Rahul Johri appointed BCCI CEO

© Agencies

Board of Control for Cricket in India announced on Wednesday (April 20) that Rahul Johri has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Johri was last serving as Discovery Networks Asia Pacific's Executive Vice-President and General Manager for South Asia and had stepped down from the position earlier this year. He will take on his new role starting June 1, 2016 onwards, reporting to the Honorary Secretary BCCI and will be based at the board's Mumbai office. 

Johri brings with him immense experience and knowledge on board and will be responsible for the smooth functioning of operations, stakeholder management and building robust strategies for further promoting the sport. He will be the first person to hold such a position in BCCI.

Commenting on the appointment, BCCI President, Shashank Manohar, said, "We are pleased to have Rahul with us and are sure his vast experience and knowledge will benefit the board. His vision, guidance and support will contribute towards the successful working of the BCCI."

BCCI Secretary, Anurag Thakur said, "We welcome Rahul aboard and wish him luck for his new role at BCCI. In the past one year, BCCI has undertaken various initiatives aimed towards transforming the working of BCCI in order to make the functioning more robust. This endeavor is another initiative of the board aimed in the same direction and will mark as one more milestone towards strengthening the professional working of the BCCI."

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Rahul Johri, said, "I am honored at the opportunity to serve millions of Indian cricket fans. It will be my utmost endeavor to contribute to the Indian cricket. I am thankful to the President and Honorary Secretary of the BCCI for bestowing such faith in me. I look forward to everyone's support to fulfill this tremendous responsibility."

With over 20 plus years of experience in the media industry, he was last associated with Discovery Networks for 15 years and for the past eight years was leading South Asia operations.

Rohit, Pollard guide Mumbai Indians to first home win

Rohit Sharma's 62 helped Mumbai to their second win of the season © AFP

A fine knock of 62 by Rohit Sharma, along with good contributions from Kieron Pollard (39*), Ambati Rayudu (31) and Jos Buttler (28) helped Mumbai Indians register their first victory at home in the 2016 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL). Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a total of 170 for 7, which proved to be insufficient as Rohit and Co. put on a solid batting display, helping Mumbai to a six-wicket win on Wednesday (April 20).

The chase did not start on the right note for Mumbai Indians as the opening partnership, for the fourth time in five games, did not go beyond single digit. Debutant Kane Richardson picked up a wicket off his first ball in the IPL when Parthiv Patel got a thick edge that ballooned to point where de Villiers juggled before holding on to the ball. 

It was not as quick a start as Mumbai would have hoped for. Runs came via overthrows and thick edges as the batsmen were living dangerously. However, the batsmen did make sure to capitalise on the loose deliveries and showed some clever wrist work as they gave the team some much-needed impetus. Aaron's 19-run over, in which he was hit for a six and two fours, gave Mumbai the thrust they needed in the chase as the hosts crossed 50 by the end of the powerplay, following which the second-wicket pair raised a half-century stand off 35 deliveries.

Shane Watson and Iqbal Abdulla bowled a couple of tight overs, but the Mumbai batsmen managed to ease the pressure when Rayudu scored two boundaries in succession off Harshal Patel, who was having an expensive outing. Royal Challengers needed to break the partnership and they managed to do that when Rayudu hit an Abdulla delivery straight to Richardson at deep mid-wicket to depart for 31, ending a stand worth 76 runs. Rohit then brought up his fifty off 38 balls and took Mumbai past 100 with a six off Abdulla in the 13th over. Rohit scored another four off the left-arm spinner, but his outing came to an end in the same over when he mistimed one to give de Villiers a catch at long-off.

Mumbai needed 56 off the last six overs and they managed to bring down the equation to 43 off 30 balls thanks to Pollard and Buttler, who took the attack to Watson in the 15th over. Buttler then scored two back-to-back sixes off Abdulla, but in his attempt to find a third in as many deliveries, the English batsman handed a catch to Watson at short third-man. The wicket did little to trouble Mumbai's march towards the target as Pollard blasted two consecutive sixes off Richardson in the 17th over to bring it down to 14 off 18. It was all over in the 18th over when Pollard smashed a six and two fours to help Mumbai win with two overs to spare.

Earlier, the Royal Challengers, who were asked to bat first, made as many as six changes for the game. Travis Head and Richardson made their IPL debuts while KL Rahul, Aaron, Abdulla and Stuart Binny were the other inclusions. For Mumbai, Pollard, who had recovered from a bout of food poisoning, replaced Martin Guptill. Right from the start of the innings, Mumbai's opening bowlers meant business. While Kohli was beaten all ends up by Tim Southee, who was moving the ball both ways, Mitchell McClenaghan started with a bouncer that struck Rahul on the helmet. Southee swung the ball well while his New Zealand pace-bowling colleague kept things on the shorter side and troubled the batsmen with his pace and bounce. It took until the 15th ball of the innings for Royal Challengers to find their first boundary when Kohli clipped a Southee delivery over the infield to the backward square-leg fence. 

Rahul got his first four via a top-edge off Southee, that travelled to the third-man fence. However, he was pretty much in control of the shots when he deposited a McClenaghan delivery off the back-foot over the cover fence for the first maximum, and followed it up by guiding a short one over the keeper's head for a six and then beat the short fine-leg for another four. McClenaghan though, had the last laugh as he got Rahul (23) to nick one to Harbhajan Singh at first slip.

Things were looking ominous for Mumbai Indians when Kohli and de Villiers continued from where they left off in the previous game, dealing in regular hits to the fence to bring up a half-century stand off 35 balls, the third fifty-plus partnership for the pair in as many games. However, they could not make it three century stands on the trot as Kohli, looking to power a Krunal Pandya delivery over the fence in the 11th over, found Southee at long-off to depart for a 30-ball 33. If Krunal's joy was palpable after Kohli's dismissal, it reached its crescendo when he had de Villiers (29) out stumped in the same over.

