Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
Now that every player is finished with the IPL, let's look at the form guide from the other three teams-
Dhoni (WK): He's had a good tournament, with an average over 40 and a more-than-decent strike rate of 127. He's also been good behind the stumps, keeping it tight. However, his preference to have someone else wicketkeeping may leave him a tad rusty, and coming in lower down the order hasn't helped him at all. Another genuine success of the series.
Raina (LHB): He's done rather well, particularly with a strike rate over 140 and an average of 31, but the lack of big scores stands out. He's only had two fifties and missed a century (and finishing unbeaten) playing a needless shot. He's also had a good series with the ball, but given the struggling form of the batsmen in general, he'd be advised not to touch it and spend all twenty overs at backward point. They need runs, not wickets.
Praveen Kumar (RMF, RHB): He's had a dire tournament with the ball, averaging over 30. He's done reasonably well with a strike rate over 140 but that average of 13 isn't good enough. He'll struggle to make the XI, unless they want to add strength to their rickety batting lineup.
Rohit Sharma (RHB): Significantly over-rated, as he's only been an assistant to the star trio of Gilly, Gibbs and Roy, and Dwayne/Styris when they played. On his own, that average of 28 and a strike rate of 117 isn't good reading. He's scored just one fifty. When you find that the team management played him in a less relevant role than all the internationals and even Suman, you get a hint. It's easy when he's got a strong batting lineup around him, but in this team, he'll have to play a lead. He lost his place in the last T20I the Indians played, to a bowler.
RP Singh (LFM): It all looks good since he finished with the Purple Cap, leading the wickets tally with a healthy average. However, he had profited primarily by taking out tailenders and rookie Indian batsmen, but was average or less against top Test batsmen who faced him. It was easy playing in a team with such a strong batting lineup, but this current Indian team doesn't have one.
Pragyan Ojha (SLA): He had a decent tournament, with another healthy average and an economy of 6.46, with a few wickets, but he was bowling with high scores behind him and a wicket or two down. Will he do so well defending a low score or bowling first on a flat deck? We don't know. He's not the most aggressive spinner around, and tries to keep it tight. Like the other Deccan Chargers players, he'll have to play a bigger role when he's in the game for India.
Dhoni (WK): He's had a good tournament, with an average over 40 and a more-than-decent strike rate of 127. He's also been good behind the stumps, keeping it tight. However, his preference to have someone else wicketkeeping may leave him a tad rusty, and coming in lower down the order hasn't helped him at all. Another genuine success of the series.
Raina (LHB): He's done rather well, particularly with a strike rate over 140 and an average of 31, but the lack of big scores stands out. He's only had two fifties and missed a century (and finishing unbeaten) playing a needless shot. He's also had a good series with the ball, but given the struggling form of the batsmen in general, he'd be advised not to touch it and spend all twenty overs at backward point. They need runs, not wickets.
Praveen Kumar (RMF, RHB): He's had a dire tournament with the ball, averaging over 30. He's done reasonably well with a strike rate over 140 but that average of 13 isn't good enough. He'll struggle to make the XI, unless they want to add strength to their rickety batting lineup.
Rohit Sharma (RHB): Significantly over-rated, as he's only been an assistant to the star trio of Gilly, Gibbs and Roy, and Dwayne/Styris when they played. On his own, that average of 28 and a strike rate of 117 isn't good reading. He's scored just one fifty. When you find that the team management played him in a less relevant role than all the internationals and even Suman, you get a hint. It's easy when he's got a strong batting lineup around him, but in this team, he'll have to play a lead. He lost his place in the last T20I the Indians played, to a bowler.
RP Singh (LFM): It all looks good since he finished with the Purple Cap, leading the wickets tally with a healthy average. However, he had profited primarily by taking out tailenders and rookie Indian batsmen, but was average or less against top Test batsmen who faced him. It was easy playing in a team with such a strong batting lineup, but this current Indian team doesn't have one.
Pragyan Ojha (SLA): He had a decent tournament, with another healthy average and an economy of 6.46, with a few wickets, but he was bowling with high scores behind him and a wicket or two down. Will he do so well defending a low score or bowling first on a flat deck? We don't know. He's not the most aggressive spinner around, and tries to keep it tight. Like the other Deccan Chargers players, he'll have to play a bigger role when he's in the game for India.
