November 27th, the big day is finally here—England (Eng) vs South Africa (SA), India vs Australia, and New Zealand vs West Indies.
We will start by previewing the England vs South Africa 3-match T20I series. This series has been in the news for ominous reasons—Cricket South Africa’s administrative troubles, mixed BLM’s messages, and COVID positive cases. Now that the series is finally on, let us focus on the cricket.
My prediction for the series: South Africa 3, England 0. Read till the end to see why.
Let us know who you think will win in the comments section below!
England’s limited overs batting has so much depth they are currently practicing with Team Morgan vs Team Buttler. Eyeing the T20 World Cup, experimentation will be the focus before settling down
How many openers can they fit in? Bairstow, Roy, Buttler, and now even Stokes (Banton did not even make the T20I squad)
Dawid Malan will hold key given his stellar recent form – 16 matches, average of 48.71, 146.66 strike rate, with the best of 103*
SA: Solid Line Up But Finishers Needed
De Kock and Faf are in good touch as seen in the IPL. With Miller, Van der Dussen, Bavuma, and Klassen, they have a good mix of experience and youth
SA will definitely be steady, but can they need their power hitters and finishers come to the party. (The old Killer Miller, please come back)
Consistency will be key with this line-up. If their batsmen fire in the first match, they will be dangerous to watch for the rest of the series.
Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Chris Jordan are almost a certainty, but who else? Mark Wood? Wickets vs Economy – that is the question.
All-rounders will be key. If Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, and Ben Stokes make the XI and are fit enough to bowl, the balance will be handy
The Currans make things happen but only one might make the XI
SA: Bowlers for the Win
If Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje can repeat their heroics from the IPL, they will be a handful
Phelukwayo will be hold the key to South Africa’s success as the key all-rounder in the side
Shamsi’s destructive spin in the middle overs give SA the edge
The Broken Dream
Eng: Joe Root and Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali has committed to all formats in the final leg of his career but how many chances does he have left in him?
Joe Root is massively underrated in T20 cricket. His contributions in the 2016 T20 World Cup were monumental, but he has been selected only for the ODI side, not the T20 side.
Will Reece Topley make a comeback?
SA: Is Dale Steyn’s international career over?
After having a poor IPL, it seems that Dale Steyn’s international career has finally come to an end.
Will Janneman Malan get to showcase his talent?
Prediction
Previous Battle
Last time England toured South Africa in February 2020 (pre-COVID times), it was a close 2-1 contest in England’s favor. The margins of victory?
SA won by 1 run, Eng won by 2 runs, and Eng won with 5 balls to spare.
The scores? 177 vs 176, 204 vs 202, 222 vs 226
If this series is going to be anywhere close, it is going to be a cracker of a contest!
Verdict: 0-3 South Africa
England definitely have better resources and will be a threat at the T20 World Cup next year, but 3-match series might not be enough time to find a settled line up. South Africa at home with a clearer batting line up and in-form bowling attack can spring a surprise.
I think South Africa will spice things up and win 3-0 due to the momentum if they start on a good note.
By the time the ODI series gets around, England will have an edge. Whatever ends up happening, this is a series that is going to have high-scoring close contests.
My Starting XI:
These are my starting XI for the first T20I (assuming everyone is available in terms of COVID and injuries).
Eng:
Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (WK), Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan*, Ben Stokes, Sam Billings, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan
SA:
Quinton de Kock * (WK), Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, Rassie Van der Dussen, Heinrich Klassen, David Miller, Andile Phelukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
*captain
The Squads
These are the other options in the squads.
Eng: Tom Curran, Jason Roy, Reece Topley, Mark Wood
We asked the Twitter crowd these questions with #SeriesPredictions:
#Scoreline
#MVP
#MostRuns
#MostWickets
#EmergingPlayer
#SurprisePackage
Note, we will focus on the Test series for the IndvAus and NZvWI series, but look at limited overs combined for the EngvSA series.
And guess was, there are no rules! You can do the predictions as you wish – for 1 series or all 3! Just have fun!
So who do you think we will emerge as the winner? Who will be the surprise package? Reece Topley, Kyle Jamieson? Pucovski and Green? Who will win the battle of the off-spinners, R Ashwin vs Nathan Lyon?
So many questions, so little time.
So without further ado, here are mine:
My Predictions
IndvAus
NZvWI
EngvSA
#Scoreline
2-1 (ODI), 1-2 (T20I), 1-1 (Tests)
1-2 (T20I), 2-0 (Tests)
0-3 (T20I), 2-1 (ODI)
#MVP
Hanuma Vihari (Ind), Labuschagne (Aus)
Trent Boult (NZ), Roston Chase (WI)
Moeen Ali (Eng), Van der Dussen (SA)
#MostRuns
Ajinkya Rahane
Ross Taylor
Quinton de Kock
#MostWickets
Hazlewood
Trent Boult-Jason Holder (tied)
Anrich Nortje
#EmergingPlayer
Will Pucovski
Joshua De Silva
Liam Livingstone
#SurprisePackage
Ashwin
Kyle Jamieson
Sam Curran?