Debutant Head had a nervous start, playing and missing thrice off Southee, who finished his spell wicket-less for 25 runs. The responsibility rested on Shane Watson to guide his team towards a good total, but he fell cheaply, edging a Bumrah delivery to Parthiv to give the bowler his first wicket. Krunal's attempt to do a Malinga went horribly wrong as he conceded five wides, but he managed to finish with figures of 2-27. 

Head and Sarfaraz provided the much-needed acceleration to Royal Challengers' innings as they put on a half-century stand off 30 deliveries and took the total past the 150-mark in the penultimate over. From 123 for 4 after 16 overs, Head and Sarfaraz scored 38 runs in the next three overs, which included an 18-run over from McClenaghan. However, the fifth-wicket stand, worth 63 off 34, came to an end in the final over when Head was run out for 37 off 24. Sarfaraz, who managed a maximum off Bumrah in the last over, got out for 28 while Binny was on his way back soon after. Richardson, who took a single off the final delivery, ensured that Bumrah did not pick up a hat-trick as Royal Challengers finished with what seemed like a competitive total.

Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 170/7 in 20 overs (Travis Head 37, Virat Kohli 33; Jasprit Bumrah 3-31, Krunal Pandya 2-27) lost to Mumbai Indians 171/4 in 18 overs (Rohit Sharma 62, Kieron Pollard 39*; Iqbal Abdulla 3-40) by 6 wickets.

Harsha Bhogle hopes cricketers' complaints did not lead to IPL ouster

"I tell every young cricketer who cares to listen that we will never agree on everything but I will always desire that they do well," Bhogle wrote on his Facebook page © Getty

Harsha Bhogle, the cricket commentator who was recently removed from the Indian Premier League (IPL) commentary panel, remains in the dark about the reason behind his expulsion and hopes it didn't arise out of complaints from cricketers regarding what he says on air.

According to reports, Bhogle was excluded from the IPL commentary team after some senior Indian cricketers complained to a board official following a recent ICC World Twenty20, 2016 game.

"I still don't know why I am not doing the IPL. I haven't been told. I can accept the fact that people don't like me. But I genuinely hope it isn't because cricketers have complained about what I have to say," Bhogle wrote on his Facebook page.

"I tell every young cricketer who cares to listen that we will never agree on everything but I will always desire that they do well; that I cannot stop them from scoring a run, or taking a wicket or holding a catch.

"Doing that is their job, telling the story of what they did, or didn't, is mine. Our paths will be strewn with admiration and disagreement. It is the nature of the job whether you are a university level cricketer or among the best there has been. And, for heaven's sake, my greatest criticism is that I don't do enough of it," he wrote.

It is also alleged that Bhogle was involved in a heated argument with an official at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur during his commentary stint at the World T20 last month, an event that could have been the reason behind his unceremonious axing.

Bhogle's axing was met with negative responses, with several cricket fans throwing their weight behind the 54-year-old, who has more than 3.5 million followers on Twitter, the social media platform.

Finch, Bravo guide Gujarat Lions to winning start

Aaron Finch smashed a 47-ball 74 in his side's successful chase © BCCI

Aaron Finch's quickfire half-century helped Indian Premier League debutants Gujarat Lions begin on a winning note as the Suresh Raina-led side beat Kings XI Punjab by 5 wickets in their tournament opener in Mohali on Monday (April 11). After Dwayne Bravo's career-best of 4 for 22, Finch hammered a 47-ball 74 and Dinesh Karthik finished unbeaten on 41 off 26 deliveries as the visitors chased down the 162-run target with 14 balls to spare.

Put in to bat, the opening partnership worth 78 between Murali Vijay and Manan Vohra set Punjab on course for a big total but Ravindra Jadeja took first two of the four wickets that fell in quick succession in the middle overs, to trigger the collapse that restricted the home side to 161. 

Praveen Kumar sent down a rather silent first over to start the proceedings. Vijay opened up with the first six of the game, over the midwicket fence, and a boundary through extra cover, off consecutive deliveries to end an otherwise disciplined over from Pradeep Sangwan. A beautifully-timed drive through the covers followed in the next over from Praveen, before Sangwan was hit for another couple, on either side of the wicket. 

Manan Vohra, who had been a mere spectator while Vijay was driving at will, came to the party soon after - welcoming James Faulkner into the attack with an elegant drive past the mid-off fielder. Bravo, fielding at deep mid wicket, grassed a tough chance despite putting in a full-length dive, when the batsman was on 8 and the home team on 35. The drop proved costly as the local hero went on to add 30 more runs to the Punjab total in 14 deliveries. 

Vijay brought up the first fifty-run partnership for Kings XI on their home ground since 2011 with a lofted drive in the long-off region and was fortunate to survive a stumping chance on the very next delivery, off the bowling of Sarabjit Ladda. Vohra, however, disturbed the leg spinner's figures with a six straight over the bowler's head and a pull to deep mid-wicket fence to pick 14 off his second over. 

Vohra did not even spare Jadeja, smacking him over the deep mid wicket fence for his second maximum, but the bowler had the last laugh. The dangerous-looking stand between the duo was brought to an end when wicketkeeper Karthik caught hold of the faint edge from Vohra's bat to end his 23-ball cameo worth 38. 

After a promising start, Vijay (42) fell in the following over from the Saurashtra spinner, the ball turning just enough to deceive the batsman and peg his middle stump back. 

Bravo tightened the screws further with twin strikes in the space of three deliveries. Two short of becoming the first man to snap up 300 wickets in Twenty20 cricket, Bravo knocked out the middle stumps of Kings XI's danger-duo, Glenn Maxwell (2) and captain David Miller (15), in the same over and celebrated the milestone with his customary 'Champion' dance.

