Pune Warriors India
It is not often one would associate a team that has immense potential to go through a consecutive 7 match losing streak, it is not often one would like to see the best player of world cup, lead a team out of the competition as early as it has panned out, it is not often one would associate a team which has looked for the services of the greatest Indian captain to revamp the side, bow out the way without the much needed desperation to win a match that it had to win by all means to stay alive. Yes. Its Pune Warriors India, the team that was in top of the league in the first week of the competition, has now made the last place to be its own for the entire competition unless something dramatic happens in the coming weeks.
“Sourav Ganguly comes in, but Pune goes out!” is the apt comment to the existing status of affairs for the team. There is no doubt on the potential of the team to perform given that it has the gift of being new, the allowance to select 30 players in the auction, with the leadership from the man who was voted the player of the world cup, but the present state is far from expected! Pune Warriors – is now competing with the KKR not for the place in the top of the table, but to avoid the longest losing streak! KKR had lost 9 matches consecutively in 2009.
The premature end is attributed to the collective batting failure. The team has repeated its mistake of losing early wickets in the field restriction overs. Ryder has not taken the responsibility to see off the period with a cautious and effective approach. Yuvraj had to chase many targets as he had an impression that his team would not be able to put up a fighting score on the board due to its early loss of wickets. Due to this negative approach, the team had to chase down so many targets which was made complex as the wickets kept tumbling. Yuvi and Robin have not made up their mind to come in at 3 and 4 to stem the rot and face maximum number of balls. Smiths injury, poor shot selection, irresponsible top order, committing same mistakes are some of the reasons for the PWI to bow out!
The positive now is that, PWI has no pressure in the coming 5 matches and hence can be a “party pooper” for RR or RCB as it is almost certain that MI, CSK and KKR will qualify in top 3. Let’s hope Ganguly gets into his groove and help his team to achieve win, which has been a rarity!
Tags: Cricket, Indian Premier League, IPL, Party Pooper, Poor Shot Selection, Premature End, Pune Warriors India, PWI, Sourav Ganguly