The Prediction
Here are the responses we received from my Twitter post. Enjoy!
Everyone has been dismissing India’s chance in the BG Trophy – Test series . I have a feeling we will do well there , provided all of them stay injury free. We are a better team in the white ball format , so winning them wont be a surprise .
For #SAvEng I just hope they get on the pitch. If they do, England probably win both 2-1. They don’t seem to be taking ODIs that seriously right now which could give SA a chance but most of them have had either a decent IPL or a good rest so will be ready to go…
For #EngvSA, well, first they need to get over natural obstacles (rain)
If all matches do commence as plan, my predictions are:- T20s:- 2-1 (could potentially be 3-0 if Eng plays a full-strength team) ODIs:- 2-1 Both in favor of England.
NZvWI tough to predict due to unpredictable nature of the Windies
Conclusion
In any case, I hope this prediction game is just as fun for you, as it is for me!
Let us hope for competitive and enthralling matches, uninterrupted and safe few months, and most of all, sportsmanship displays and moments to cherish.
Enjoy, and keep on coming with the predictions if you have not already. I will be keeping track.
Comment below, join us for free updates below, and share with your friends!
This IPL was full of ebbs and flows, highs and lows. It even taught us numerous life lessons.
But, how did it all end? An anti-climax, I would say.
Recap
Last time we checked in, the points table had turned upside down. Over the last weekend, every team except for CSK were still in the running.
Ultimately, net run rate came into play with SRH and RCB edging out KKR and KXIP to make it in the Top 4. The Playoffs ended up being one sided and once again, Mumbai Indians lifted the trophy, who were a class apart.
The Women’s T20 Challenge showcased women’s talent but once again, still no women’s IPL?
Close 2nd – More injuries Garg and Iyer along with a couple of other slips.#SamCurranoftheDay: The Big Bash #MarcusStoinis has finally arrived at the #IPL. Runs, wickets, catch
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) November 8, 2020
Finals — Rohit and Mandhana Stand Up On the Big Stage
Harsha Bhogle: “He was born to play the pull shot or the pull shot was made for Rohit Sharma.”
As nineteenth-century philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once said, “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”
In this age of fast-paced technology and instant gratification, we sometimes focus too much on day-to-day activities and forget to appreciate life at the fullest. Here at Broken Cricket Dreams, we seek inspiration in our lives from cricketing events, relive childhood memories, and share our broken dreams.
Earlier, we did a piece on Cricket’s Reflections of Passion, where we discussed how each and every cricket is motivational in their own right, whether they have played 100 tests or just one. Similarly, today we discuss the life lessons from from IPL 2020.
IPL is a tournament where dreams come true. T. Natarajan, Mohammad Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Afghan duo of Rashid and Nabi, and architect Varun Chakravarthy are just few of the countless examples. Their journeys are already so inspirational, even before taking the IPL in consideration.
This year has been different though due to the pandemic. IPL 2020 has provided the fans an ounce of relief that was needed. Here are 10 life lessons that IPL 2020 has provided us.
With the growing pandemic situation in India, it was never feasible to hold a full-fledged IPL there. The BCCI took the bold decision and moved it to UAE, putting all the safety precautions in place. Hats off to all the organizers, staff, commentators, and players for making this happen.
Seeds need the right environment to grow, and sometimes the soil is fertile elsewhere. In this case, soil was literally fertile elsewhere. It is completely okay to acknowledge that and nurture the seed where it is best poised for growth. So how can we apply this in our lives?
Life Lesson 1: Spread goodness and good ideas. Recognize that you will not be the center of attention all the time. Sometimes just stepping aside, encouraging others, and lending them a hand is just as important.
After struggling at 17 (23) in a mammoth chase of 226, Tewatia roared back with 5 sixes in an over against Sheldon Cottrell ending with 53 (31). The initial struggle even provoked the commentators to propose the ‘retire out’ option.
He battled and stayed in the game. Only someone with immense self-confidence and inner mental strength could overcome such pressure. This reminded me of Barack Obama’s iconic 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address:
“Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope.”
This is exactly what Rahul Tewatia has taught us this season.
Life Lesson 2: When life gives you lemons, weather the storm with the best of your abilities and come back with a bang. Hang in there. Before thinking of quitting, reflect on why we came into the profession in the first place.
Although he could not take KXIP across the line in the first attempt, he learned from his mistakes and made amends the second time around.
One of the stories of IPL 2020 was Mayank Agarwal. His toil in domestic cricket is well recorded. After years of piling the runs without national selection, he finally made it to international cricket.
Life Lesson 3: It is not the end till the end. Disappointments will occur. The important thing is to learn from this setback, not drag on the disappointments, and come back stronger.
4. Make Most of Your Opportunities
Moment:Anukul Roy and J. Suchith, aka specialist substitute fielders of IPL 2020.