From a comfortable position of 78 for no loss, the home team slipped to 102 for 4 at the end of the 12th over. The Wriddhiman Saha-Marcus Stoinis partnership helped the hosts overcome the dry spell and revive the innings. The duo added 55 in 45 deliveries to keep the scorecard ticking, with Stoinis particularly going after Faulkner who gave away 39 in his four overs. 

Bravo, bowling the final over, added two more to his kitty to finish with personal best figures of 4 for 22 as he had both the set batsmen caught off successive deliveries to keep a check on the hosts' late flourish.

In contrast, Lions' chase did not get off to an ideal start as Sandeep Sharma, coming in after an injury layoff, had Brendon McCullum stumped off the final delivery of the first over. Sans McCullum's fireworks at the top, not many would have given Lions the chance, but Aaron Finch stepped up with a blazing knock of 74.

Finch's two half-century stands, with Raina and Karthik, helped tip the scales in their favour. The Australian opener - playing for sixth different franchise in the IPL - did most of the talking in boundaries, hitting nine of them before bringing up his fifty in the 8th over, while captain Raina chipped in with a typical nine-ball cameo worth 20 in their 51-run alliance. 

The Lions went past the 100-run mark when Finch took a couple off Sandeep Sharma at the start of the 11th over. The 65-run stand between the opener and Karthik was broken by the little-known Pradeep Sahu. A slower one from the rookie tricked the batsman, turned past his bat and Saha, behind the stumps, ensured they didn't let the opportunity slip. A visibly-disappointed Finch walked back after a match-defining 74 off 47 deliveries. 

The equation was down to 26 required off as many deliveries for Gujarat to embark on their IPL journey with a victory. Even as Karthik held one end, Jadeja (8) and IPL debutant Ishan Kishan (11) departed in quick succession to trigger panic in the visitors' camp. Karthik, however, held his nerves, smashed seven boundaries in his unbeaten 41 off 26 and steer his team home eventually.

Brief Scores: Kings XI Punjab 161/6 in 20 overs (Murali Vijay 42, Manan Vohra 38, Marcus Stoinis 33; Dwayne Bravo 4-22, Ravindra Jadeja 2-30) lost to Gujarat Lions 162/5 in 17.4 overs (Aaron Finch 74, Dinesh Karthik 41*; Sandeep Sharma 1-21) by 5 wickets

Yuvraj Singh's presence will be missed: Tom Moody

Tom Moody also brushed aside concerns over recent form of some of the key batsmen like Eoin Morgan and Kane Williamson © AFP

One reason that severely hampered Sunrisers Hyderabad's campaign in the last edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was a shaky middle-order.
The franchise identified the problem and made some crucial buys in the player auction in February earlier this year. 

One of Hyderabad's major investment was to snap up Yuvraj Singh, who fetched INR 14 crore and 16 crore respectively in the previous two player auctions, for a relatively cut-price deal of INR 7 crore. Yuvraj, however, suffered an injury during the latter stages of the recently-concluded World T20 and will be out of action for two weeks in the IPL. While Tom Moody, the Sunrisers coach, bemoaned the Indian star's absence, he was quick to note that his swift recovery would be of paramount importance to the franchise. 

"Yuvi (Yuvraj) is a big loss. He's a match winner and he has proved that. He has played a lot of franchise cricket here. His presence will be missed but what's important is he recovers as quickly as possible. Within couple of weeks he'll be back into consideration but a lot will depend on his meetings with the specialists. We are hopeful it won't be too long," Moody said in a pre-match press conference in Bangalore on April 11 (Monday).

While they cope with Yuvraj's absence, Sunrisers will hope for David Warner, skipper of the side, to set the tone early in the season. Batting at No. 4 for Australia in the World T20, Warner managed just 38 runs in four games at an abysmal average of 9.50, but Moody is not worried about the pugnacious left-hander's form and hinted at slotting him back at the top of the order.

"The thing with Warner is, as he showed it with us two years ago, that he can bat anywhere. He was phenomenal in the way he batted at No. 4 for us in the campaign when we had half the games in the UAE.

"As we saw last year in our campaign, Warner is a destructive at the top of the order. You can ask any opening bowler in world cricket whether they'll be happy to see him at No. 1 or No. 4 and you'll get the answer that they'll rather see him coming in a bit later.

"The dilemma that Australians had was that they had four people who could open the batting and he was the easy one to shift. Whether he was the right one to shift, is the argument," Moody opined.

The former Australian also brushed aside concerns over recent form of some of the key batsmen like Eoin Morgan and Kane Williamson. "They are professionals, high class performers and we've worked very hard in the last few days. All of them are striking the ball well. This is a different campaign, different team, different opportunity and I'm sure all of them will thrive and have a successful campaign. 

Sunrisers begin their IPL 2016 campaign against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Tuesday (April 12).

Vijay Mallya acquired Barbados Trident for just 100 USD

"Running the team will cost about USD 2 million but the Barbados government is granting subsidies to the franchise," Mallya said.

Vijay Mallya, the troubled businessman, has claimed that he paid only USD 100 to acquire Barbados Tridents, a franchise in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Mallya, who owes his creditors an amount of INR 9000 crore following the shut-down of Kingfisher Airlines, left for London last month. Mallya bought the CPL team just days before he stepped down as chairman of United Spirits, and he subsequently had to relinquish his position in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise.

Speaking to PTI, Mallya explained how he and other shareholders bagged the ownership of Barbados Tridents for USD 100. "Everyone made a big drama about me acquiring the CPL team Barbados Tridents. It was an acquisition that was not made for any cash. The acquisition was made for just USD 100," he claimed.

