Indian Premier League (IPL)

Sundays Final is to be contested by Kolkata Knight Riders & Kings IX Punjab.

KKR defeated Chennai Super Kings by 24 runs inthe 2nd Qualifier Match. KKR amassed 226-6 with Sehwag making 122 from 58 balls.

Raina got the chase off to a flier hitting 87 from 25 balls with a record 100 runs in the 6 Power-Play overs which included 33 in the 6th over.
When Raina was run out off the 1st ball of the 7th over the chase stalled with only 102 runs coming in the following 14 overs.

KP's team the Delhi Daredevils finished bottom of the IPL - and he picked up another injury.

Having not really watch much of the last 2 or 3 IPL comps I'd have to say this year was a cracker.
Great Final as Kings IX Punjab scored 199 with Saha making 115 not out.Kolkata Knight Riders chased it down with 3 balls to spare,Pandey making 94 from 50 balls.

Reports from India say that:

Indian Premier League chief Sundar Raman yesterday stated that the Delhi Daredevils were to be kicked out of the tournament and replaced by the England ODI side.

"They are seen as ideal replacements and will now take the place of Daredevils in the 2016 event".

May just be a wind up

The new series has started over this weekend.
Today's match is Kolkuta Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils. Kolkuta ended up winning by 9 wickets

Usual mix of Australians, West Indian and South African test players on view.

Carlos Brathwaite returned to Eden Garden's today in the IPL.

He was facing one of the Kolkuta spin bowlers. He hit his 1st ball for a six ( which added to the the four that hit off Stokes made it 5 on the trott) but he then struggled to deal with the spinner and was out 3 balls later.

Jos Buttler is playing today's game for Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders

But he's not keeping for them.

Big money has been spent on a few of the English players for this years IPL
Ben Stokes was auctioned at 1.7 million and limited over specialist Tymal Mills reached 1.4 million.

The competition starts in April

Sam Billings has just hit a quickfire 56 0ff 22 balls. it was enough to save his Chennai Super Kings team
England need to find a place for Sam in their t20 & ODI team

It says a lot about how far we've come in white ball cricket that a player of Billings' talent and style isn't an automatic pick. I see him playing more international t20 this year as that's where we'll look to rotate but there simply isn't a place for him in the ODI side. Even without him we're having to leave Hales or Roy out. Nice problems to have