They both changed games themselves by taking diving catches at crucial junctures of the game. In Hindi, Anukul means favorable. Throughout the tournament, he did just that—made situations favorable for himself.
Life Lesson 4: It is easy to get disheartened when you are on the sidelines or not getting that promotion, but you never know. Always be prepared. When your opportunity arrives, cash in. This may be the moment you have prepared all your life.
5. Synergy Above All
Moment: Team spirit of SRH and MI pushes them to the the playoffs (and championship)
Synergy is defined as “the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of individual elements, contributions, etc” [1]. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians were prime examples of this phenomenon in this tournament.
SRH were dealt with injury blows all throughout the tournament—Mitchell Marsh, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Kane Williamson on and off. Just take a look at SRH’s man of the match winners:
Rashid Khan, Priyam Garg, Jonny Bairstow, Manish Pandey, Wriddhiman Saha, Sandeep Sharma, Shahbaz Nadeem, and Kane Williamson.
Notice something? David Warner, Jason Holder, Abdul Samad do not even feature in this list.
Similarly, MI had contributions from each team member. Even the little contributions from Jayant Yadav in the final and Suryakumar Yadav’s sacrificial run-out for the betterment of the team turned out to be momentous.
Life Lesson 5: Teamwork, harmony, unity is more important than just individual contributions. This can be applied to sports, work, or education. Invest in collaborative efforts.
With plenty of Super Overs and Double Super Overs, this IPL was not short of excitement. Catches win matches, direct hits changes games. Still holds true. Given that the points table were extremely close at the end, these super overs may have changed some fates.
Life Lesson 6: Focus, Focus, Focus. Every moment matters, every detail matters. It is easy to be complacent and declare victory prematurely, but a small mistake can come back to haunt you.
7. Carry Old Baggage At Your Own Risk
Moment: Delhi Capitals and the Chennai Super Kings
Delhi Capitals were on a roll for the first half of the tournament, but they lost momentum drastically. Shikhar Dhawan and Marcus Stoinis blew hot and cold, ranging from match winning contributions to absolutely nothing. Holding on to older performances may have hindered DC to rise to the next level.
Another team that held on too long? CSK. Their old stars carried the baggage and credentials for maybe one season too long.
Life Lesson 7: Keep on Improving. Holding on to past performances, and achievements may hinder your present. Stay in the present, and “keep it simple, stupid.”
8. When One Era Closes, Another Opens
Moment: Dale Steyn and CSK on the way out, Padikkal, Garg, Gaikwad, and co. come to the party
Sports can provide legendary status to some during their careers. Dale Steyn and MS Dhoni are legends and will always remain so. IPL 2020 confirmed that their careers were on the last lap, and honestly it was a sad sight.
On the other hand, the Indian youngsters showed promise. They were so good, we could even make an uncapped XI out of them.
Life Lesson 8: Transitions are a part and parcel of life. Sometimes it is hard to let go, but it is going to be okay. We can relieve the old memories, but moving on at the right time is crucial.
9. Fix Roof When Sun Is Shining
Moment: Warning to Indian cricket for the future
The talent emerging in Indian cricket is tremendous. With nurturing from U-19, India A, and IPL squads and mentorship with people like Rahul Dravid, these cricketers are already a ready, mature product.
Although we have to take care of these youngsters, both physically and mentally, the BCCI needs to make sure these talents do not go wasted.
Mayank Agarwal barely made it, talents like Manish Pandey and Rishabh Pant have been mishandled, and Suryakumar Yadav is in the danger of not being selected in his prime.
Indian cricket needs to take the right decisions when the time is good. Otherwise, semi-final losses will become an excruciating pattern…
Life Lesson 9: Make hay when the sun shines. Everyone goes through high and lows. Just make sure to capitalize when the going is good, because it will not remain so forever.
10. Sportsmanship and Passion for the Game
Moment: Harsha Bhogle’s quote of the IPL, “That is what sport should be about. There is humanity off the field; competition on it and the two are never at odds with each other”
Sport is tough and competitive in nature, but outside of the stadium, all the players are human. The T20 leagues have definitely helped in building relationships across boundaries, and it would be great if cricket is actually played like the ‘gentleman’s game.’
Finally, without spectators, the will of the players was on display in IPL 2020. They played for the love of the game. The players did their best and competed with complete energy even without any external applause.
Life Lesson 10: Internal Motivation vs External Motivators – One should always give their best without expecting in return. Just keep on improving, give it your all, and leave the rest.
If this happens with the sportsmanship, then we have a win-win situation here. I would like to leave you with:
What is life without cricket? What is cricket without the life lessons?
Let us know which life lessons were your favorite in the COMMENTS below.
With the end of IPL 2020, fans and experts chipped in with their choices of the Dream Teams. Recently, social media went ablaze with Virender Sehwag’s highly debated IPL XI. Virat Kohli and David Warner at 4 and 5—it is easy to see why that was the case.
