The CNAT-Cricket special - Page 18

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

Devious Devas, DD owned by Brihaspati & captained by Indra

• Bhrigu, Raktabheej, Yamaraj, Banvanal, Amatya, Gautamshatru, Sanaka, Mahishashur
• Manager: Prashuti; Coach: Lekha

DD - not Delhi Daredevils, mind you - scored a coup during the auctions when they won the services of 2 key asuras - Mahishashur and Raktabheej. Mahishashur is an unmatched pace bowler, while Raktabheej is a spinner who really deceives batsmen, who don't know where they are seeing him when he bowls.

Aside from that, DD roped in Bhrigu to play a sheet anchor opening batsman role (similar to Tendulkar in MI, where other batsmen bat around him). Yamaraj is an allrounder - bowls great during the death overs, and a swashbuckling middle order batsman. Other than that, the team is low on talent and heavily dependent on Indra to carry it. How much he can do a Gambhir for his team remains to be seen.

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

Glorious Ganas, GG owned by Shiva & captained by Nandi

• Markandeya, Tarakaksh, Vayu, Shani, Shilad, Mahakal, Nataraja, Ganesh
• Manager: Sati; Coach: Jaya

One of the most closely watched teams in the tournament due to the fact that it's owner is none other than Mahadev himself, this is one of the strongest teams. Led by Nandi, it has the steady batting of Markandeya and swashbuckling batting of Nataraja - akin to AB deVilliers, a fine fast bowling allrounder in Vayu and a fast bowler in Tarakaksh. In addition, the team has been immensely strengthened by the addition of Ganesh, who's a wicket-keeper batsman. Ganesh signed on a few weeks ago and has been named Nandi's understudy.

Sati, who returned recently to become team manager, is excited about the team. She points out that the team has been practicing on how to click as a unit. Some of the rookies, like Shilad, have immense talent, which will be brought out rubbing shoulders w/ stars such as these.

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

Prized Prithvis, PP owned by Himavan & captained by Kartikeya

• Agastya, Kamalashkh, Kama, Lakshman, Shilpi, Virbhadra, Ashwin2, Tarakasura
• Manager: Rati; Coach: Ganga

This is another closely watched team, being led as it is by Kartikeya, an accomplished all-rounder. Kartikeya has formidable support throughout his team. While Kamalashkh and Veerbhadra give him the bowling firepower that he needs, along w/ himself, he is adequately supported in the bating by Agastya and Kamadev. The team itself has 3 allrounders - Kartikeya, Lakshman and Tarakasura. It's only weakness is a lack of spin bowling options, for which they have to depend on Shilpi as well as Kama.

Speaking about the team's prospects, team manager Ganga told them that the team is pretty solid, and likely to do well in all conditions. That remains to be seen, though, whether flat tracks can blunten their pace attack. One strength this side has - none of the batsmen suffer from the 'weak against spin' syndrome.

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

Sizzling Suryavanshis, SS owned by Surya & captained by Rama

• Shumbha, Chanda, Bhageeratha, Rama, Garg, Vashishta, Sanandana, Hunda
• Manager: Sharavan; Coach: Sachi

This team scored a coup of sorts during the auctions, winning the bids for Shumbha and Chanda. However, its biggest coup was its winning Rama in the auctions as a result of Sati's time travel. Rama being a top all-rounder, and supported by Bhageerath in this. Shunbha heads the pace attack that's just signed on Hunda, also back from Yamalok, and Chanda the spin. Rishis Garg and Vashistha consolidate the batting line-up.

Coach Sachi is optimistic about the team's chances, since Rama alone is capable of carrying a team. She however adds that he's ably supported by those around him, and won't need to do that much heavy lifting.

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

Vivacious Vaishnavs, VV owned by Vishnu & captained by Daksha

• Durvasa, Munda, Varuna, Narada, Gautama, Kapila, Vishnu-rishi, Sanatana, Vibhishan
• Manager: Khyatti; Coach: Aditi

This is one of the teams that really did well at the auctions. It won the services of Munda to head the pace attack, and has another swashbuckling opening batsman in Durvasa. Gautama and Kapila give it a stable, if unglamorous batting line-up, in addition to Daksha. The spin bowling attack is led by Narada while Varuna is a reputed finisher w/ the old ball. The team also recently added Vibhishan due to his strategizing abilities, and named him a part of the think tank and the vice captain of the team. He is also a good wicket keeper.

Talking about the team's chances, Khyatti noted that it has plenty of talent, and would need to capitalize on all opportunities. They have a perfect team balance, except for the lack of hard hitting allrounders. Nonetheless, she gave her team good chances of ending up in the top 4.