IPL Power Rankings - 8 Burning Questions - Week 2

The Top Notch

1. Chennai Super-Kings (4-0) [Last Week No.3]

Only Undefeated team left in the tournament. Players who won the Man of the Match in the first 3 matches – Michael Hussey, Mathew Hayden & Jacob Oram. Players who have left for International commitments – Hussey, Hayden and Oram. Can the team cope with this loss ???

2. Rajasthan Royals (3-1) [Last Week No.6]

Graeme Smith’s addition into the team has definitely helped, but where will this team be without the 2 Shanes (Warne and Watson)???

The Muddled Middle

3. Kings XI Punjab (2-2) [Last Week No.4]

Will Batsmen threaten to slap Sreesanth if he gets under their skin ???

4. Delhi Daredevils (2-1) [Last Week No.1]

Can anyone on this team not named Sehwag or Gambhir bat ???

5. Kolkata Knight-Riders (2-1) [Last Week No.2]

Will the departure of Ricky Ponting be a boon or a bane ???

6. Deccan Chargers (1-3) [Last Week No.8]

Can anyone else other than Gilchrist bat ???

The Bottom Rung

7. Bangalore Royal-Challengers (1-3) [Last Week No.5]

A spectator’s placard said it best – The best Test team in the IPL !!! Will they find new ways to NOT win matches ???

8. Mumbai Indians (0-4) [Last Week No.7]

With Sachin injured and Harbhajan out of the league, this team sure can SLAP away their chances of winning !!!

The Little Master turns 35

Sachin's Career Batting Stats -

	Innings	Runs	Highest	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Tests	238	11782	248*	55.31	-	39	49
One Days	407	16361	186*	44.33	85.49	42	89

Sachin Tendulkar has been the most wholesome batsman of his time, and arguably the biggest cricket icon as well. His batting is based on the purest principles: perfect balance, economy of movement, precision in stroke-making, and that intangible quality given only to geniuses, anticipation. If he doesn't have a signature stroke - the upright, back-foot punch comes close - it is because he is equally proficient in each of the full range of orthodox shots (and plenty of improvised ones as well) and can pull them out at will.
- Sambit Bal (Cricinfo)

Don't bowl him bad balls, he hits the good ones for fours !!!
- Michael Kasprowicz

I'd like to see him go out and bat one day with a stump. I'll tell you he'd do okay !!!
- Greg Chappell

I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin dancing down the wicket and belting me back over my head for six !!!
- Shane Warne

He is 99.5% perfect. I'd pay to watch him play.
- Sir Viv Richards

Sir Donald Bradman did not play One Day Cricket but if he did, he could have been as good as Sachin Tendulkar !!!
- Barry Richards

Happy Birthday Sachin ...

IPL Power Rankings [8 Burning Questions]

The Top Notch

1. Delhi Daredevils [2-0]– Arguably the best side in the league with a strong bowling attack .. but can the middle order batsmen handle the pressure if the top order fails ???

2. Kolkata Knight-Riders [2-0] – How good (bad) is that batting line up ??? and will Karan Johar please not dance anymore … ever !!!

3. Chennai Super-Kings [1-0] – Will Makhaya Ntini add some sting to this bowling attack ?? and will Albie Morkel and Stephen Fleming step up after Hayden and Hussey leave ???

The Second Rung

4. King XI Punjab [0-2]– When will this team full of talent start winning ???

5. Bangalore Royal-Challengers [1-1]– What the hell was Vijay Mallya thinking : Dravid, Kallis, Joshi, Jaffer and Kumble in a T20 team ???

6. Rajasthan Royals[1-1] – Can Shane Watson do what he did in every match ???

7. Mumbai Indians[0-1] – Will Sachin ever play ???

8. Deccan Chargers[0-2] – Isn't Andrew Symonds being paid too much for NOT performing ???

It's not easy to be me !!!

I can't stand to fly
I'm not that naive
I'm just out to find
The better part of me

I'm more than a bird...i'm more than a plane
More than some pretty face beside a train
It's not easy to be me

Wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
About a home I'll never see

It may sound absurd...but don't be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed...but won't you concede
Even heroes have the right to dream
It's not easy to be me

Up, up and away...away from me
It's all right...you can all sleep sound tonight
I'm not crazy...or anything...

I can't stand to fly
I'm not that naive
Men weren't meant to ride
With clouds between their knees

I'm only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me
Inside of me
Inside me
Yeah, inside me
Inside of me

I'm only a man
In a funny red sheet
I'm only a man
Looking for a dream

I'm only a man
In a funny red sheet
And it's not easy, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm...

Its not easy to be me ...

Five for Fighting - Superman

My NBA Awards

Most Valuable Player

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)

Rookie of the Year

Kevin Durant (Seattle Supersonics)

Sixth Man of the Year

Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs)

Most Improved Player

Hedo Turkoglu (Orlando Magic)

Coach of the Year

Byron Scott (New Orleans Hornets)

And Finally ... My All NBA Team -
(PG) Chris Paul - New Orleans Hornets
(SG) Kobe Bryant - LA Lakers
(SF) LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers
(PF) Tim Duncan - San Antonio Spurs
(C) Kevin Garnett - Boston Celtics

Mikhail Youzhny ... Crazy Russian Bastard !!!