However, Mallya also said the cost of running the franchise would be around USD 2 million. "By buying the team, me and the other shareholders assumed the obligation to participate in the tournament. Now participation in CPL costs money. So I went to the Barbados government saying I need your support. I met the Prime Minister and the government agreed to support but I paid USD 100 only to buy the team.

"Running the team will cost about USD 2 million but the Barbados government is granting subsidies to the franchise. People don't get it and jump to conclusions without knowing the facts. There is a cost of participation such as players salaries and franchise fee. So I worked out all the numbers, studied the model and went to government asking for help. They were keen to help me," Mallya added.

CPL teams can only generate revenue through ticket sales and sponsorship as there is no system of a central revenue, unlike the IPL.

Pumped up Johnson ready to fire

 

© BCCI

Since his retirement from international cricket in November 2015, Mitchell Johnsonhas played only one competitive match - a club game in Perth. Coming into theIndian Premier League (IPL) 2016, he lacks a match environment, a stage on which he hasn't bowled a lot in the last few months. However, going into his first high-quality game since retirement, his report card from the nets read well. Apart from his personal take of feeling fresh and hungry, his captain too is delighted at the way with which he has managed to trouble some batsmen. 

David Miller, Kings XI Punjab's skipper, has already given his verdict and is happy with how the Australian pacer is swinging the ball. A 'couple of swollen toes in the nets' courtesy Johnson has only pleased him further.

"I'm genuinely pumped to get back onto the field, and even training with my teammates this week gave me a rush I haven't felt in a while," Johnson wrote in his column for Fox Sports. "The good sign for me is I'm incredibly excited for the IPL to get underway now. That's certainly not how I was feeling this time last year when I was really flat and physically exhausted after a long summer that included a World Cup."

Johnson called it quits after suffering a few niggles and a loss of form, a period which saw Mitchell Starc take over the Australian lead pacer's role. However, having retired, Johnson joined a long list of players who continue to play in the IPL following international retirement. The questions were obvious - if the body is fit to play such high-intensity contests, is money the only reason for players to choose club cricket over representing the country? 

Johnson, however, brushed aside such doubts and said that money cannot be a motivating factor for him to continue playing. "A lot of people think the IPL is all about money but I can guarantee you it isn't," he pointed out. "I would find it really hard to be motivated if I was just playing for money - you have to actually have your heart in it. I know I do, and I can't wait to pull on that Kings XI uniform again."

Kings XI Punjab are set to begin their IPL 2016 campaign against Gujarat Lions at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Monday (April 11). His experience will prove invaluable in a side that has numerous promising young Indian pacers. With Kyle Abbott being the only other foreign pacer in the squad, Johnson will have to play a key role if Kings XI Punjab have to better their form in 2014 (finalists) and go a step further to win their maiden IPL title.

Delhi Daredevils is not only about Brathwaite: Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir was confident of Sunil Narine coming good, even with his remodelled action. © BCCI

The Eden Gardens in Kolkata is renowned not just for its colossal capacity to hold large number of spectators, but also for the vociferous, sportive crowds that flock the stadium. There's also the clich that states that a cricketer's education is not complete till he plays in front of a packed Eden Gardens - something that the Kolkata Knight Riders will be familiar with, having played in front of more than just a few full houses in the last eight editions of the Indian Premier League.

On the eve of their tournament opener against Delhi Daredevils, Gautam Gambhir, the Knight Riders captain, was once again his pan-faced self, but yet, managed to force a smile when asked about what he loved about playing at the iconic venue, which is home to his team. "The people of Kolkata have always been our strength," Gambhir said on Saturday (April 9).

"One of the biggest strengths of KKR is the fan base. The amount of loyalty and emotions they've shown us after the first three years is incredible. They stuck through with us, believed in us and have shared our emotions of joy when in victory, and sorrow in losses. Whenever we walk onto the field, we want to make them proud and happy by playing good cricket."

Last season, the Knight Riders missed out on playoffs qualification by just a point to finish fifth. However, they had started exceptionally well, something Gambhir hoped the side would continue this year. "Everyone's excited and we're looking forward to a good start. I believe that if we can get off to a good start, it always takes the pressure off you and this is what we've realised last year as well. Up to 12 games we were at the top and suddenly in two games we slipped to No.5, so we can hopefully start off well and continue that into the tournament," he said. 

Gambhir also confirmed that Sunil Narine, who has been one of their most effective bowlers, will not be available for the opening clash.

"I am as confident in his ability as I was last year," Gambhir said, when asked if Narine will be as effective with a remodelled bowling action. "He'll also be confident with a remodelled action after getting the monkey off his back. It is very important for anyone to get that off your back as you can go into the game with freedom and know that everything has been sorted. The more confident that Sunil is the more confident I will be. Last time he was always under the scrutiny, this year, you'll get the best of them and see the best of him as well," he added.

Carlos Brathwaite, who joins Delhi this season, has been the talk of the town after he smashed four successive sixes in the final of the recently-concluded World T20 in Kolkata to hand West Indies an improbable win. Gambhir, however, believed that his opponents weren't just about the burly West Indian. "We did not discuss about individuals. Delhi Daredevils is not only about Brathwaite, it's about their other quality players as well. If we have to win, we have to win against 11 people. We don't have to beat one individual to win a game of cricket, we have to beat 11," he said. 

During the course of its existence, the IPL has served as a platform not just to unearth talent, but also provide players with second chances. When Gambhir was asked if he had an eye out to making a comeback to the national side if he performed well for the Knight Riders, he retorted with a hint of annoyance. "I have said this every IPL that I approach every edition with the view of winning it and not with a view of getting into the Indian side. I don't know how the others approach it, but when I play for KKR and the IPL, my focus is on KKR winning the IPL.