I will build two IPL Dreams today—the Obvious XI and the Non-Obvious XI. The goal is to see if my team could beat the Obvious Team of the Tournament. Here are the rules:
Have at least one uncapped player in each team
The IPL rules apply – 4 foreign players maximum
A wicketkeeper and 5 bowling options are necessary
In IPL 2020, the foreign fast bowlers were on fire—Jofra Archer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, but how many can you fit in? Additionally, the Indian squad have prolific wicketkeeper batsmen, but will all of them make it?
Tough choices to make…
IPL XI – The Dream Teams
The Non-Obvious XI
Here is my choice — the not-so-obvious Dream Team.
*Note: Bolded players represent the foreign players
Mayank Agarwal
Wriddhiman Saha (WK)
David Warner (C)
Suryakumar Yadav (U)
Kane Williamson
Sam Curran
Rahul Tewatia (U)
Anrich Nortje
Thangarasu Natarajan (U)
Varun Chakravarthy (U)
Mohammad Shami
*WK – Wicketkeeper, C – Captain, U – Uncapped
In the batting front, this team has sparkling openers, the experience of Warner and Williamson, Suryakumar Yadav’s flamboyance, and Sam Curran/Tewatia as floaters.
With Sam Curran and Shami as the opening swing bowlers, Nortje as the pace spearhead, Natarajan as the designated death bowler, the mystery of Varun, and the leg-spin of Tewatia, the bowling line-up is balanced. If necessary, even cool Kane Williamson can role over his arm.
The Obvious XI
Shikhar Dhawan
KL Rahul (WK)
Devdutt Padikkal (U)
AB De Villiers(C)
Ishan Kishan
Hardik Pandya
Rashid Khan
Jofra Archer
Kagiso Rabada
Jasprit Bumrah
Yuzvendra Chahal
*Orange Cap (Most Runs),Purple Caps (Most Wickets),Most Valuable Player (MVP)
With left-right hand combination (overrated but still) till No. 6 and bowling line-up of the decade, this is a pretty strong team. So, you decide, can my team defeat the Obvious XI?
Jofra Archer vs. David Warner, anybody? COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW! Let us know of your IPL XI as well!
Honorable Mentions:
Quinton De Kock, Trent Boult, Jason Holder, Ben Stokes, Marcus Stoinis, Fafdu Plessis, Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Abdul Samad, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi
I had a tough time leaving QDK and Boult out. Both were magnificent, but the 4-foreign player quota came into the equation.
Notice something? None of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, or Shreyas Iyer (captains of 3 of the top 4 teams) make it into either of my XIs or the honorable mentions.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this…COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW! Also share ahead and subscribe to our email list below:
This was a peculiar tournament in terms of player performance. While the foreign players and the Indian uncapped players impressed, the current and former Indian players disappointed.
Although Dhawan, Kohli, and Iyer were among the runs, none of them looked consistently convincing. Similarly, former IPL stars like Robin Uthappa and 2019 World Cup squad members — Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Vijay Shankar, Kedar Jadhav, and Kuldeep Yadav — all had a sub-par season.
On the other hand, a 15-member squad could be created out of the impressive uncapped youngsters themselves:
IPL 2020 was the beginning of the end of the 2007 T20 World Cup and IPL 2008 era. The early stars are slowly fading away in the background, while the newer generation are storming to the forefront.
Well, well, well – the IPL 2020 festivities have finally come to a close and yet again, the Mumbai Indians emerged as the winner—wait for it—for the 5th time!
Their ability to win consistently is remarkable. The way they were playing, Mumbai Indians winning might be the only predictable event that has occurred in 2020.
The Predictions
Speaking of predictions, we asked our Twitter followers to predict the IPL result and award winners with #IPLPredictions at the start of IPL 2020. Here were the categories:
#Champions
#OrangeCap
#PurpleCap
#FairPlay
#EmergingPlayer
#SurprisePackage
We will reveal who was the closest in their IPL Predictions. Read till the end for poll results conducted at the end of the tournament and surprises.
The Actual Results
The way it turned out, Mumbai Indians swept the awards, even winning the Fairplay Award! Interestingly, they won without winning the Orange Cap, Purple Cap, and the MVP.
Although other teams like RR, KXIP, RCB, and DC had match winners who won awards here, only MI could find consistent performances from most of their members throughout the competition.
In any case, here are the results:
Champions
Mumbai Indians
Most Valuable Player
Jofra Archer (RR)
Orange Cap
KL Rahul (KXIP)
Purple Cap
Kagiso Rabada (DC)
Emerging Player
Devdutt Padikkal (RCB)
Fairplay Award
Mumbai Indians
Super Striker
Kieron Pollard (MI)
Let’s Crack It (Most Sixes)
Ishan Kishan (MI)
Power Player
Trent Boult (MI)
IPL 2020 Awards
And The Winner Is…
The time has come to announce the winners. (*Drumroll*)
*Note: Sam Curran was the deemed to the winner from the Surprise Package guesses
And the winner was Vandit with 4/6 guesses correct! From Twitter, Sourabh Sanyal, JustCricket, Crazy Anand, and Aviral Rai – all got 2/6. Congratulations!
