The way their No.11 batsman Khaleel Ahmed pushed one onto the off and almost walked to the other end when SRH needed a ‘gettable’ 13 off three balls was inexplicable – the only rational explanation can be ‘it’s a drama’ like WWF. He looked as if he wanted to get run out himself – please get me out, please get me out![/caption]It rises again, again, and again… That’s the dubious fixing allegations against the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 now being played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The mindboggling over-excitement --very close finishes, many tied games, and unexpected twists that are abundant— in this year’s tournament happening behind closed-doors is too good to be true, the ardent IPL followers look to be saying.
The TV viewers are provided with recorded cheer sound of spectators to make them forget it is played in empty stadia. Fixing allegations are not new to the IPL, a brainchild of Lalit Modi who himself has very dubious track record as a businessman.
Some already argue that this year’s IPL is simply like World Wrestling Federation (WWF) bouts that enacted to the world entertainment market as shows produced to a script adding more and more excitement into debilitating brawls.
The latest example came from Saturday’s (24) match no. 43 of the tournament this time, played between Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Dubai.
KXIP, led by Lokesh Rahul, won by 12 runs in another dramatic finish. It was too dramatic yet the least convincing as SRH fell 12 runs short of their target of 127.
The way SRH collapsed quite unusually from a position where they needed 71 runs from 83 balls with 10 wickets in hand was a hot talking point in the social media yesterday (25).
David Warner-led SRH eventually lost by 12 runs losing all their 10 wickets for a total of 114 in 19.5 overs. Incredible.
The KXIP majority share holder is Mohit Burman (46%). Bollywood star Preity Zinta, who owns about 23% of its shares was seen watching the game cheering.
By the end of 16 overs of their reply, SRH looked as if they were heading for another fantastic finish with Manish Pandey and Vijay Shankar were batting, needing highly possible 28 runs from 24 balls.
But Chris Jordan (3/23) and Arshdeep Singh (3/17) from KXIP came on to trigger a remarkable collapse where the Hyderabad side lost their last six wickets for 15 runs – from 100 for three to 114 all out.
The way the SRH batsmen went for their shot and their runswere nothing but laughable. The way their No.11 batsman Khaleel Ahmed pushed one onto the off and almost walked to the other end when SRH needed a ‘gettable’ 13 off three balls was inexplicable – the only rational explanation can be ‘it’s a drama’ like WWF. He looked as if he wanted to get run out himself – please get me out, please get me out!
Some interesting reactions seen on social media:
“I think Khaleel Ahmed wanted a hug from Preeti Zinta (the franchise owner of the eventual winner KXIP)
“MATCH IS FIXED 100 %, 19.4 (NEEDED 13 IN 3)”
“Arshdeep Singh to Khaleel Ahmed, no run, oh ho ho, a proper defence to point. What was that son!”