After the biggest tragedy in IPL season 2, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) sacked coach John Buchanan. And now former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, former Indian batsman Pravin Amre and previous India coach John Wright will make their presentations for KKR ’s Coach post.

Former Indian Captain and a member of Kolkata team Sourav Ganguly hinted that he might regain the captaincy next season and indicated that his presence at the meeting had not been finalised yet.

“Akram is part of the final few coaches who have been called on August 30,” Ganguly told PTI. “He, Wright and Amre have been called.”

Franchise officials further said that Akram is expected to be only bowling coach as teh former Pakistani legend himself is less keen on a full-time coach’s job and would like to work as a consultant.

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The grand finale of IPL Season 2 is going to redefine the meaning of grandeur. Top shots from the world of film, politics and corporates are going to add to the zing of closing ceremony of IPL Season 2. The organizers are not ready to disclose now, but media can dig out any secret and as goes the scoop: the crowd at the Wanderers are expected to witness an unprecedented assembly of rich and famous on the May 24th.

Over the past one month and more, the South African crowd has been watching Bollywood stars cheering for their teams. Now its time to see some of them dancing. If the Indian Premier League management and producer Sajid Nadiadwala and Eros International are able to reach an agreement, the Kambhakkt Ishq stars, Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor will be there to entertain the crowd gathered.

International film festivals were considered the most suitable venue for holding the premier of the upcoming movies, but Indian Premier League clearly provides a bigger launch pad for the Mumbai movies. After missing it out in the Cannes, Sajid Nadiadwala is all set to unveil his film at the Indian Premier League. For the film’s hero, Akshay Kumar, association with IPL is not a novel experience, as he was the brand ambassador of Delhi Daredevils in the previous season. However, for Kareena, IPL will be a new experience. She is expected to perform a special dance number from the film.

If Akshay and Kareena are not enough for your eyes, then wait to see the beautiful Katrina dancing to the steps of Shiamak Davar to the tune of ‘Jai Ho’ and two other Bollywood babes, Bipasha and Rani sharing stage with her, Shilpa Shetty joining American R&B sensation Akon as he sings his Grammy award winning Smack, Caribbean music legend Eddy Grant performing the world-famous “Walking on Sunshine” and his anti-apartheid hit “Gimme Hope Jo’anna”, followed by pyrotechnics and laser show are all part of what is being marketed as a spectacular closing ceremony. 

But the celebrity list does not end there. Many other film stars both from Bollywood and South Indian film industry are going to appear at the closing ceremony. Many of them are brand ambassador of some of the IPL teams, the rest have been invited simply to add up to the glamour quotient of this mega event. 

Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Ramya and Upendra (Bangalore Royal Challengers); Juhi Chawla, Arjun Rampal, Sajid Khan, and Farah Khan (Kolkata Knight Riders); Singer Daler Mehndi (Kings XI Punjab); Vijay and Nayantara (Chennai Super Kings); Ila Arun (Rajasthan Royals); Hansika Motwani (Deccan Chargers); and Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor (Mumbai Indians).

In addition to the who’s who from the glamour world, the big shots from industry and politics are also going to attend the gala ceremony on Sunday night. Although, the organizers refused to divulge the names of the politicians for obvious reasons, there are reasons to believe that some of the most high profile politicians are flying in here to attend the event. 

And if the speculation of the cricket news media proves correct, the newly-elected South African President Jacob Zuma will be there to grace the occasion. Among the businessmen, Vijay Mallya, the seventh-richest man in the world, and Mukesh Ambani, the fourth-richest in the world, will definitely be there to cheer their respective teams, Bangalore Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians.

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A spectacular run-chase by the Kolkata Knight Riders stunned the Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets in a thrilling last-ball finish at the Super Sport Park on Monday. After Suresh Raina and Mahendra Singh Dhoni powered the Super Kings to 188-3, Brendon McCullum came out with all guns blazing, smashing a 48-ball 81. Brad Hodge finished the job for the Knight Riders by plundering an unbeaten 71 that came off just 44 balls. Chennai now have to win their next game against the Kings XI Punjab to be guaranteed a semi-final spot.