There were some close guesses with CSK ending #2 in the FairPlay and DC/SRH coming 2nd/3rd in the overall competition respectively.
Great work everybody!
*The Cricket Scholar was right – RCB did not make it while Dan Cricket‘s “Delhi Daredevils” also almost made it. Only if they had changed their name back…
Twitter Polls
We decided to spice things up with some polls at the end of the tournament. Some interesting questions and responses! Let us know what you think in the comments below and wait till you get to #5.
1. Emerging Players and Surprise Package
Although Padikkal was by far the most consistent, the likes of Ravi Bishnoi and Riyan Parag, the trios of Abdul Samad-Priyam Garg-Abhishek Sharma from SRH, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti-Shivam Mavi-Prasidh Krishna from KKR caught the eye.
In terms of surprise packages, Tewatia, Anrich Nortje, and Natarajan unexpectedly came to the party apart from Sam Curran.
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) November 5, 2020
2. The one that Bamboozled and the Wow Factor
There were some things that completely bamboozled us. The reality finally caught up with CSK’s Dad Army, while the fielding ranged from mind boggling acrobatics to utterly poor drops.
The most discussed topic that perplexed everybody?
Why has Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) not made the Indian squad yet?
In addition, there were some WOW moments as well—Tewatia’s cracker of an innings, Saha turning around SRH’s campaign, Stokes with that century as an opener, and Stoinis finally coming to the IPL party. What was your moment of the IPL?
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) November 5, 2020
3. The Benchwarmers and Saddest sight of IPL 2020
Now to the broken cricket dreams of IPL 2020. Although the likes of Rahane, Gayle, Tahir, and Ferguson got to showcase their skills at the end of the tournament, some never got a chance to play. David Miller (run out without facing a ball) and Chris Lynn startled me the most.
On the other hand, there were some sad sights as well. Once feared, a smiling Dale Steyn without venom was very hard to watch this time. It might be the end of his career, Maxwell’s IPL journey—and the end of CSK as we know it.
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) November 5, 2020
4. Sam Curran
And we are back to Sam Curran. He could do everything. Opened the batting, finished the innings, opened the bowling, bowled at the death, and even took some great catches.
Which Sam Curran did you like the best?
The day is not too far when Sam Curran takes the wicketkeeping gloves as well.
Cricket is unpredictable, and predicting the unpredictable even more so. So do not be disheartened if your predictions did not match the final outcome. IPL 2021 is around the corner, so you always have another chance!
The beauty in cricket is the uncertainty. You never know when a struggling Tewatia can hit it out the park for five sixes, or if you miss a World Cup trophy by the barest of margins.
What is in our control though is to sit back, relax, and appreciate the fickle nature of this game.
Cricket is unpredictable. 2020 might have been unpredictable. Life is definitely unpredictable. Let us be grateful and enjoy each moment.
COVID has turned the world upside down. This pandemic has impacted almost everybody and has given us nothing but grief, despair, and uncertainty. The fact that IPL 2020 was completed without much external noise and disruptions is a tremendous effort from the organizers, the UAE, and the BCCI. Kudos to all the players, commentators, support staff, and everybody else that made this happen.
The 4 hours of joy and entertainment provided every day is exactly what the fans around the world needed in midst of a pandemic.
When life gives you 50 reasons to cry, it also provides 64 matches to smile about.
Today’s Scenario: Mithali Raj Lifts the 2017 Cricket World Cup
In our segment Just Imagine, we explore how a specific moment in cricket could have lasting ripple effects. Going back in time, we ask a simple question: What Would Happened if…? and reflect on its consequences.
Since the Women T20 Challenge is in full flow among the teams—Trailblazers, Velocity, and the Supernovas, we imagine what would have happened if India had not collapsed against England in the 2017 Cricket World Cup Final?
Match:
England vs India, July 23rd 2017, Final, Lord’s, London, ICC Women’s World Cup
Background:
The 2017 Cricket World Cup was a watershed moment in several ways for women’s cricket. It was widely broadcasted and viewed, the matches were highly competitive, several remarkable individual performances were on show, and to cap it off—an intense final.
The hosts were favorite to win the trophy, while India captured the imagination of the world during the tournament.
In the group stages, India had won 5/7 games while brushing Australia aside in the semi-finals thanks to Harmanpreet Kaur’s magnificent 171*—maybe the best world cup innings by an Indian in a semi-final, certainly in the last decade. On the other hand, England squeaked past the Proteas with 2 balls to spare. Their only defeat in the tournament coming at the hand of India via Smriti Mandana’s elegant 90.
The final was a classic low-scoring thriller. Ebbs and flows throughout.
England scored 228/7. In response, Mandana and Raj fell cheaply before Punam Raut and Kaur stabilized and registered 50s.
Chasing 229, India are sitting comfortably at 191-3.
