Seriously they have! Because how meaningless in context are these so-called knockout rounds in the name of Semi-finals and finals are in the IPL! Let’s face it… In the case of a tournament having a large number of teams, say the world cup, where it is impossible for all the teams to play significant number of matches against each other considering a tournament that has to be spectator friendly, cannot go on for months. Hence it makes sense for the officials to divide them into groups and the leading contenders of the respective groups face off in a do-or-die clash all the way to the final.
But in the case of the IPL, does it make any kind of logical sense at all… After all, there are only 6 teams that duel with each other for well over 10 matches in the league stage. The concept of introducing a semi-final or final format is absurd and is only for the romantics that get a kick on the idea of the given team on that day that wins as the real winner.
So to me, the winner of the inaugural episode of the IPl are the Rajasthan Royals… Congratulations to Shane Warne and his team!
Ah! It feels good to watch some cricket now in the name of semis and finals and not really bother about it!
Scorpi,
I didnt get it? Can you elaborate?
cracker thoght scorpy…
i could not agree more on this…they have defeated all teams squarely and comprehensively…out thoght them on most occasions…
they are the winners for me too…
as for SFs…and Finals…its the second leg of IPL modi was talking about…
)
Nobody gave them any respect after the auctions they have won it fair and square but unfortunately the format of the game is such that one loss and they will go home, but thats the true test of a champion, and I think they will survive this test comfortably, there is only one hurdle in their way which is Kings X1.
even a bowl out cannot deny them.
Otts… generally in cricket, the concept of the knockout rounds are used only in the case of having too many teams wherein there is a scenario where it is impossible for every team to play a number of matches against each other. So they divide them in groups like what the world cup and ICC championship has.
In this case, the IPL is like a bilateral series to the point that each team plays each other at least 3 or 4 times under one group, so it does not make logical sense to have a knockout round. At its best, they could have had a best of three finals like the Commonwealth series (the ipl format is closer to this series)… cheers
Also SP… this second leg is a no-brainer with the only intention of making additional money considering the atrocious rates of the tickets which they have hiked for the knockout rounds of the tournament. I think they were considering the minimum ticket to be 1000 and the costliest was around 25K… looks like they want cricket to stay with the rich.
Ah wasim… last night they stormed into the final. Maybe like you said, they will win the tourno… but from an administrator’s point of view, it is a no-brainer having these knock-out rounds.
An excellent suggestion by dreamcricket… it would be better to have a best of three final for the top 2 teams than these knockout rounds… couldn’t agree more.
yes NC… after last night where they cruised into the final, it anyway looks like they are going to win… cheers
I see where you’re coming from, but I think the reason behind the “knockout” phase is to add some excitement to the whole thing – because if there is a scenario where one team is just so totally dominant that they virtually have the first place spot wrapped by well before the end of the season. Games would be meaningless.
I do like wasim’s idea of the 3 match final series – matches 1 & 3 hosted by the first place team, match two hosted by the second placed team.
Fershad… welcome to cricketfizz… from a logical point of view in cricket, it never makes sense… so I guess it reckons for the same to make more money only nothing else… how else can you explain the thought process on one hand trying their best to get region based fan loyalty for the individual teams and on the other not host any of the matches in any of the home team grounds.
Yes the idea of having a best of three finals for the top 2 teams sounds really good.
I agree man. It will be gross injustice if the Royals lose. They are the best in the league, no doubt about it.
Maybe the final should be a best of 3 like the ICL one – it would make more sense.
I also liked another suggestion – The Royals, 1st in the league stages go into the final.
The 2nd and 3rd team play out a match to decide other finalist.
Makes sense.
Good suggestion Q… there can be a face off between 2 and 3 for the finals.