"Playing for India or getting selected, when it happens, it'll happen. My job is to score runs and get KKR to win. I only am focussing on that at the moment. When I can't guarantee a tomorrow, how can I tell you what would happen after the IPL?" he asked.

However, he calmed down instantly when asked about the tragic collapse of an under-construction flyover in the city and assured that he and his team would do all they could for the victims. "That's our responsibility not only from a KKR point of view, but individually as well as Indians. This is something very unfortunate and should not happen. If we could help the victims in any way, me personally will go out of my way to do it, and KKR will as well. You can't undo the loss, but what we can do in our capacity, we would love to do," he concluded.

Google: EMD Update

The EMD Update — for “Exact Match Domain” — is a filter Google launched in September 2012 to prevent poor quality sites from ranking well simply because they had words that match search terms in their domain names. When a fresh EMD Update happens, sites that have improved their contentmay regain good rankings. New sites with poor content — or those previously missed by EMD — may get caught. In addition, “false positives” may get released. Our latest news about the EMD Update is below.

Google: Pirate Update

Google’s Pirate Update is a filter introduced in August 2012 designed to prevent sites with many copyright infringement reports, as filed through Google’s DMCA system, from ranking well in Google’s listings. The filter is periodically updated. When this happens, sites previously impacted may escape, if they’ve made the right improvements. The filter may also catch new sites that escaped being caught before, plus it may release “false positives” that were caught.

Murali made me feel like a 10-year-old: Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist, the legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batsman, has rated offspinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh as the bowlers he feared the most during his career.

Gilchrist, who scored 33 international centuries from 1997 to 2008, is credited as someone who transformed the role of a wicketkeeper because of his destructive batting ability. The left-hander was a game-changer batting at No. 7 in Tests and had the flexibility to open in One-Day Internationals.

Speaking at a school coaching clinic in Delhi, the 44-year-old said the Sri Lankan and Indian legendary spinners made him nervous every time he had to face them. "It would be a combination of Murali and Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh)," Gilchrist said on Friday (April 8) when asked who were the toughest bowlers he faced. "I could never read the delivery from Murali's finger movements. He always made me feel like a 10-year-old.

"Whenever I was in doubt, I promptly swept. There was this Test innings where I had gone out with this mindset to sweep. First ball, I swept and the ball went for four. Second ball, I swept again. This time, it went straight up in the sky and I was caught. Next match, again I swept Murali the first ball and was caught plumb in front of the stumps."

Despite his fears, Gilchrist had a good record against Muralitharan, averaging 52 in nine Test innings but was dismissed by him four times. He had further success in ODIs, succumbing to Muralitharan just twice in 32 ODIs.

It is little surprise Gilchrist also included Harbhajan in his admission after falling to him seven times in Test cricket. In 10 Tests against Harbhajan, Gilchrist averaged just 25, well short of his overall average of 47.6.

Famously, Harbhajan dismissed Gilchrist first ball in the midst of his hat-trick in the memorable Second Test in Kolkata in 2001. In the deciding Test in Chennai, Harbhajan continued to torment Gilchrist dismissing him twice cheaply to spearhead India to an unforgettable series victory. 

STATBUZZ - Of IPL openers and corresponding records

© BCCI

6: The number of times Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) played the first match of the tournament - the most by any team. They have won five of the six games, with their only loss coming against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2011. Mumbai Indians (MI) and CSK are next on the list with four and three appearances in the opener respectively.

0: Among the eight original teams, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) are the only ones yet to play in any opening match.

1: Two matches being played on the opening day has happened only once so far - in 2009. MI took on CSK in the first match while Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) played Rajasthan Royals in the second. Both matches were held in Cape Town.

5-3: Win-loss record of teams batting first in openers. In the first four seasons, teams batting first won all the matches while teams have successfully chased down targets thrice in the last four years.

1: Ashoke Dinda is the only one player to make his T20 debut in the opening match of an IPL season. He took 2/9 in the match against RCB in 2008.

2: Number of times a foreign captain featured in the opening match of IPL - Adam Gilchrist of Deccan Chargers in 2010 and Mahela Jayawardene of Delhi Daredevils (DD) in 2013. 

158*: By Brendon McCullum for KKR against RCB in Bangalore in 2008 is the only century scored during the opening match of a season. He scored 71.17% of the team's total in that particular innings, second most for a T20 innings where all wickets were lost or the full 20 overs used. It is also the most runs scored by anyone in tournament openers. Jacques Kallis is next with 157 runs in four innings. 

13: Total number of fifties scored apart from McCullum's hundred. Jacques Kallis has scored the most fifties two. 

9: Wickets taken by Lasith Malinga in his four tournament openers - the most wickets by any. Sunil Narine is next best with eight wickets in three games. No one else has more than three wickets.

4/13: by Sunil Narine for KKR against DD in Kolkata in 2013 are the best figures for a bowler in IPL openers. 4/20 against MI the following year is the next best on the list.

12: Number of ducks in opening games of the tournament. Manoj Tiwary in 2010 and Unmukt Chand in 2013 are the ones to be dismissed off the very first ball of the tournament.

2: Number of times Jacques Kallis and Rohit Sharma took the first catch of the tournament. Kallis did it in 2008 and 2013 while Rohit did it in 2010 and 2014.

159: Average score batting first in the opening match of the IPL. Comparatively, the average score batting second is only 133. 

222: by KKR against RCB in Bangalore in the very first match of IPL is the highest team score while 82 by RCB in the second innings is the lowest. 19 runs from extras was the highest individual score for RCB in that innings.

6: The number of wickets lost in the opening match of IPL in 2015 between KKR and MI in Kolkata - the fewest number of wickets lost in an opening game.