38 needed off 44 balls. Punam Raut 86* (114), Veda Krishnamurthy 28* (28). Then, next ball, there is an appeal for LBW…
What Actually Happened:
42. 5 Shrubsole to Raut OUT:
Punam has asked for a review but the umpire says sorry, you took too long.Do England have wink of an opportunity? This was the wrong shot. Length ball sliding in from wide of the crease, Punam plays all around the delivery. Looked to work it square when he could’ve played in down the ground. Hit on the knee roll. That would’ve gone on to hit the stumps. Has she done enough though?
If Punam Raut had straight batted the shot, or if the DRS review was called in time, and the decision (magically) overturned, what would have happened?
The Consequence:
Punam Raut hits an unbeaten century in the final. Veda seals the deal with an exquisite six.
Jhulam Goswami, the star with 3 wickets on the final, and captain Mithali Raj retire as World Cup winners. The 2017 squad return as legends. Their stories now etched in stone along with the 1983 and 2011.
The BCCI want to capitalize as usual.
They have a template—2007 T20 World Cup and the 2008 IPL. Upon the Indian men’s victory, the experiment of IPL turned into an unprecedented success, changing the global cricket game forever.
They have an opportunity again.
The Women’s IPL launches in 2018. All the world cup heroes are in their prime. Raj captains the Chennai Super Kings, Harmanpreet the marquee player for Kings XI Punjab, and Mandhana starring for the Mumbai Indians. With foreign players such as Heather Knight, Nat Sciver, and the world’s greatest Ellyse Perry, the WIPL is a financial and global success.
This T20 experience gained helps Indian women win the 2020 T20 World Cup defeating Australia in their background in front of a 86,174 crowd at the MCG.
Reflection – Inaction Trumps Imagination
Well, things did not turn out that way, did it?
Winning and losing is part and parcel of the game. Yes, one moment can change histories, but sometimes if action is taken in the right time, it could pay dividends as well.
India’s performance had already delighted audiences around the world and Goswami-Mithali-Harmanpreet-Mandana were household names.
Why then, has the WIPL not been put into action?
It did not need to be an 8 team tournament. A 5-6 team tournament would be wonderful as well. In 3 years, teams would have stabilized, rivalries and fanbase would have fostered, and ultimately, women’s cricket would have benefitted.
Instead, we are watching the 3rd T20 Women’s challenge as an afterthought of a 56 match exhausting Men’s IPL, just taking a break before the Playoffs. Meanwhile, most of the foreign players like Heather Knight, Alyssa Healy, and Ellyse Perry are employing their trade at the WBBL, and we are just waiting for the Hundredfor a competitive world T20 women’s league.
With the likes of Shefali Verma, Deepti Sharma, and Jemimah Rodrigues, India’s future is still bright, but by the time WIPL commences, India women’s stars would have already retired.
Jemimah Rodrigues times a cover drive to perfection
Inspired By Conversations with Vandit and ESPNCricinfo’s Alternative Universe Series.
In the first week of IPL 2020, we witnessed several close games, Tewatia’s magic, and the Indian youngsters on the show. Some said this is the closest IPL ever?
What followed in the next couple of weeks was a thoroughly one-sided tournament.
It seemed that Delhi Capitals were running away with from the rest of the table, and Mumbai Indians were back at their best. RCB were playing….consistently well and even an underperforming KKR were snatching victories out of jaws of defeat.
Where are we now? Two days to go in the league stague, and the points table look something like this. Mumbai Indians are the only team to seal qualification, while CSK are the only team officially out…barely.
On the other hand, RCB at #2 can still fail to make it and KKR at #7 are still alive.
Did you miss the major moments of the day? Do not worry! Here are the moments of the day from our perspective on Twitter – funny run-outs, unusual hit-wickets, Super Over chaos, and much more.
Here are the hashtags we used for each day.
#BCDoftheDay:Broken Cricket Dream of the Day
#RedemptionoftheDay:Comebacks and Redemptions
#SamCurranoftheDay:All-Rounder or the Game Changer of the Day
#UniverseBossoftheDay:Chris Gayle is back, so a new # was needed just for him
We have several videos linked in the tweets and the headlines, so feel free to watch the highlights of the moments if you missed out!
What were your favorite moments of the past two weeks or the IPL in general? Comment below, subscribe below for more such articles, and follow us on our Twitter and Facebook pages!
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Day 25 #BCDoftheDay: #CSKvSRH 1) Direct hit to dismiss Manish Pandey 2) Rashid Khan hit-wicket/caught at the same time#SamCurranoftheDay: Sam Curran Can bat, bowl, field, open, finish. When will he take the gloves?#IPL2020#IPL#SRH#CSK
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) October 13, 2020
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) October 18, 2020
Day 31 – Buttler’s Day Out
Day 31#BCDoftheDay: #RRvsCSK#MSDhoni run-out and Archer's poor fielding. In MSD's 200th #IPL match, a broken cricket dream for sure.#SamCurranoftheDay: None. No all-round show. Not even Sam. A bit scratchy today.#Redemption: Buttler proves his worth in the middle order.