Scores:

Chennai Super Kings innings (20 overs maximum)
PA Patel       run out (Shukla)     25
GJ Bailey     run out (Hodge)     30
SK Raina      c Shukla b Dinda     52
MS Dhoni     not out                      40
JA Morkel   not out                       21
Extras     (b 4, lb 3, w 13)     20

Total     (3 wickets; 20 overs)     188

Fall of wickets: 1-59, 2-78, 3-152

Bowling: AB Dinda:4-0-29-1-7.25, Anureet Singh:1-0-12-0-12.00, AB Agarkar:4-0-45-0-11.25, M Kartik:3-0-27-0-9.00, BJ Hodge:2-0-12-0-6.00, A Mendis:4-0-38-0-9.50, DJ Hussey:2-0-18-0-9.00

Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 189 runs from 20 overs)
BB McCullum     b Jakati                                  81
SC Ganguly         b Muralitharan                      4
BJ Hodge             not out                                    71
DJ Hussey           run out (Murali/Dhoni)     3
WP Saha               not out                                   25
Extras     (lb 4, nb 1)     5

Total     (3 wickets; 20 overs)     189

Fall of wickets:1-34, 2-124, 3-133

Bowling:JA Morkel:3-0-39-0-13.00, S Tyagi:3-0-29-0-9.66, M Muralitharan:4-0-16-1-4.00, SB Jakati:4-0-36-1-9.00, SK Raina:3-0-25-0-8.33, L Balaji:3-0-40-0-13.33

Player of the match: BJ Hodge (Kolkata Knight Riders)

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Kolkata Knight Riders were once again defeated by the Deccan Chargers on the last ball of the game at the Wanderers on Saturday.

A 17-ball 43 by David Hussey took the Kolkata Knight Riders to 160-5 against the Deccan Chargers. Sourav Ganguly made a 41-ball 33 and Brad Hodge hit 48 off 41 balls as the Knight Riders were struggling at the half-way mark. But Hussey’s surge allowed the Knight Riders to put up a competitive total.

Deccan Chargers skipper Adam Gilchrist elected to bowl against the Kolkata Knight Riders after winning the toss.

Herschelle Gibbs, who was dropped after making three ducks, came back into the Deccan eleven. Ryan Harris and Harmeet Singh also returned for the Chargers. Chaminda Vaas and Dwayne Smith along with Shoaib Maqsusi were excluded.

For the Kolkata Knight Riders, their prize acquisition of the second edition Mashrafe Mortaza finally was given a thumbs up and made his debut as a Knight Rider. Brad Hodge also returned for the Knight Riders as Ajantha Mendis and Angelo Matthews were kept out.

Scoreboard:

Kolkata Knight Riders innings (20 overs)
B McCullum     c Suman b Harris                20
S Ganguly         c Harris b Sharma               33
B Hodge             c H Singh b Harris                 4
D Hussey           run out (Gilchrist)              43
WP Saha            c Singh b Symonds                7
M Mortaza        not out                                       2
A Agarkar         not out                                      0
Extras     (b 1, lb 2, w 2, nb 2)         7

Total     (5 wickets; 20 overs)     160

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-85, 3-117, 4-152, 5-158

Bowling: RJ Harris:2-20, RP Singh:0-30, A Symonds:1-28, Harmeet Singh:0-40, P Ojha:0-24, R Sharma:1-15

Deccan Chargers innings (target: 161 runs from 20 overs)
A Gilchrist           c sub (LR Shukla) b Hodge 43
H Gibbs                 c Hussey b Kartik                   28
T Suman                run out (Hodge/Agarkar)   31
A Symonds          run out (Mortaza)                   18
R Sharma              not out                                        32
Venugopal Rao  not out                                           7
Extras     (b 1, lb 2, w 2, nb 2)     7

Total     (4 wickets; 20 overs)         166

Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-85, 3-116, 4-128

Bowling: I Sharma:0-23, Mortaza:0-58, M Kartik:1-12, B Hodge:1-23, A Agarkar:0-41, DJ Hussey:0-6

Man of the match: Rohit Sharma

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Ross Taylor smashed an unbeaten half-century as the Royals Challengers Bangalore kept themselves in contention for an Indian Premier League semi-final spot with a six-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Taylor’s 81 off 33 deliveries overshadowed an unbeaten 84 off 64 from Brendon McCullum, which had helped the Knight Riders reach 173 for four after being asked to take first strike.

