IPL Mag » Royal Challengers

Royal Challengers will perform: Mallya

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:39:23 +0000

The second season of the Indian Premier League is about six months away, but Bangalore team owner Vijay Mallya - who seems to be in a bring in the change mode - is gearing up to make his side a competitive unit.

Via CricketNext

Jennings monitoring Karnataka Ranji camp

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:32:02 +0000

Ray Jennings, the new coach of Bangalore franchise in the IPL, has been working with the Karnataka Ranji team for a week ahead of the domestic season starting on November 3. According to the players, the training sessions have been innovative and focused on developing skills and strengthening the mind.

Via Cricinfo

Crowe parts ways with IPL

admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:52:22 +0000

Former New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe has parted ways with Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket franchise Bangalore. He has been replaced by former South African coach Ray Jennings.

Via TVNZ

Mallya hunting for England Players

admin — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:18:21 +0000

“Absolutely we will be looking at England players,” confirmed Vijay Mallya, owner of the Bangalore Royal Challengers. “Some swapping around will have to be done but we will be looking at English players and I have set my team management working on the composition of the squad for next year.”

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/05/29/scipl129.xml

Now, Mallya bats for rival teams

admin — Thu, 29 May 2008 03:39:25 +0000

Vijay Mallya has ensured that his brands do not fall out of Indian Premier League (IPL) viewership, though his team Royal Challengers (RC) Bangalore bowed out of the tournament. After RC’s series of defeats, the UB Group chairman decided to cash in on his smaller investments in rival teams such as Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils, Chennai Superkings and Mumbai Indians.

More: http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?
leftnm=1&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=324418&tab=r

Praveen Kumar lands up in drunken brawl

admin — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:38:18 +0000

Indian pacer Praveen Kumar has been accused of beating up a doctor in Meerut on Thursday night, according to reports by a private news channel. The UP paceman landed up in police custody after a drunken brawl with the doctor. The doctor claimed that Praveen also abused him and was drunk at the time of the incident.

More: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3045591.cms

Blame game - Franchise Cricket royally challenging?

admin — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:51:18 +0000

Dravid is bearing the brunt of disappointing performance by the Royal Challengers team. After CEO Charu Sharma was fired, Mallya has taken potshots on Dravid.

Mallya said: “I had a separate list of players that I wanted. But since Dravid is such an iconic player I trusted his judgment. And Charu Sharma also backed him. After seeing the final list, my friends told me it looked like a Test team. But I backed both of them thinking that they advised me properly. Unfortunately in cricket, unlike in any other sport, the captain is the boss.”

“At the end of the day, people need to understand that the IPL has a corporate side to it, and a very definitive corporate side. It is not at all cricket in the traditional sense”

Now the media also seem to pose some tough questions for Rahul Dravid. At a press meet in Mohali, Dravid was asked how it felt to be termed a ‘good Test team’.

Dravid said: ‘‘We have not played good cricket, so such comments will come. It is disappointing for the team, for all who are part of it including the franchisee. But we still have six matches to go and will bounce back with a good performance’’

On the choice of players’ right as the auction?

Dravid said: ‘‘Well, there were lot of variables at the auction. The players we picked are all quality players, it’s only that their performances have dipped. The big names are not doing well. We have not got the combination right. All this as magnified after we did not start well and lost some close matches.”

Does franchise cricket bring in additional pressure of delivering assured performance by the team members as the owners have poured in tonnes of money? Is such pressure good on cricketers?

I feel sports should treated as sports and should not be run like a business. Else the fun and spirit vanishes! Lets see how Dravid and Co. respond to such media and owner pressure in their upcoming matches.

For a second think of Deccan Chargers - The best star studded team and players who can play T20 to the best. However, that team is also not coming through with flying colors. It is a combination of good cricketers, attitude, bonding and several other factors which lead to a good performance on the field. A little bit of luck too…

Your thoughts?

More:
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=442535&sid=ARC
http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Dravid_resigned_to_teams_fate/articleshow/3030644.cms

Mallya hunts for winning formula for Royal Challengers

admin — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:33:32 +0000

Mallya says: “I had a separate list of players that I wanted. But since Dravid is such an iconic player I trusted his judgment. And Charu Sharma also backed him. After seeing the final list, my friends told me it looked like a test team. But I backed both of them thinking that they advised me properly. Unfortunately in cricket, unlike in any other sport, the captain is the boss.”

Read more: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/
Mallya_hunts_for_winning_Formula/articleshow/3028707.cms

I was not sacked because of Misbah

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:24:09 +0000

“It’s absolutely fantastic in terms of its incredible allegation. I wish I had the power to select the team, unfortunately that was not the case. Nothing could be further than the truth. I didn’t have that kind of power in the first place to pick up or drop any player in the team. ‘The Jung’ probably gets to get its news ratified before it goes further on the news. I wish the newspaper had checked their facts,” Charu Sharma said. He further added:”Misbah is a valuable player, the team would have played him as soon as they could.”

Read more: http://www.timesnow.tv/Newsdtls.aspx?NewsID=8134

Dravid saved Venky from axe

admin — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:46:06 +0000

Following the team’s dismal performance in the Indian Premier League, CEO Charu Sharma’s head was the first to roll and he was replaced by Brijesh Patel, the KSCA secretary. It is learnt that Venkatesh Prasad was saved the axe as skipper Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble stepped in for the beleaguered coach and persuaded Mallya to retain him.

Read more: http://howrah.org/sports/11709.html

If Royal Challengers loose another match, who will get the axe?