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) October 19, 2020
Day 33#BCDoftheDay: #KKRvRCB#KKR fans (including me). Shambolic performance and dreams for #IPL2020 slowing going down the drain#RedemptionoftheDay:#siraj – Tough to be a death bowler at the Chinnaswamy. Came back with a magnificent, double maiden opening spell. #IPL#RCB
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) October 21, 2020
Day 35#BCDoftheDay: #CSKvMI#CSK most likely not qualifying. Going down without a fight yet again.#RedemptionoftheDay: Ishan Kishan. Doubters are never too far around him, but he came good yet again today#SamCurranofTheDay: Sam Curran. Opener, stabilizer, finisher, bowler.
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) October 23, 2020
Day 36 #IPL#BCDoftheDay: Game 1: #KKRvDC Rishabh Pant's fluency? Great to watch when he is on song. #RedemptionoftheDay: Sunil Narine. Action issues last 2 weeks but his bat (and economy rate) did the talking#DreamLivedoftheDay: Varun. 5-12 in 17 balls. Wow. What a story.
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) October 24, 2020
What is the first thing that comes in your mind when you think of cricket highlights? Fast bowling wickets compilation? Catches Win Matches? Stylish Cover drives?
How about classic commentary highlights? Well, today we will discuss exactly that!
Last week, we created a Fantasy team of Commentators XI. Harsha Bhogle was our team captain, Gaurav Kapur the opener, and the dynamic duo of Simon Doull and Pommie Mbangwa as the fast bowlers.
So naturally we asked our Twitter audience to respond with #BestCommentary for:
Best #IPL2020 Commentary Highlights
Most Favorite Iconic Cricket Commentary Memory
Commentators come in all shapes and sizes—a few serious, others insightful, and some extremely hilarious.
Who is your favorite commentator? Bill Lawry, Michael Holding, Tony Greig, Ian Bishop, Richie Benaud, Ravi Shashtri? COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW!
Anyway, here are their twitter responses! So, sit back, relax, and watch some of the best cricket commentary videos!
There are lots of videos. Like a lot. Watch till the end for all the good ones.
The Tweets – Commentary Highlights
Here are the favorite IPL and cricketing memories from the fans in their own words. We have categorized the commentary in categories—The Jaw Drop, The Heartbreak, and The Critical, and then, some more.
The Jaw Drop feat Ravi Shastri
Here are some of the jaw dropping moments in recent cricketing history captured by iconic commentators.
My Fav. #BestCommentary will be Ravi Shastri commentating on Yuvraj Singh Six sixes in an over to Stuart Broad in first T20 World Cup. And best #IPLT20 will be First time I saw sunny sir doing Hindi Commentary that was really an awesome moment for me
Yes Really It was very nice especially I was watching this match Live… So still remember those exciting sixes and commentary by Ravi Shastri.
What a great day for cricket. One just imagines what would have happened had Flintoff kept his cool to Yuvi that day?
IPL comms just wash over me a bit. Sunny Gavaskar is the master of the box as much as he was at the crease, especially when he’s annoyed. KP’s ‘Pingo Pongo’ moments are fun. Best ever is Fazeer Mohammed “Why did he do that?!” to Gabriel’s brainfade against Yasir #BestCommentary
Try #RCBvSRH on 21 September as I checked and mentioned it that day. Also you’ve got to have Richie Benaud from Botham Headingley 1981 – “It went in to the confectionery stall and out again…”
For me, #BestCommentary All-Time – by Ravi Shastri Sir on India WC 2011 wining moment (Dhoni’s 6) ~ ” Dhoni finishes off in style..A magnificent strike into the crowd…India wins after 28 years…& it’s the Indian capt who’s been absolutely magnificent in the night of the final
Ian Bishop recently celebrated his 53rd birthday at the IPL. With Harsha Bhogle, Mark Nicholas, and JP Duminy, the banter among the group was hilarious!
He has had so many iconic moments in recent times, that he deserves a category by himself.
My fav in #IPL2020 Bish, Danny M, Mark Nicholas, Sanga . All time Nasser H. Favorite moment :normally love all the 3rd man and Masterclass segments(Nasser and Murali) in sky sports. But generally I think it’s Bishop calling brathwaite and Ravi S in natwest series #bestcommentary
Mine from ipl is AB v steyn(SRH one) 2014.. Simon doull & ramiz raja in comm… All time fav.. Bit biased, will select two: 1) Ravi shastri calling Dhoni’s six, wc 2011 final 2) Bish in manchester 2019 wc “Surely the hopes have been ignited enough for them to be extinguished!”
“Can he? Can he really?” “The dream has diminished for CB, here in manchesterrr..”
Watching late at night.. Was preparing for the exams..but couldn’t take my eyes off.. Even after the fall of 7th wkt.. For some reason didn’t switch it off… Treated with a phenomenal & memorable game.. The heart sank but was a special knock from brathwaitte..
