Generally, it is too early to predict any trend after one week of a six-week tournament. Especially, when that tournament features a league-knockout format (which I'm not a big fan of, but more on that later). However, it is safe enough to review which team(s) has(ve) started to dispel the rustiness and lack of cohesion.
After today's matches (Rajasthan vs Kolkata and Mumbai vs Bangalore), Bangalore have usurped the pole position from Mumbai with a convincing seven-wicket win over a team that have twice exceeded 200 in their completed batting innings. Kallis continues to remain unbeaten and the bowling is going from strength to strength, with Vinay Kumar ably supporting the battering ram Steyn and the wily Kumble with a triple sucker-punch in the 11th over, packing off Rayudu, Tendulkar and Bravo in five deliveries. A truly stupendous catch by Dravid was the icing on a tidy fielding cake. With Taylor and White busy in the Aus-NZ series and Pietersen griping his way to 90s in Bangladesh, Bangalore's batting is certainly not short of firepower.
On the other side of the table, Rajasthan will feel mighty relieved to have opened their account against Ganguly's blow-hot blow-cold side, with a markedly improved performance by their batsmen and bowlers. Decimated by injuries, it is an outfit sorely seeking inspiration and while it may not have exactly divined by Jhunjhunwala's (JJ as dubbed by Warne) decisive 45, the win will give much-needed confidence to approach forthcoming matches.
Deccan and Chennai will look for more consistency, despite hitting their groove against Punjab and Delhi respectively in their last matches. Deccan is depending too much on its foreign imports to prevail in tight matches, covering up for poor contributions from the Indian contingent. The law of averages is sure to catch up with Gilly and Co and it will be interesting to see who will stand up and be counted then. Dhoni's absence leaves huge holes in 3 departments, but while Chennai have adequate replacements in the batting and keeping department, Raina's inexperience in leading sides in an international-standard competition will be severely tested.
Punjab have had the worst start possible, with the bowling looking woebegone. Sreesanth is the main culprit, conceding monstrous overs in consecutive matches. Yuvraj and Sangakkara aren't pulling their weights in a relatively light batting lineup either. Clearly missing the dynamism of Shaun Marsh at the top of the batting order, the express incisiveness of Brett Lee, and the versatility of James Hopes, Punjab needs to pull up its socks or it could quickly end up going down the same lane as Kolkata did in IPL 2009 and Bangalore and Deccan in IPL 2008.
That leaves Delhi, who is also having to do with its captain and one half of a potent opening combination out injured. Delhi's worries don't end there, though. The bowling during the middle overs is not penetrative enough and two outstanding performers of IPL 2009, Dilshan and de Villiers have failed to get going this year. Long earmarked as potential winners, Delhi will need to dig deep to get back that winning momentum.
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