IPL 2016 Weekly Roundup: Week 1

So the first week of the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been done with and it hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. Stadiums were not crammed up and the matches too were quite tedious initially. Things, however, have picked up and despite the slow start, there have been quite a few things to take note of in the first week of the tourney. Here we review week one of the IPL 2016. Gujarat Lions steer ahead of the pack: Mumbai: Gujarat Lions batsmen Aaron Finch and Dhawal Kulkarni celebrates after winning the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 16, 2016. (Photo: Sandeep Mahankal/IANS) They are the new team on the block and have a very attractive looking squad. Much, hence, was expected from the Gujarat Lions and they have not disappointed. Aaron Finch has been on fire as an opener, while the others have rallied around him. Dwayne Bravo is yet again working his magic with the ball and is being ably supported by the likes of Praveen Kumar and the veteran spinner Pravin Tambe. They have now registered three wins out of three in the first week and have steered themselves well ahead of the remaining teams. Gujarat is the team to beat at present and is well on its way to the playoffs. Gambhir still has it in him: Gautam Gambhir during his knock of 90 that led KKR though the chase with absolute ease. (Photo Source: BCCI) With scores of 38, 64 and 90*, Gautam Gambhir is the leading scorer in week 1 of the tourney and has shown that while the selectors might have lost faith in him, he certainly hasn’t in himself. The left-hander has been leading his side, the Kolkata Knight Riders, very astutely and looks to be having a fantastic chemistry with Robin Uthappa at the top. What was worth noting was the nonchalance with which Gambhir accumulated his runs; even taking down Mustafizur Rahman – one of the best bowlers in the tournament – with relative ease. He has been gritty, he has been gutsy. Gambhir is here to stay. Delhi’s remarkable comeback: Amit Mishra celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Surjeet Yadav/IANS) After languishing at the bottom of the table for two consecutive seasons, the Delhi Daredevils had made a whole lot of changes in their roster this year. But even then, there was a lot of skepticism about them. And after they lost their first match to Kolkata by 9 wickets, many had begun to give up on them again. However, the Delhi side – under the magnetic Zaheer Khan – has staged a dramatic turnaround and have beaten Kings X1 Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore in their next two matches. With dashing opener Quinton de Kock in sublime flow and the likes of JP Duminy, Carlos Brathwaite, Amit Mishra, Mohammad Shami, and a host of promising youngsters like Karun Nair in the team, Delhi can well script the remarkable tale of the underdog this year, if things fall in place for them from here on in. Don’t miss – 5 Hottest female anchors in cricket from around the world The ‘Fizz’ has arrived: Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad players celebrate fall of a wicket during an IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on April 16, 2016. (Photo Source: IANS) There was much anticipation from this lanky pacer from Bangladesh when he came to the IPL to play for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. And Mustafizur Rahman has delivered. Although he has taken just 3 wickets in the three games he has played, it’s his incisive bowling which has caught the eye of one and all. Going at an economy rate of just 6.87, ‘The Fizz’ has troubled some of the best batsmen with his off-cutters and the cunning way he bowls his slower ones. The 20-year-old pacer will form the backbone of his IPL team this summer and is likely to take down a lot biggies in the days to come. If you think that’s a lot of big talk, then check out his dismissal of Andre Russell in the game between Hyderabad and Kolkata. That will rest our case. Pune seem a little muddled: Rajkot: Gujarat Lions’ Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo with Rising Pune Supergiants captain MS Dhoni after winning the IPL match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on April 14, 2016. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS) The Rising Pune Super Giants (RPSG) appeared to be one hell of a team, with the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Faf du Plessis, Steven Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, Mitchell Marsh and Captain Cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni forming its crux. However, after giving an initial jolt to Mumbai, they seem to have fallen in a muddle; losing two back to back games tamely. Their top order seems to be one-dimensional and the middle-order does not have enough power hitters. The bowlers too are being inconsistent, and unless Dhoni comes up with some winning formula soon, the RPS may fall off the radar pretty quickly. Shastriji is back: Ravi Shastri hosting the toss. (Photo Source: BCCI) While IPL 2016 has been robbed off renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle for unfathomable reasons, it has got back Ravi Shastri. The 53-year-old has been donning the director’s hat for team India these past 12 months and his commentary, while not at par with Harsha’s, was certainly being missed. It was hence good to listen to Shastri’s booming baritone in the commentary box this season and hear him say his clichéd yet amusing dialogues. “That went to the fence like a tracer bullet.” Yeah, that one will never get old. There are a few things most of us are not liking this IPL season – Notes from IPL 2016: Things that are making the tournament irksome In conclusion: Bengaluru: Quinton de Kock of Delhi Daredevils in action during an IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, on April 17, 2016. (Photo Source: IANS) The start of the IPL 2016 had been a little sedate. But just when we were thinking this edition is going to be outright insipid, it has come to life again. The weekend gave us two superb games- first the thriller between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions and then Kings XI Punjab beating Rising Pune Supergiants and Delhi’s magnificent upset of Royal Challengers Bangalore. The teams were perhaps finding their footing initially and are likely to go all guns blazing now. Expect a lot more riveting and nail-biting encounters in the coming week and look out for some possible upsets. Also, by next Monday, we will get a fair idea of which four teams are likely to make the cut and who will be left behind. The likes of Punjab, Hyderabad and Mumbai will attempt to climb up the ladder and be more consistent. Then, the local Indian talents are yet to fire and any real exciting new talent is yet to emerge. All that might change in this week. A lot to look forward to. Here is hoping that week 2 of the IPL sets our pulses racing.