay]

MI got a really good base now. Been excellent since poor powerplay. Jos/KP/Pollard should get them above 180 here minimum.

 

[Stapel]

MI got a really good base now. Been excellent since poor powerplay. Jos/KP/Pollard should get them above 180 here minimum.

200 needed, I guess.
As excellent as the batting is since the powerplay, one has to conclude the powerplay was really, really, bad, not? Or maybe Sandeep Sharma was just unplayable...

 

[91Jmay]

Doubt they actually need 200 against this absolute rabble of an opposition, but yeah they should get it from here.

 

[91Jmay]

Really bad from Pollard, and no idea why he or Hardik came in ahead of KP. Dopey overthinking from Ponting/Rohit. Shame Jos got out, reckon he would have got them 210+.

 

[weldone]

Really bad from Pollard

As I have been saying for the last few days, Pollard has to be dropped for Guptill

Guptill
Rohit
Patel
Rayudu
Buttler
Krunal
Hardik

This lineup looks much better imo

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah, Rayudu as a floating player maybe so if they get to over 12+ can sent Jos in at 4.

 

[Daemon]

As I have been saying for the last few days, Pollard has to be dropped for Guptill

Guptill
Rohit
Patel
Rayudu
Buttler
Krunal
Hardik

This lineup looks much better imo

Yep. 2 of the best openers in the world, 2 guys in Patel and Rayudu who are decent top-middle order bats but poor finishers, and Buttler with the Pandyas to tonk it around at the end. It's almost a no brainer.

If Pollard/Anderson play, it weakens the top order and only adds to the already strong list of finishers. A case for Anderson can certainly be made because of his superior bowling (and also not being in meh form) but at this rate going with Pollard is just not getting them much value.

 

[Niall]

Anderson for Pollard please.

 

[91Jmay]

Pollard adding nothing with the bat and bowling like a drain at 100 kphs per hour. Useless.