While India finished off their Lanka tour with a flourish, yesterday's Twenty20 win would have pleased the Indian Premier League team owners too
While India finished off their Lanka tour with a flourish, yesterday's Twenty20 win would have pleased the Indian Premier League team owners too Yusuf Pathan (left) and Irfan Pathan during their match-winning partnership in the Twenty20 game against Sri Lanka yesterday. PICS/AP
Yusuf Pathan
IN the first season, Yusuf Pathan did enough for the Rajasthan Royals bosses to be assured that they put their money on a winner. Everyone knows in India how devastating he can be with the willow and the Sri Lankan crowd got a taste of it in yesterday's T20 game. In a sensational frenzy of hitting, Yusuf combined with his half-brother Irfan to literally snatch the game away from the home team. The two added 59 off just 25 balls to clinch the game with Yusuf scoring 22 not out off 10 balls.
Yesterday, he was most effective of the Indian bowlers as well. He bowled his off-spinners with clever variation and accuracy, giving away just 23 runs while picking up two key wickets u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0093 Jehan Mubarak and the dangerous looking Chamara Kapugedera. Royals skipper Shane Warne surely would be pleased with Yusuf's show.
Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh
PREITY Zinta must have been disappointed to see her two Kings XI Punjab star players Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkarau00a0 not considered for the Twenty20 game yesterday. But, Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh (32 runs off 21 balls) ensured that the Bollywood star and other Kings XI co-owners had plenty to enjoy. Irfan finished in a blaze of glory with 33 off 16 balls to resurrect the Indian innings from 115 for seven in 15.1 overs.
The team needed 57 off 29 balls when he joined brother Yusuf. The Pathan duo made it look like a cakewalk though.
Sanath Jayasuriya
So electrifying has been his impact in Twenty20 cricket that you are excused to use the clichu00a0Like old wine, he is become better with age'. Sanath Jayasuriya is defying all logic about the age factor. In his 40th year, Jaysurya's reflexes are as sharp as the fittest in the game. The Mumbai Indians bosses would have been pleased to see the way he batted in yesterday's Twenty20 game. His stunning assault on the Indian opening bowlers during his 17-ball 33 runs cameo is proof that his form is intact. He rolled his arm over with good success too (3-0-10-1). Going into the second IPL, the Mumbai Indians can be assured that the millions on him are worth it.
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Tillakaratne Dilshan
The Indian Premier League is not only about on-field worth. The off-the-field brand value of a player is equally important. If Mumbai Indians would be happy with Jayasuriya, the Delhi Daredevils too had a lot to cheer about in yesterday's game. Their Sri Lankan recruit Tillakaratne Dilshan's brand value is much more now after captaining Sri Lanka in the T20 game yesterday. He surely relished the responsibility, celebrating it with a fine half-century (61 off 47 balls). In fact, Dilshan was everywhere in the game as he kept wickets for his team too.
Suresh Raina
THE Chennai Super Kings franchise must have spent a tense evening seeing their captain MS Dhoni under severe pressure for most of the match. Their 'Anna' even flopped with the bat. However, they had some solace in the form of Suresh Raina. The left-hand batsman served them superbly in the first IPL and the way he batted yesterday shows that he is relishes the T20 challenge. His 35 off 27 balls came at an important time when the India team was under pressure following the loss of both their openers cheaply.
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