1: There has been only one occasion of a batsman getting retired hurt Sachin Tendulkar against CSK in Chennai in 2012 after getting hit on the glove.

131*: partnership by Rohit Sharma and Corey Anderson for MI against KKR in Kolkata in 2015 is the highest in the opening match of an IPL season.

Indian Premier League - And so, the show will go on

The captains of the eight teams in IPL 9 during the opening ceremony © Getty

'Don't be so jealous of the IPL,' MS Dhoni famously quipped at an English journalist during India's tour of the British Isles in 2014. It was a peculiar bon mot even by the Dhoni-standard of oddball press conference quotes.

Some of those assembled at the press conference went on to call it a puerile defense to a question on the team's dwindling fortunes in Test cricket. That was India's most successful captain stepping in to shield a product he had inadvertently pushed into inception by winning the inaugural World T20. This was Dhoni, a pro-establishment two-time IPL-winning captain, offering a staunch defence against a perceived point of view.

Yet, jealousy is just one of many emotions the Indian Premier League has evoked ever since Lalit Modi and BCCI revealed a hastily but smartly-packaged T20 product to the cricketing world in 2008. The tournament, with its in-your-face 'cricketainment', has piqued curiosity and caused aversion in equal measure. It's seen an amalgam of hope and fear, of relief and rage and pride and remorse.

One season followed another as the tournament, unaware of its own burgeoning potential, wasted no time to stop, pause and reflect on the trail it was leaving behind. This was until the very hurdles it was powering through, snowballed into a lawsuit of such magnitude, that even the mandarins of the richest cricket board couldn't sidestep.

The IPL, now in the ninth season, is a confused teenager with an existential crisis, an adolescent suddenly seeking purpose from life, one who needs to be nurtured and looked after, besides a never-ending barrage of counselling sessions.

At some levels, the forthcoming season presents an opportunity for the tournament to start afresh, to reinvent itself after the debilitating effects of the Lodha Panel verdict that left it without its two finalists from the first season - Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals - two immensely popular franchises and two massive fan bases.

That BCCI managed to find stop-gap replacements in the Pune and Gujarat franchises, without owing them any remuneration from its central revenue pool during a turbulent time like this, is testament to the league's patronage and commercial potential. The sponsors' merry-go-round has kept BCCI's coffers healthy. However, the tournament's true money-spinning potential for the investing private sector in the next phase will unravel itself only now, when the existing 10-year-contracts come up for renewal in just over an year's time. Which makes the success of the season all the more imperative.

In the backdrop of the times that would rank amonst the darkest in BCCI's tumultuous history, the IPL offers solace. The 'carnival' continues to keep its promise of attracting and unearthing talents. Cricketers themselves aren't averse to an IPL gig, despite it being placed bang in the centre of a packed international calendar. Elite cricketers like AB de Villiers have gone as far as saying they consider giving up a format in international cricket when giving up IPL would appear the norm. With T20 poised to be at the forefront of cricket's evolution, IPL offers experience, an opportunity to exchange ideas and most importantly, remuneration cheques with substantially more digits.

Glitz, glamour and entertainment have become as much a part of IPL as the cricket. © BCCI

On the face of it, the IPL is still the prima donna of the T20 opera. However, rival leagues like the Big Bash and the Caribbean Premier League are no longer mere specks in the horizon. The raging success of the BBL05 early this year would have had the authorities in BCCI stand up and take notice. There were lessons in there for IPL, particularly in terms of fan engagement and bridging the player-spectator connect.

With a fan-first theme lined up for the 2016 season, there is a clear mandate on IPL's organisers that cricket alone cannot drive the 'cricket crazy' Indian spectators to the stadiums. Particularly when another edition of the tournament begins within a week of an ICC event, and spectator burnout becomes a very real possibility.

And so, the IPL will have, for the first time, fans playing mock third umpire, LED-lighted stumps, and a team with a 'home and away' jersey (Royal Challengers Bangalore). Beyond the metropolitan cities hosting games, specifically created 'fan parks' will seek to provide stadium-like atmosphere while each franchise itself will endeavor to walk the extra mile to bridge the spectator-player gap and create a distinct fan experience at their respective venues.

Outside the razzmatazz in the build up to the season, there is the cricket, which in itself offers plenty of promise. The Gujarat-Pune game in the opening week will see several former teammates square off in an IPL game for the first time to create an interesting match-up. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir have an opportunity to lead their established sides - Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders - to an unprecedented third title.

Then there are the perennial powerhouses of the league, Royal Challengers Bangalore with a star-studded top-four - Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers - that is the envy of every T20 side, in pursuit of their maiden title. There is also the prospect of watching how Sunrisers Hyderabad accommodate both Mustafizur Rahman and Trent Boult in a line-up alongside Ashish Nehra. Can Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab punch above their weight?

On Saturday (April 9), the spotlight will once again turn to the field. The courts are adjourned... for now. The hearings will take their due course. Right now, nothing else will please the connoisseurs of the game more than if the quality of cricket supersedes all the other emanating noise.

IPL: Of excitement, joy and despair

Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League has captured the imagination of the cricketing world with its in-your-face entertainment quotient. The excitement of a new season is heightened several notches due to the progressive success of the preceding editions. Over the years, the tournament has witnessed moments of unparalleled joy, heartbreaks, outstanding individual performances, inexplicable gaffes. Cricbuzz takes a trip down memory lane and pulls out 10 golden moments from the eight previous seasons to kindle your anticipation for the gala event.