David Hussey chipped in with a knock of 43 from 27 deliveries and put on 70 runs for the third wicket with McCullum, but Taylor stole the show.

The Royal Challengers began their chase confidently with openers Jacques Kallis (32) and Jesse Ryder (22) putting on 58 for the opening wicket in fairly good time.

McCullum used five bowlers inside the first six overs but the duo had smashed 46 in the powerplays when Murali Karthik halted the scoring with a tidy spell and a brace of wickets.

The left-arm spinner first sent back Kallis, although the wicket came more through a brilliant catch from McCullum at short cover.

Robin Uthappa was his second victim – caught in the deep – and when Ryder fell to Ajit Agarkar shortly after, the Royal Challengers’ line-up was in danger of unravelling.

But Taylor went on the attack immediately, clubbing Karthik for consecutive sixes in the bowler’s final over and hitting Angelo Mathews for successive boundaries in the next over.

Taylor dragged the Royal Challengers back on course with a 48-run stand for the third wicket with Rahul Dravid and continued to hit boundaries at will after Dravid’s fall in the 16th over.

The Royal Challengers needed 94 from the last eight overs but Taylor reduced the gap to 55 from the last five and 21 from the last two overs, and eventually to five from the last over. He then brought up victory with a six, as the Royal Challengers reached their target with four deliveries to spare, and with Mark Boucher not out on 13.

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Delhi Daredevils’ winning streak is unlikely to face much challenge from a battered Kolkata Knight Riders when the two sides square off in an Indian Premier League match on Sunday.

Daredevils and Knight Riders faced each other for the first time in the competition on Tuesday and Brendon McCullum’s men, without a win for the past seven matches, were completely outplayed by the Delhi side.

With a semi-final berth out of bounds for Kolkata, the team would be playing to restore some of the lost pride against a side which has emerged as a strong contender for the title with its consistent show.

Such has been Delhi’s domination that it has remained unaffected by a bowler of Glenn McGrath’s stature being reduced to a bench-warmer.

Skipper of England’s Twenty20 World Championship squad Paul Collingwood came and left without padding up even once but Delhi remain unfazed.

Little-known pacer Dirk Nannes has done the job for it with the ball and Delhi have been more than happy to give him a spot in the playing XI ahead of McGrath.

Collingwood, meanwhile, never seemed required in a line-up that already boasts of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, David Warner and Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Kolkata, on the other hand, are in desperate search for that one match winner who can turn things around for the beleaguered side, which lies at the bottom of the table. The pressure of captaincy seems to have silenced McCullum’s bat significantly and Sourav Ganguly too has not come up with anything extraordinary so far.

The explosive Chris Gayle is gone and the only positive development for the side in a while is the availability of Australian David Hussey, who is expected to be inducted immediately into the struggling line-up.

Poor batting has meant that the bowlers have had very little role to play in deciding Kolkata’s fortunes even though the likes of Ishant Sharma have not done too bad.

On current form, Delhi, semi-finalists last year, are certain to make the cut even this time around. In contrast, Kolkata are fighting a grim battle to avoid being at the bottom of the heap.

The contrasting form makes Delhi overwhelming favourites on Sunday and it would be nothing short of a stunner if Kolkata manage to pull off an elusive win.

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Mumbai Indians beat Kolkata Knight Riders by nine runs in their Indian Premier League match on Friday.

A good half century from JP Duminy (52 not out, off 37 balls) and a couple of lower order contributions saw the Mumbai Indians set the Kolkata Knight Riders a competitive target of 149 to win in their IPL match at East London in South Africa.

Earlier, the Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and elected to bat in their match against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Unlike earlier matches, the powerful opening pair of Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya failed to click and the latter was out for 6. With Tendulkar (34 off 30 balls) too leaving at the score of 54 for 3, the Indians seemed to struggle to reach a fair score. JP Duminy’s innings, supported by Graham Napier (15), Ajinkya Rahane (10) and Abhishek Nayar (10) saw the Mumbaikars reach 148 for 6 in 20 overs.