"Grant Elliot: Superman!"#OnThisDay in 2015 New Zealand beat South Africa in the @CricketWorldCup semi-final, one of the most exciting ODIs of all time.
#BestCommentary for me is certainly by Ian Smith from CWC 2019 Final written below:-
“This is the moment – it’s Archer to Guptill. Two to win. Guptill’s got to push for two, they’ve gotta go! The throw’s gotta go to the keeper’s end. He’s got it! England have won the World Cup – by the barest of margins. By the barest of all margins.”#BestCommentary Chilling!
Not all commentary is hilarious or heartbreaking. Some commentary moments deal with serious cricketing issues.
Vandit – West Indies T20 League Exodus
2011 Pakistan Vs West Indies ODI.The highlight was Michael Holding exclaiming, “I was told he played in the IPL this morning. I almost fell over. A feather duster could have knocked me over”
2. Here is another serious commentary by Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain on Muhammad Amir’s comeback following the Spot Fixing ban. Do watch the full interview here.
#BestCommentary Harsha Bhogle: “Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seat belts. We are ready for the take-off.” This was when AB started his innings with a bang in one IPL match.
Did not find the exact Harsha video but here is Harsha Bhogle at his very best.
2. Tony Greig – Sharjah Sachin Tendulkar
3. YouTube – Best Commentary
4. Richie Benaud – BBC Tribute
Here is the BBC Tribute to Richie Benaud’s marvelous career, both as a player and a commentator. Here are some of his other Benaud’s other best moments.
5. My Personal Favorite – That. Is. Very. Good.
Any other videos or memories? Comment below and send us your favorite commentary highlights!
What did you think of the videos, the tweets, and the article? Please let us know by commenting below. Subscribe to our blog for more such articles and follow us on twitter/facebook!
“How is the food in Dubai?” asks Kumar Sangakkara. Mahela responds, “Limited but enjoyable.”
“Oh yeah? Because it shows.” (Laughs all around). After a brief pause, Mahela responds, “Well, I thought he was a proper commentator, but obviously he is not…”
I just love this banter between these two legends and friends.
Kumar Sangakkara’s addition in IPL 2020 has been a breath of fresh air in the commentary box, although he replaced an unusually enthusiastic Kevin Pietersen earlier in the tournament.
This gave me an idea. Why not make a Fantasy Cricket team from the commentators in IPL 2020?
We have all played fantasy cricket or picked our All-Time World XI before. Today let us jump out of our comfort zones and do something slightly more creative – IPL 2020 Commentators XI.
Today’s Twist – Fantasy Cricket
Build two teams from IPL 2020 commentators such that (1) is a team made up of any commentators whatsoever, and (2 ) consists of only ex-cricket players.
Here are some additional rules:
By IPL rules, each team can field a maximum of 4 foreign players.
Pick from the list of commentators stated at the end of the article below.
The team should actually be able to field with 1 keeper and 5 bowling options necessary.
The Catch
What do you look for from a commentator? Serious analysis, insightful in-game interviews, or hilarious banter? I like a combination of all of them.
A little bit of analysis, a tinge of entertainment, and of course, a drop of controversy.
Well here are my teams. What about you? Comment below with your FAVORITE COMMENTATORS.
Just Imagine what role these commentators would play on the cricket field. Take creative license with this. Also Note: The 4 foreign players are in bold.
Aakash Chopra – Defensive opener, aggressive commentator. Love the phrases.#Aakashvani
Gaurav Kapur – Complimentary youthful enthusiasm for the opening partnership. Also BWC.
Alexis Nunes – A West Indian at No. 3 is a necessity. Best Mute Me/ PoliteEnquiries host?
Harsha Bhogle (C) – Need solidity in the middle order. Moments like these makes Harsha special.
Lisa Sthalekar – World Cup winning captain at #5. Brings experience and analysis to the table.
Gautam Bhimani – Need a transition or a finishing argument? No better than Bhimani, the finisher.
Deep Dasgupta (WK) – One of the better analysts at ESPNCricinfo and the keeper in our team.
Ajit Agarkar – Same as above for the analysis but also a Lord’s ton and some wickets too.
Joy Bhattacharjya – The ‘mystery spinner’ in our team. At times, calculative. If the spin does not bamboozle you, Joy Factor definitely will.
Cricbuzz Live Panel: Gaurav Kapur, Ajay Jadeja, Gautam Bhimani, Joy Bhattacharjya, Shaun Pollock, Michael Vaughan, Arjun Pandit, Manoj Tiwary, Virender Sehwag
Cricinfo Panel: Raunak Kapoor, Tom Moody, Alexis Nunes, Sanjay Manjrekar
*Star Sports Dugout: Graeme Swann, Brett Lee, Brian Lara, Scott Styris, Dean Jones
*I did not choose from this list because did not have enough sample size of listening to Star Sports commentary, but you are free to do so.
So from this list, who makes it in YOUR COMMENTATORS XI? COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW! Do check out our other World XI with Twists Articles here, follow our social media pages, and share the article ahead!