1. Ssssh! Pollard at Work

Kieron Pollard found his own 'unique' way to stay within the limits prescribed by the on-field umpires © BCCI

Over the years, West Indies players in the IPL have brought with them, a unique Caribbean spirit. Chief among them, Kieron Pollard, has lit up many an IPL game with his antics. At the Chinnaswamy Stadium against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015, Pollard resorted to banter in a bid to unnerve fellow West Indian Chris Gayle - who was key to the hosts' chase of 209. The on-field umpires objected to the chatter and instructed Pollard to keep quiet. In what is set to go down amongst one of the most bizarre moments of cricket, something that left the commentators and members of the Mumbai Indians dugout in splits, Pollard turned up on the field in the next over with a tape around his mouth. Classic!

2. The Premature celebration

David Warner's gaffe on the boundary line against Royal Challengers Bangalore during the 2015 season was a lesson in the old cricketing adage - The catch isn't complete till it's complete. In yet another rain-curtailed game in Hyderabad, the Royal Challengers were set a daunting target of 81 to chase down in six overs to keep their qualification hopes alive. Led by an opening assault by Gayle, Royal Challengers kept abreast with the asking rate. Virat Kohli, the last remaining recognized batsman in the line-up, needed to score 4 off 2 deliveries when he lofted a length delivery from Bhuvneshwar Kumar towards the long-off fence. Warner, stationed guarding the boundary line, steadied himself and pouched the catch, only to pull out a premature celebratory fist-pump towards the dugout while inadvertently moving backwards and stepping on the boundary and conceding a six. While Royal Challengers won the match, the Sunrisers proceeded to lose the final game and were knocked out of the competition. Too high a price for a celebration.

3. Gangnam vs Bhangnam

In an intriguing battle of bat and ball, Harbhajan Singh had the last dance © BCCI

The IPL 2013 clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium was billed as the battle of the heavy weights - Lasith Malina and Chris Gayle. Royal Challengers came into the match on the back of a thumping win over Pune Warriors where Gayle's scarcely believable 175 broke all kinds of records including those set for most number of impromptu "Gangnam Style" dances. It took the Mumbai crowd a while to see Gayle as Rohit Sharma opted to bat. Mumbai's total of 194 meant the Jamaican would go after the target straight away. And go-after he did. Mitchell Johnson was hit for a six and a couple of fours forcing Rohit to bring on Harbhajan inside the powerplay. The offie struck in his first over with a slightly slower delivery that forced Gayle into mishitting one to deep mid-wicket. Having dismissed the dangerman, Harbhajan started a celebratory jig that was half 'Gangnam' and half 'Bhangra', a Punjabi dance form, much to the delight of the 30,000 home fans. Gayle's dismissal triggered a batting collapse and the Royal Challengers fell well short of Mumbai's total. "My dance ended up in a 'Bhangnam' style," an ecstatic Harbhajan said after the match.

4. Gilly strikes with his first and last ball

Adam Gilchrist, a modern-day great and a benchmark for wicketkeeping standards, bid goodbye in his own style - with a wicket and the 'Gangnam' © BCCI

Adam Gilchrist, as a champion wicket-keeper, over the course of his career effected innumerable dismissals. In the 2013 season of IPL, with Mumbai Indians nine down and looking unlikely to win, the affable superstar created a truly memorable moment when he decided to let go of his wicket-keeping gloves to have a bowl. Gilchrist, playing in his final IPL game, flighted his first delivery outside the off-stump and Harbhajan Singh took the bait and holed out to Gurkeerat Singh at long on. A surprised Gilchrist set-off on a run and did the 'Gangnam Style' dance himself. An emotional Kings XI Punjab team then hauled their skipper on their shoulders for a lap around the Dharamsala stadium. Despite their 50-run win over eventual champions, Mumbai, Kings XI failed to make it to the playoffs. A bemused Gilchrist in the post match celebration remarked: "Harbhajan took my wicket many many times so I just wanted to mimic his reaction."

5. 'He's only a boy'

The format of IPL is such that it can throw up strange contests. To quote a boxing metaphor, only in the IPL can a cruiser-weight take on a heavyweight. The final of the second edition of the tournament between the now-defunct Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore witnessed one such incident that pitted a relative unknown Manish Pandey against a seasoned veteran Andrew Symonds. Pandey, who had shot into limelight just a few matches prior to the final by becoming the first Indian to score an IPL hundred, also against the Chargers, was identified as one of the key men capable of leading Royal Challengers' chase of 143. As Pandey walked out to open the batting, Symonds followed the young batsman all the way to the pitch, muttering away looking to psyche him out of the game. 

Symonds' antics prompted Harsha Bhogle on air to exclaim "Symonds should pick on someone his own size. He's (Pandey) only a boy." Symonds's tirade continued well into the first over of the chase as Pandey drove the first delivery he faced towards Symonds at cover. Symonds's sledge worked as Pandey made only 4 runs off 8 balls before falling to Pragyan Ohja. The Chargers then went on to claim a memorable win to clinch the IPL 2009 title.

6. Ecstasy to despair in two seconds

An early lesson for an exceptional cricketer that the sport he plies his trade in, is indeed about glorious uncertainties. © BCCI

Contests between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers, called the 'South Indian Derby', have produced many-a-moment to savour but none as memorable as their clash at Chepauk in 2013. Despite losing early wickets, fifties from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers had pushed Royal Challengers' total to 166, a competitive one further enhanced by Super Kings losing their openers inside four overs. Suresh Raina, S Badrinath and MS Dhoni then scored brisk 30s to keep the chase within reach before Ravindra Jadeja took centre stage. Chennai needed 16 off the final over bowled by RP Singh. Jadeja picked up a boundary off the first with an outside edge to third-man before launching a length ball over long-on for a six. 6 off 4. The next three balls yielded two singles and a double, meaning Jadeja had to score 2 off the final ball to secure a win. RP's last ball was short and outside off, Jadeja went for the cut and edged it straight into the hands of the third-man fielder. A beaming Kohli ran in to celebrate with his team only to see the umpire signalling a no-ball for RP had overstepped by a mile. Kohli's ecstasy had turned to despair in a split-second and CSK had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

