CSK lost to KXIP slims IPL 5 play-offs chances

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) yesterdays' lost against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) has just tightened their screws of making into play-offs of (IPL 5) Indian Premier League V 2012.

In the all important game Chennai has played more uncharacteristic game and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Big names like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay were never upto their mark, but never take away credit from KXIP bowlers. They performed really well Awaana was key in restricting Chennai to modest total of 120. he seems to be the rising star, Azhar Mahmood and Pyush Chawala backed up him.

DJ Bravo has been the outstanding performer of CSK in this season. Bravo once again played very crucial innings for his team he along with Albie Morkel tried to shift the gears in 16^th over, but it was too late where they were place at 78/5 at that point. Bravo felt 2 runs short of 50, and CSK managed to score 120/7 in 20.0 overs.

Return of Adam Gilchrist proved to be very important in a must win game, where he stood the ground and finished game for his team. Chasing 120 was never so difficult in a T20 game but without any big names in their line-up KXIP did a decent job to pull a crucial win. Gilly unbeaten 63 was packed firehouse shots all over the park and he seems to be in hurry to finish the game off early, to improve their net run rate as well.

So here ends the CSK journey in league stages ending up with 17 points in IPL point table and placed in #4 now. Meanwhile, KXIP run for play-offs is still alive with one game to play still, KXIP vs. DD on 19 May, 2012.

As Delhidare Devils and Kolkata Knight Riders are already qualified to play-off of IPL 5 2012. there is a stiff competition for 3 and 4 places, who will be making to the play-offs are not yet confirmed. Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore are bidding for those places. Indian Premier League is still pretty much alive with all these top teams fighting hard.

Rahul Dravid

A liquid material minded person to fit in the container given to him. After the couple of test series lost in England and Australia, regained his energy and joined in the IPL 2012 camp today. He is the captain of Rajasthan Royals team. Eagerly waiting to see how he will lead the team and what the miracles he is going to do.............

MS Dhoni: Best finisher ever

Indian skipper, MS Dhoni is considered as the best finisher in the present ODI cricket. Dhoni even rated the beat of all the greats like Michael Beavan Lance Klusener, Abdul Razzaq and Jonty Rhodes.

India has just finished two most tense and most thrilling games on the ongoing CB series in Australia. Dhoni played two absolute gem of innings to finish the game. But not to take the credit from Gambhir’s bat as he played most difficult part of the innings in both the games, but finishing off games is most important in one-day cricket. The two consecutive knocks at Adelaide retell Dhoni’s reputation as one of the finest finishers in the one-day game.

Even Dhoni’s rivals accept the fact that he is bet finisher in the ODI cricket. Australian skipper Michael Clarke was left feel sorry about his team’s fate after Dhoni chased down the 13 runs in the last over and takes India to victory. In match against Sri Lanka Dhoni played really well to finish the game in tie, where India needed 4 from 1 ball. Dhoni placed it over cover fielder for 3 runs, and there are no words of Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene over the tie what could be a possible win for them.

However, Dhoni stated that it was very difficult to bat low-down the order and win games. He credits his teammate Yuvraj Singh as the best finisher, Yuvi the only one consistent batsman lower down the order was at number six, who bats really well. Dhoni admits that no job in one-day cricket is as difficult as that of a finishing. A player has to be able to hit big yet be capable of manipulating the field with deft placements. He needs to be an excellent judger of a run and must have the speed to convert a singles into a doubles.

Captain cools’ stats suggest that He is nest finisher ever the cricketing world has witnessed. Dhoni has remained notout in 30 of India's 49 successful run chases and scored at an average of 104.89. Despite, - Michael Bevan, Lance Klusener, Abdul Razzaq and Jonty Rhodes who were considered best in finishing the games were nowhere near to Dhoni. Dhoni has played 200 matches and stayed unbeaten 50 times or in every fourth innings of his career. With 44 fifties and 7 centuries, Dhoni is scoring at least a half century in every 4 innings.

