In the last few days I have been one of the few skeptics of IPL who have felt that the viewers are exposed to an overdose of 20-20 cricket. Once the IPL is over then we have the 20-20 world cup in England. But seeing yesterday’s match between Rajasthan Royals (RRs) and Kolkatta Knight Riders (KKRs)I don’t think anybody will complain if we can get such terrific entertainment at least on a weekly basis.

Let me be frank with you. I am the biggest Shane Warne fan. Probably one of the few bowlers I can watch bowling over after over, day after day, match after match and series after series...(Others being Akram, Saqlain (provided he is landing his doosras right on the money), Flintoff, Ambrose etc..I am sure there will be others but I’ll keep that for another day. The point is that even though I have seen his horrible debut against India (read Shastri and Tendulkar) and again the thrashing he has received in 1998-99 and other on “nightmarish” tours to India, he has still done enough (at least in my mind)to make him my favourite cricketer (ok..along with Sachin..today is his bday..thats my gift to him..:)).

Who can forget his “ball of the century” to Gat the ball of this century to Strauss, the demolition of West Indies in 1996 semi final, heroics in 99 semi final where he got Australia out from a near death situation, and then crushing Pakistan’s hopes in the final (please note that sub-continent teams are supposed to be adept against quality spin bowling). His heroics in Ashes and against South Africa where he made many bunnies apart from just Cullinan..:)

But his off the field antics have always got him in a lot of controversy. The only thing probably better than his “leg-break” is his skill in “sexting”. The use of some banned substance before the 2003 world cup got him a ban for a year. All this infamous heroics cost him the captaincy of Australia. Seeing his intensity last night I cant imagine what Australia would have been under him.

The score of 150 which they were defending was a below par score seeing the scarce bowling resources RRs have except Warne of course. But every ball bowled was sent with an intent. Every bowler (leave Munaf for the time being as I don’t see him being part of the team for long..i think he is a robot Mcgrath or a zabardasti ka Mcgrath or whatever..)Warne’s confidence in Kamran Khan was more than the young lad would have had in himself.

I am sure yesterday could be the defining day in this fast bowler’s career..His last over where he conceded just 7 runs was top draw...although KKR was trying all ways to commit harakiri. even in the super over he just conceded 15 runs which in that context was not bad. The important thing was that he didn’t give Gayle any elevation to hit the ball out of the park. And then Yousuf came and smashed 16 runs in just 4 balls.

While Warne displayed that he was a captain who was constantly thinking on his feet Mcullum just went with Mendis because he had been good in his bowling spell earlier in the day. But Yousuf just murdered the poor bowler and the hopes of KKR and its fans vanished with those towering hits.

In all this we should not forget the contribution of Warne. He took the wicket of Gayle when he was going berserk and dealing in just 6’s. Then in his last over tempted the young Yashpal singh with his flighted, outside the off stump, loopy, sexy, unplayable, the undoing of hundreds of batsmen, ripping leg break. (readers are invited to add more adjectives..:))

We might blame Yashpal for getting carried away but Warne has done this to everybody. He had done this in the previous match to Virat Kohli and Akhil. and he will do this to countless more batsmen who will face him till he decides to hang his boots..But he is already becoming a master in poker and i think even there he will easily bamboozle his rivals like he has been doing for the last 18-20 years.

Shane Warne .......Take a Bow

PS. I wanted to know who was the “fake player” and was watching the match intently. and suspiciously looking at every KKR player..As i write right now the anonymous blogger has still not posted anything new after yesterday’s match/ I hope the poor guys is not caught...although the devil in me thinks that all this blogging is an innovative idea by KKR to get publicity..remember the old maxim..”Any publicity is good publicity” and Sharukh definitely has the sense of humour and the wit to carry off a self deprecating spoof...Om Shanti Om..:)