7. A last-ball six and unforeseen reactions

Rajasthan Royals should have played the playoffs in 2014 season. They didn't. From being firmly in the driver's seat with three matches to go, the Shane Watson-led side inexplicably found a way to slip down to fifth spot. They had multiple chances to make the cut even in their final league game at the Wankhede stadium but somehow let it all slip. Their rivals to the playoff berth, Mumbai Indians needed to chase down an improbable 190 in 14.3 overs to go through at Royals' expense. Easy for Royals, one would think. Except, Mumbai Indians weren't going to lie down and get rolled over, not in front of their home fans. Led by a belligerent Corey Anderson (95 off 44), Mumbai gnawed large chunks of the total away until they required 9 off 3 balls (for qualification) in an over to be bowled by death-overs specialist - James Faulkner.

The left-armer, after restricting Anderson to just a single, served up a juicy full-toss to Ambati Rayudu who swatted it away for a six. Rayudu then ran himself out off the third ball while attempting a second run meaning that the scores were tied as of ball 14.3. After calculations, it was understood that Mumbai needed to score a boundary off the next ball to get their NRR above that of Royals. Aditya Tare, facing his first ball, was offered a generous full toss on leg-stump which he duly belted behind backward square for a six, sparking wild celebrations. Amidst the hullabaloo of the Mumbai players was the sight of a visibly disappointed Royals mentor, Rahul Dravid who threw his cap in disgust before swiftly regaining his composure.

8. The Steyn Remover

From one genius to another - a wry smile and an applause. © BCCI

While it is well known that Dale Steyn isn't the same bowler with the white ball as he is with the red, his reputation of being a fast bowler extraordinaire precedes him against most opposition, even in IPL. Against friend, confidante and national teammate AB de Villiers however, Steyn's white-ball abilities have come a cropper. Twice. In the 2014 encounter between Royal Challengers and Sunrisers, de Villiers's calculated onslaught on his South African teammate helped his side pull off a stunning victory. With 28 required off the last 12 deliveries, Steyn stepped up to bowl the crucial 19th over to close the game out for Sunrisers. De Villiers was on 62 off 34 and was the last remaining hope for the Royal Challengers. He put on his Superman cape. First ball, slower off-cutter, lapped over square leg for six. Second ball, fuller, hit over sight-screen for six. A couple of singles and then a lofted off-drive for four followed by the most outrageous cricket shot - a shuffle outside off-stump and scoop over fine-leg for six. 24 runs off the over and the game was sealed. Such was the quality of de Villiers' improvisation that even Steyn couldn't stop himself from applauding his destroyer. At the end of the game, the two embraced mid-pitch creating a golden IPL moment.

9. MS, the man possessed

The third season of IPL saw perennial powerhouses Chennai Super Kings get off to a sluggish start in the tournament. At one stage of the tournament, the Chennai outfit slipped to four consecutive defeats, jeopardizing their semifinal aspirations. Their final league encounter, against Kings XI Punjab, at the picturesque Dharamsala stadium was a do-or-die affair. Kings XI, led by Shaun Marsh's belligerent 88, racked up a mammoth 192. Despite losing openers Murali Vijay and Matthew Hayden early, Super Kings kept the asking rate under check, thanks to quickfire innings from Suresh Raina and S Badrinath. A flurry of boundaries from the skipper Dhoni meant his side needed 16 off the last over to qualify for the semis. Irfan Pathan was handed the responsibility of bowling the crucial last over. He started with a wide full delivery that Dhoni muscled past the sweeper cover fielder for four. 

Pathan should have had Dhoni off the next ball when he got his leading edge with a slower delivery but the ball didn't carry to the on-rushing long off fielder, Piyush Chawla. A fumble ensured Dhoni picked up two and retained strike. 10 off 4. The next ball, a length delivery, was ferociously dispatched out of the stadium. With four required off three, ice-man Dhoni launched another six over long-on to complete a thrilling win. Following the win, even as the rest of the Super Kings players marched onto the field in celebration, the cameras zoomed in on Dhoni, now resembling a boxer after a bout. The skipper was seen murmuring to himself and then delivered an uppercut to himself so as to pinch him awake from the trance. Unforgettable.

10. Yuvi does a Jonty

Mumbai Indians, the most expensive IPL franchise, got off to a slow start in the opening edition of the tournament, a predicament owed largely due to the untimely injury to Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan's suspension following 'slap-gate'. Their campaign gained momentum mid-way through the tournament under the stewardship of Shaun Pollock and at one point Mumbai were firm favourites to grab the final semifinal berth before they stumbled their way out of the reckoning, following three successive defeats. Going into their home game against Kings XI on a six-match winning streak, Mumbai looked set to chase down Punjab's 189 with Tendulkar leading the way with a sterling half-century. His run out with 30 to get off 3 overs turned the tide back in Punjab's favour who skittled through the Mumbai middle-order in rapid succession. Mumbai were seven down and needed 19 off the final over bowled by VRV Singh. Siddharth Chitnis slapped a waist high full toss (no ball) for six before getting a four of the next. The equation was reduced to a more comfortable 8 off 5 before the inexperienced Mumbai batsmen committed hara-kiri. Chitnis and Dilhara Fernando got run-out looking to pinch an extra run and last man Vikrant Yeligati walked in with 4 to get off 2. He got two off the penultimate ball to reduce the equation to 2 off 1. Yeligati then hit the last ball to mid-off and scampered for a single. Yuvraj Singh, the fielder, scooped on to the ball and flung himself at the stump ala Jonty Rhodes, effected the run-out and set out on a celebratory run around the Wankhede Stadium much to chagrin of the home fans.