MS Dhoni’s stats in successful run-chases:

M	I	NO	Runs	Avg	100s	50s	Highest
62	49	30	1993	104.89	2	14	183*

Dhoni’s record in successful run-chases since he took up captaincy:

M	I	NO	Runs	Avg	100s	50s	Highest
37	30	18	1123	93.58	1	8	101*

List of successful run-chasers in ODI:

Player	M	I*	NO	Runs	Avg	100s	50s	Highest
MS Dhoni	62	49	30	1993	104.89	2	14	183*
Michael Clarke	58	44	24	1784	89.20	3	15	105*
Michael Bevan	75	45	25	1725	86.25	3	12	107
Misbah-ul-Haq	34	24	14	859	85.90	0	7	93*
Michael Hussey	49	25	17	671	83.87	0	3	75*
Graham Thorpe	26	21	9	849	70.75	0	9	82
Shane Watson	46	34	9	1759	70.36	5	9	185*
Hansie Cronje	54	43	19	1682	70.08	0	15	94*

Rahul Dravid is considered as ‘Wall’ of Indian Cricket in test.

Is MS Dhoni fit for the mane ‘THE WALL’ in One-day cricket?

Slip in your thoughts with us………………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Novak Djokovic pulls out of BNP Paribas Masters 2011

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has pulled out of 2011 BNP Paribas Masters, due to his sore shoulder and apologized to his fans.

Novak Djokovic reached to quarters and is due to fight with French favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but sadly Djokovic has withdrawn from the tournament. It is clear that Djokovic is looking to regain his full fitness ahead of the ATP Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena.

The man-in-form, Djokovic wrote on his Twitter page saying that ‘Dear fans and friends, the ATP Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena’. He added that he has been pushing himself to make available for ATP Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena. After his qualifying match for quarters, his shoulder got injury got even worse and so he decided to withdraw from the Paris Masters. Djokovic added that as a professional player his soul urges him to lay for last drop of energy.

The Serbian quoted that he is very sorry for all who bought tickets and wanted to come to watch him play. His season has been long and exhausting, he played all of his matches at highest level, and now his body is hurting for recovery.

However it is rumoured that Djokovic only played at Paris for bonus price money of $1.6 million after skipping Shangai Masters.

Rafael Nadal pulls out of 2011 Paris Masters

World No.2 Rafael Nadal pulls out of 2011 BNP Paribas Masters tournament, schedule to play in Paris next week.

The 10-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has posted a message on his Facebook page that, he has withdrawn from the next week’s 2011 BNP Paribas Masters tournament held in Paris. Nadal said, it’s been a tough decision taken by him and hopes to return back to 2011 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals begin from 20th November at Arena O2 in London. Rafa added that he will return back to Paris Masters in 2012 season in the most beautiful city in the world.

The King of clay court Rafael Nadal has played his last tournament at Shanghai Rolex Masters tournament, although he made an early exit from the tournament, where he lost to Florian Mayer of Germany in two sets in the third round. Nadal has played well at Japan Open last month, but couldn’t overcome the title short against World No. 3 ranked Andy Murray.

The 25-year-old has been working hard in the training sessions at his home town at Manacor, before heading into the 2011 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. Nadal even concentrating to regain his fitness and working hard along with his uncle Miguel Angel Nadal and physical trainer Maymo, where he sustained foot injury at the US Open in August.

Maria Sharapova slips to No.4 in WTA Rankings

Former World No.1 Maria Sharapova slips to No.4 in WTA Rankings while WTA Champion Petra Kvitova has top the WTA rankings this week with No.2 in the world.

2011 Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova has shown an outstanding performance in the finals of the 2011 WTA Championships defaeting Belarusian, Victoria Azarenka in three set thriller with 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to clinch her sixth title of the 2011. This win ensured Petra Kvitiva a career high No.2 ranking in the world. Petra Kvitova with a total of 7370 WTA ranking points stands 115 points behind the Caroline Wozniacki world no.1.

Denmark player Caroline Wozniacki having won 6-WTA titles this season, has been the world No.1 for the second successive year with a total of 7485 WTA rankings points. 2011 WTA championship runner-up, Victoria Azarenka has sealed her place in No.3 of the WTA Rankings with a total of 6520 points winning 3-titles in 2011.

Maria Sharapova has been dropped to fourth after being withdrawn from the 2011 WTA championship, due to an ankle injury. She has a total of 6510 WTA ranking points. Howvever, Li Na and Samantha Stosur have placed No.5 and No.6 in WTA Rankings.

Rank	Name	Points
1	Caroline Wozniacki (Den)	7485
2	Petra Kvitova (Czech)	7370
3	Victoria Azarenka (Blrl)	6520
4	Maria Sharapova (Rus)	6510
5	Na Li (CHN)	5720
6	Samantha Stosur (Aus)	5585
7	Vera Zvonareva (Rus)	5435
8	Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol)	5252
9	Marion Bartoli (Fra)	4710
10	Andrea Petkovic (Ger)	4580