Try gifts n retakes

KKR's journey at IPL 2.0 will be forgotten. The sooner, the better. What happened this year? What can they lean from this experience?

• You don't mess with Captaincy at the last moment
  
• Unlike movies there is no retake on the field
• Cricket is a team game
• All games have heavy odds
• Selling a Brand is different from making runs, taking wickets and catches
• Too many cooks spoil the broth. Ditto for captains(at least for now)

Few positives:

• KKR still is the best brand at IPL 2.0 with its brand value at $42.1 million
• KKR Reebok Jersey still sells most
• Great time to show the proven marketer in SRK

How is the future for KKR then? Sometimes your best efforts fail. SRK has to face the wrath from many quarters. Disgruntled fans, team members, sponsors, etc. Good luck SRK.

Noodle to who?

From blinker to noodle straps Mandira has come a long way. Invading into what was for decades considered a man's world she took the small screen by storm. Now she is back with IPL 2.0 and this time storm seems serene.

The action moved to a larger picture from the comfort of the four walled studio to the ground. With several celebrities to vie for screen time and real cricketing quips being necessary Mandira's splash is really small. But she did come with a bang with a new haircut and statement look. With bigger than life stars like SRK, Priety and Shilpa with Shamita grabbing more sheen than cricket Mandira has had tough competetition to beat. There is a lot of gap in terms of strategies, wit to build the cake below the icing.

Still she managed to be in the news and evoke attention, living to her title: The First Lady of Indian Cricket.

Fake it, Make it

Though it is premature to state that it has become a cult, I would like to risk it. Well I am talking about a new blog that climbing up the charts like the temperature this summer. Its Fake IPL Player! Posing as some one in the team and describing in detail what happens in team meetings, individual differences and what not this blog has more than what comes around in the press. The infamous blogger reveals info about what happens in the dressing room, the conversations between SRK, the coach and the team. At present this blog has nore than 4800 followers along with numerous visitors who visit it daily. Each character inj the blog have been given funny names and this is firing up the blog even more. Some claim this is a player in the IPL while some claim Sharukh has figured out a way to get free publicity. Only time will tell. Till then happy reading.

For those who are new here are few names and equivalant---

Gilli danda : Ashok Dinda
Bhookha Naan : John Buchanan
Boy George - BRAD HODGE
Style bhai spinner - Murali Karthik
Lord Almighty = Ganguly
Phoren baba = Mccullum (also Gayle & Hodge when used in plural ?)
Calypso king = Gayle
Vinnie Dildo / Badshah Dildo = Shahrukh Khan
Kishen Kanhaiyya = Ravi Shastri
Sandy: Mandira Bedi
Sultan of tweak = Warne
Sparrow / parrott = McGrath
Bevdaa team = BRC (Mallya’s Team)
Big Sister’s team = RR (Shilpa Shetty’s team)
Mr. Bativala = Vijay Mallya
RDB = Ranadeb Bose ?
Prince Charles of Patiala = Yuvraj
Prince of Patiala = Yuvraj
Little Monster = Little Master / Sachin
The Rajputs = RR
Pedophile Priest = Gilchrist
Little John = Ishant Sharma
Very very special friend Ram = VVS Laxman
Kaan Moolo = Agarkar
Former India fast bowler who will remain a former India fast bowler = Agarkar
Bangla Tiger = Mortaza
Appam C = Sreesanth
Junta Tormentor = Ajanta Mendis
India’s best fast bowler = Ishant Sharma

IPL may twist : Part II

Three things that I mentioned about IPL have already come true within a day!

RCB won a match with CSK
SRK & Ganguly, Warne & Ganguly in controversy
Warne seen smoking on the filed (Another controversy)

IPL may twist!

"You are making fools of us, Mr. Holmes!" – ‘The valley of fear’

I discussed what happens when reality shows don’t sell... throw in some masala, tears politics and TRPs zoom. Then what is the solution for IPL?

So are you bored of too many IPL matches and miss the cheerleaders?

Did you forget the Slapgate scandal? Good… what you are looking for is some more masala!

Criticize SRK coming to the dugout! It will keep you busy for the next 4 days! Then what else?

Let Bangalore royal challengers win a game! OK for 2 days! (Do you know that they will be ending this IPL season with 3 matches with a really big win!)

Then? Ask Kapil or Saurav or Warne or the usually silent Dravid to comment strongly on something! Fodder for 3 days!

Bring McCullan back! 3 days bliss!

Then time for some on-field action
(Controversy Time: Hit or kick someone, blame games, accusations, etc.)

Quick facts of tomorrow!

• Next few matches will see some players sledging, bodyline bowling, good proven fielders dropping some simple catches, unknown players making it big in runs and wickets!

• Controversial decisions by empires on field that change the match flows!

• Crowds will throw things on to the field and stop proceedings for some time

• Saurav will walk in late to the field. Again

• The ultimate one would be a match fixing scandal being unearthed, some players banned for taking drugs, fight with local media, or some big issue which would run for a year once the IPL season is over to keep the issue alive till the next edition!

So keep guessing and keep watching! Is Sidhu listening???

IPL winners?

Who will end up as the winner of the DLF IPL’s first season? The answer is simple: ALL.

Players are getting their fees paid in crores, stars and icons have their moolah, small players have a platform to expose their talent and fulfill their dream of playing International Cricket.

Franchisees can get the players act for their companies and promote their products or brands: Bangalore ROYAL CHALLENGErs are the best example.

Companies who are sponsoring the players and teams have their dream come true. Ponting and Saurav in the same ad? Dhoni and Muralidharan in the same ad? Combinations that are otherwise impossible to get or too costly and risky have come true. Where else can you see Sachin and Sanath getting blessings from Bal Thackery!

So what is in it for you and me, the general public? Four hours of exciting, unadulterated entertainment full of action, bollywood, WWF, FTV and if all this doesnot excite you, groove in to Sivamani’s beats!

So in all it’s a Win-Win situation!