KKR AT No.2...yayyy...

hey friendswa my Kkr at no.2 in ipl tables...i am too happy that they hv defeated DD by 17 runs at ferozshahkotla...hv u all seen SRK dancing with cheers girls dere when they hv won the match...it was so nice to watch...luved that scene...what do u all think will KKR can still reach through the semis?

As Gauti said, they need to maintain the momentum :) Then they are in for sure :) I just hope KKR & RCB are there in the semi's, but not against each other , perhaps finals mein these two teams :D

Well, they were #1 until the RR win, but a true picture is only possible after all teams have played an equal #matches. Hopefully, Gambhir has for now decided to settle on a permanent opening pair - changing partners for Kallis every match seems to have done his form in. And besides, none of KKR's wicket keepers are good opening batsmen - this is something Gambhir should do himself. He has a good enough middle order.

Manoj Tiwari is doing the right thing by anchoring the innings from the midddle order to the end, and is a key part of a successful strategy. KKR doesn't need Yusuf Pathan in @ over #16 when the faster bowlers return for a final go - he ought to be there after the first time-out, so that he gets maximum exposure to the spinners, and rips into them. That may be either #3 or #5, depending on the opening partnership.

I don't think either Morgan nor Ten Doeschate are showing themselves as great assets to the team, as of now. Certainly not worth weakening the bowling attack. Both Lee and Shakib ought to be automatic for every game just like Kallis. Let Boucher, Ten Doeschate, Morgan & Pattinson battle for the last slot. If Boucer is in, no need to include Goswami or Bisla, but if it's one of the others, Goswami should be in since he's the better keeper.

My XI

Gautam Gambhir
Jacques Kallis
Eoin Morgan / Manvinder Bisla
Manoj Tiwari
Yousuf Pathan
Shakib al Hasan
Shreevats Goswami (w) / Mark Boucher
Rajat Bhatia / Praveen Sangwan
Brett Lee
Iqbal Abdullah / Jaydev Unadkat
Lakshmipathy Balaji

By over 15, Goswami or Boucher should be in to launch a final assault. If Ten Doeschate is in the team, that would be his role.

If the pitch favors pace, like the one @ Kochi, then have Unadkat instead of Abdullah and Ten Doeschate instead of Shakib. If it's a heavily spinning track like Eden, have Abdullah, but include Boucher as the keeper batsman, since he'd be better than either Morgan or Ten Doeschate @ playing spin. Use Lee & Balaji sparingly, and open the bowling w/ Abdullah & Shakib.

Exit question: if you are a KKR fan, does Dada's joining PWI make you support PWI instead of KKR, particularly if and when they face KKR??

Well, they are back @ #1 now, but PWI will have to beat MI day after tomorrow for KKR to remain there.