IPL Countdown

Namaste from Chennai,

As a newbie to the blog world I’ll preface this first blog with – don’t expect anything but some randomness! I’ll be spending the next 6 weeks travelling India commentating on one of the worlds best domestic sporting competitions, the Indian Premier League, and everything that happens in and round it.

I’d be lying if I said working with some of the greats of the game while watching the world’s best T20 cricketers go about entertaining massive crowds, isn’t a dream come true. So yes, lot of cricket banter but then away from the ground there is also so much to chat about for a working tourist. Food, culture, film, people and a multitude of daily adventures will be on offer too.

I couldn’t have asked for a better city to start my first IPL commentary stint in. Since my first tour here in 1994 with an Australian Youth team, Chennai has provided lots of great experiences. The stand out though for me is the people. As soon as I landed at 12.30am last night, every person I came in contact with made me feel welcome. The Chennai smile is certainly a tough one to beat.

So having crammed like I was back in year 12 over the last few weeks, I thought it only fitting I put my IPL predications on the line and see how close I get in 6 weeks time.

CHAMPIONS:
As we haven’t had IPL on Aussie TV’s for a while this will purely be off stats, a gut feel and most importantly in any title win, consistency of players in crunch times. This is why I’ve gone for the Chennai Super Kings.

PURPLE CAP (most wickets):
18 wickets in 11 matches last year, Sandeep Sharma is my pick for 2015. Always tough to back up a break out year however with the batting fire power of the KXIP he could well be bowling to attacks chasing a lot of runs!

ORANGE CAP (most runs):
Like most, I have been mesmerised by AB de Villiers form of late and his ability to hit to all parts of the ground against pace and spin is second to none. Just need him to bat high enough!

FANTASY TEAM:
Sticking with an Aussie feel “MJ’s Mob” (a collective for emu’s) is up and running in the IPL Fantasy League too.

So even though I arrived in a ‘mood’ having realised I forgot my stock standard tube of vegemite, the SOS back home has gone out and feeling confident all will be right in a few days time. In the mean time I’ll just have to make do with the ridiculously expansive breakfast buffets on offer. Has anyone ever come back from India having put weight on? A very good chance if self control isn’t enforced daily.

Right, off to finalise my Indian Bucket List and settle in for game one of the IPL tonight with the Kolkata Knight Riders, last years champions, taking on the Mumbai Indians.