IPL Season 5 Play Offs Contenders

By Francis Saldanha
Bellevision Media Network

16 May 2012: As we all are watching the IPL games for the past one month the high profile teams are doing reasonably well to reach playoff’s stage but at this point of time some crucial matches being played and some interesting results makes 5 edition of IPL a very interesting one!

 

Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore have played a big role in spicing up the race for the playoffs. A big win over Kolkata Knight Riders featured a significant landmark for Rohit Sharma and an excellent start to Herschelle Gibbs’ IPL season, giving Mumbai Indians reason to not tinker with their opening combination again. They are currently third in the points table and can go at least one spot up should they beat Royal Challengers, and reach a position of relative safety vis-à-vis the playoffs.

 

Delhi Daredevils

Kolkatta Knight Riders

Mumbai Indians

Royal Challengers

Royal Challengers have won three in a row, including a nine-wicket demolition of Mumbai Indians last week, and would be desperate to keep that run going. After facing Mumbai Indians, they take on toppers Delhi Daredevils - not the ideal team to be facing in the event of a must-win scenario or being at the mercy of net run-rates. Mumbai Indians are a formidable opponent themselves, and Royal Challengers, currently No.5, will do well to push them back to a position of insecurity.
Chennai Super Kings kept their playoff hopes alive with a ruthless performance that cut the table-leaders Delhi Daredevils to size. Super Kings shook Daredevils out of their comfort zone.

My favorite team in IPL 5

Rajasthan Royals are the only reason I am watching any IPL this year. And that is because of my tremendous love, affection and admiration for Dravid.

While a lot of teams with good sprinkling of big names have underperformed, the majority of Royals’ unheralded players have put their best foot forward. No team has beaten them easily, and they have shown tremendous fight. And tactically, they have been very good. They have trusted their players, stuck with them and given them reasonable chances without any constant chopping and changing. Dravid and the management have shown tremendous faith in good Ranji performers like the hat-trick hero Ajit Chandila, Ashok Menaria, Ankeet Chavan, Pankaj Singh and Stuart Binny. And it has been a joy to see a visibly-relaxed Dravid lead the team. Dravid has led admirably, and more importantly led from the front.

 

Rajasthan Royals

They’ve had a couple of very close games. Like the one in Delhi where they threw away the win from their hands.Royals have shown this season they’re a tough team to play and hope they make it to the playoffs. Full credit to Dravid for a good leadership...even the last game against CSK was almost won. I wish they had won couple of matches that they lost after dominating for almost 18 over’s.  They have some good domestic players and are giving them a chance to play with and against some great international players unlike some of the teams which only rely on their international stars.

Now then, Can they make the playoffs? Their hopes are hanging yes, not by a thread but by a rope. I fancy Royals to win their next two games. With no disrespect to Pune Warriors and Deccan Chargers, I expect Royals to beat them. And this would leave them with 16 points with a game against Mumbai Indians left. They would not mind playing the last league game of the season at home knowing that a win would put them in the playoffs (considering their good NRR). Mumbai Indians have been very inconsistent, and Royals have a realistic chance of beating them. I won’t be surprised if they make it.

RR is my team for this IPL. It makes me proud to be an RR-supporter and let’s hope that RR makes it into the playoffs! I do sincerely hope they win out and qualify.