Monday, May 25, 2009

The IPL XI 2009

I selected an IPL XI last year, so I thought I would repeat the excercise this time round as well.

My criteria is the same as last time:

1. Pick the 4 Non-Indians
2. Pick an U-23 player (last year it was an U-19)
3. Pick players according to best for a position, rather than just the leading performers

Picking the 4 non-Indian players, putting them in their positions, and building a team around them is the easiest way to select an IPL XI in my view.

The 4 Non-Indians: Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Lasith Malinga, AB De Villiers

Hayden was the top scorer and leagues ahead of other batsmen in the IPL, while Malinga was the highest wicket taker among the non-Indian bowlers this year.

Gilchrist was also an automatic pick considering he was the player of the tournament, or the "Golden Player" or whatever it is that Lalit Modi called it.

I picked AB as the 4th overseas player because there were more Indian bowlers among the highest wicket takers than there were Indian batsmen amongs the run scorers.

This way I've got my openers as well as a wicket keeper.

Hence what's left to do is the middle order, an allrounder, and the bowling attack.

Middle Order: Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthik

Raina was the leading run scorer among the Indians, while Rohit Sharma gives me my under-23 player. He may be the oldest looking under-23 year old as Leela says, but the IPL chose him as the best under-23 performer, hence who am I to argue.

Which makes me wonder, isn't Raina under-23?

Plus, Rohit was the 3rd highest Indian run scorer in the IPL.

Sachin Tendulkar was the 2nd highest (surprise, surprise), but I decided to ignore him because I already had my openers, and Sachin doesn't really like to play 20-20.

It gave me no joy in picking Yuvraj, but then I guess not captaining a side will be a blessing for him. And he was 4th on the list of run getters after Raina, Sachin, and Rohit.

Since Raina, Rohit, and Yuvraj provide ample bowling options, I decided that I didn't really need an allrounder at 7; I thought a batsman would be better instead.

This was the toughest choice for me. Do I go for MS Dhoni who was next on the list of runs after Yuvraj, or do I go for Dinesh Karthik who has played some attacking late order knocks for Delhi. As a number 7, I felt DK was the better choice.

That leaves the bowling, which pretty much picks itself.

Bowling Attack: RP Singh, Anil Kumble, Ashish Nehra

The top 3 wicket takers in the IPL this year.

Here's the IPL XI 2009: 1. Matthew Hayden 2. Adam Gilchrist (captain, wicket keeper) 3. Suresh Raina 4. AB De Villiers 5. Yuvraj Singh 6. Rohit Sharma 7. Dinesh Karthik 8. Anil Kumble 9. Ashish Nehra 10. RP Singh 11. Lasith Malinga

The IPL XI 2008: 1. Shaun Marsh 2. Gautam Gambhir 3. Suresh Raina 4. Shane Watson 5. Yusuf Pathan 6. MS Dhoni (wicket keeper) 7. Ravindra Jadeja 8. Irfan Pathan 9. Sohail Tanvir 10. Shane Warne (captain) 11. Sreesanth

Raina is the only one who made it to my team in 2008 and does so this year as well. I must really like him.

It could be quite a match pitting these two teams against each other. Raina can bat for both.

Jrod gave the IPL XI 2008 the name BLINGY KINGS, keeping with the tradition for royalty in the IPL.

So what do we call the IPL XI 2009?

Make your pitch on this post...



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18 Pitched:

  1. Leg Break said...
     

    Modi’s Musketeers.

  2. straight point said...
     

    resQ xi...

  3. The Old Batsman said...
     

    Haydos and Gilly, together again.. Gotta love that.

    The DLF Citi Moment of Success Lebara Mobile Adidas Nike Gray-Nicolls Unilever Honda McDonalds dominos Pizza special Topping IPL All-Stars

  4. Chullanz said...
     

    am protesting.......where is ohja??? drop yuvraj and take T.Suman /Jadeja instead. I just love the way u selected the wicky.Karthik really deserve it.Still i have another suggestion ask AB to keep and give chance to Kohli/Pande/Irfan

  5. Rayden said...
     

    Hey Q - Well done with the IPL XI. But it pains me immensely to see Yuvraj on that list.

    I have to agree with Chullanz that either Suman / Ojha / Jadeja or even the first Indian to score a T20 century - Manish Panday could replace Yuvraj.

  6. ms said...
     

    maybe pathan sr. in place of karthik

  7. Q said...
     

    LB: I like that name, however that would more suit a team of the IPL franchise owners and a couple of commentators!

  8. Q said...
     

    SP: haha.. trust u to come up with something like that.

  9. Q said...
     

    OB: Thats one hell of a name.. a match could be over before a commentator gets that one right!

  10. Q said...
     

    Chullanz: With Kumble and 3 part time spinners, I had to make way for a 3rd seamer instead of Ojha..

    As for replacing Yuvi with any of the ones u suggested.. I'm all for it, but Yuvi was among the top 5 Indian run scorers.

  11. Q said...
     

    Rayden: one criteria that I had - players as per position rather than just players kept Pandey out. He makes sense as an opener, but not otherwise.. though I think he has potential he played too few games to give us a sense as to how he would have done compared to Hayden/Gilly.

    I want to replace Yuvraj too.

  12. Q said...
     

    ms: Welcome to Well Pitched.

    Pathan Sr. unfortunately did not play too well this year. Only one solid innings. For what its worth, he's in the 2008 team.

  13. Gaurav Sethi said...
     

    In DC's Gilli, Rohit, and RP you got - keeper, captain, opener, middle order, finisher, spinner, strike bowler.

    12th man (if not in the team): Ojha (DC again)

    And the team boss has to be that metal head DC owner

    Call 'em AC DC!

  14. Q said...
     

    NC: They're the champs, hence deserve the players in the side.. RR had 5 in my IPL XI last year..

    Love the call on the name!

    But too short for an IPL team, nai?

  15. Gaurav Sethi said...
     

    Yes. AC DC is how we fans will call it. Like DC is for Deccan Chargers.

    Given name will be Alternating current Direct Current.

    Not too short is it?

  16. Q said...
     

    LOL!! I'm still laughing so I guess that name works, even though it reminds me of those dreaded physics classes.

    Is that what the full form of the band was as well?

  17. Gaurav Sethi said...
     

    from wiki answers:

    Alternating Current/Direct Current. Angus and Malcolm Young developed the idea for the band's name after seeing the acronym "AC/DC" on the back of a sewing machine owned by their older sister. The brothers felt that this name symbolised the band's raw energy, power-driven performances, and a love for their music.

    However, it has been rumored that the band's name means: Anti Christ / Devil's Child.
    This is NOT the case.

    Ac / Dc stands for Alternate Current / Direct Current.

    So please, do not throw away all those great albums, cds, and cassettes all because of a misunderstanding.

  18. Q said...
     

    Wah, thats some story NC.. thanks for sharing man..

    Alternating Current / Direct Current - first a band, now a cricket team!

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