With nothing to lose, and languishing at the bottom of the table, Kolkata has to win this match if they are to keep in touch with any faint hopes they may have to qualify for the semi finals.

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The Bangalore Royal Challengers secured a five-wicket win off the penultimate ball against the Kolkata Knight Riders to move off the bottom of the Indian Premier League standings on Wednesday.

The second match in the Durban between the Mumbai Indians and the Kings XI Punjab also went down to the last over with the bowling side, Punjab, holding on for a three-run win.

Chasing Kolkata’s total of 139 for six, Bangalore reached 143 for five after beginning the last over of their innings needing 10 runs for victory.

South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (25 not out) duly obliged for Bangalore by scoring 12 runs off five balls with the winning runs coming courtesy of a boundary behind square-leg.

Bangalore’s winning total was built on a first-wicket stand of 69 off 72 balls between Jacques Kallis (23) and left-hander Shreevats Goswami, who contributed 43, while off spinner Brad Hodge returned figures of 3-29 for Kolkata.

After Kolkata had won the toss and chosen to bat, Bangalore made use of four spinners who between them bowled 15 overs for 99 runs, picking up five wickets. Leg spinner Anil Kumble was the most successful with 2-16 off four overs.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle contributed 40 runs to Kolkata’s score while right-hander Morne van Wyk, on his IPL debut, scored 43 not out. Kolkata are rooted to the bottom of the table with one win and one no-result from their six matches.

Mumbai began the last over of their innings, bowled by left-arm seamer Yusuf Abdulla, needing 12 runs to win.

But when Abdulla (2-19) had JP Duminy caught at deep midwicket for 59 with the fourth ball of the over, Mumbai’s challenge fizzled out as they reached 116 for seven.

Punjab, who won the toss and elected to bat, scored 119 for eight on a sluggish pitch that did not encourage stroke play with Sri Lanka wicketkeeper/batsman Kumar Sangakkara top-scoring with 45 not out.

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Bangalore Royal Challengers restricted Kolkata Knight Riders to 139/6 in 20 overs in the 19th match of the second edition of the Indian Premier League at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.

Morne van Wyk top scored for Kolkata with an unbeaten 44 that came off 35 balls and was studded with 4 fours. West Indian captain Chris Gayle hit 6 fours in 37-ball 40.

Gayle was dismissed when he hit a KP Appanna delivery to long on where Shreevats Goswami came running from deep mid-wicket and dived to take the catch.

Anil Kumble took 2 wickets in his spell of 4 overs as Kolkata kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Kolkata were 61/3 in 10 overs.

Batting first after winning the toss, Kolkata got off to a worst start possible as captain Brendon McCullum cut the first delivery of the match by his Bangalore counterpart Kevin Pietersen to backward point for Virat Kohli to take the catch.

Bangalore are playing three frontline spinners, but Pietersen, a part-time spinner, opened the bowling and struck with his first delivery.

Kumble struck in his first over when trapped Brad Hodge (17) plumb in front of the wicket by a straighter delivery. Hodge hit a six and a four in his 17-run knock that came off 15 balls.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly pulled a Praveen Kumar delivery to deep mid-wicket for Jacuqes Kallis to take the catch in the ninth over.

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Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan returned to India from South Africa on Wednesday morning and the visibly upset Bollywood actor said that he won’t go back to cheer his team unless they win games in the second season of the IPL.

Speaking to press Shah Rukh mentioned that he won’t go back to South Africa unless his team starts winning. He said, “If they do well I will go back. I am feeling sad for the boys because there is a lot of talent in the team. There is a lot of hard work to be done.”

On the current skipper Brendon McCullum’s run in this season King Khan said, “Brendon McCullum is fantastic. I just think he needs to get cracking with the bat. He needs to get out this bad run and come back into form. But then I think he will get back and get out of it.”

Praising Sourav Ganguly’s performance in South Africa, he added, “As always Dada is doing fantastic and very well. But the team needs to click together so as soon as they do that then they will win.”

Knight Riders are having a lacklustre tournament so far with just one victory in their hands from 5 games. There have been talks of growing frustrations among the team members apart from a series of off-field controversies.

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