An IPL sans World T20 champions
The latest IPL edition just commenced last night with a game between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu-Dhabi.
The first phase of the tournament will be held in the Middle Eastern destination, where cricket is highly popular, while the World’s biggest domestic sporting league will move to its home, India for the second stage.
The world’s biggest cricketing stars are set to take the stage at this years IPL, as done in the earlier years.
However, a group of interesting cricketers coming out of Sri Lanka, India’s next door is not taking part or have not been included in this years edition, except for few of them.
The best story of it is that the Lankan cricketers, who just landed on the country holding the World’s biggest T20 title having to wait at home, perhaps watching the IPL on TV or may be not watch it at all, as they will have enough and more other works to done, outside of cricket.
Lets take a look at who the IPL and its fans will miss during this year.
Kumar Sangakkara
Sangakkara did not want to take part in this year’s IPL. This means, the IPL’s this year edition has lost the services of the Man-of-the-match of the World T20 final. How can the edition miss the services of a classy batsman like Sangakkara who played the most decisive role in the finals of the World T20. Apart from his role as an experienced player and captain, he is also a highly respected in and off the field. Not to mention the class he possesses.
Mahela Jayawardena
Mahela played the second most decisive innings at the World T20 final to help Sri Lanka beat India and lift the cup. He also played a key role in setting fielders and helping Lasith Malinga in his role as the stand-in captain. Not to forget his 80 plus runs against England in a first round game. A former captain with immense experience in all forms of the game and a one who can enter into any national team at any given time, same as his colleague Sangakkara. Jayawardena was not picked by IPL this time around, how come this man is not playing in the IPL.
Anjelo Mathews
Man-of-the-match of the World T20 semi-final. took crucial wickets during the tournament and just a month ago, captained Sri Lanka to win the Asia Cup. Termed as the best finisher along with Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni, Mathews can turnaround a T20 match within one or two overs by his own terms. He was not sold at the IPL auction, but, weeks later he plays a key part in helping Sri Lanka to win the world cup.
Rangana Herath
Can Anil Kumble, Shane Warne, Amit Mishra and Harbhajhan Singh or any other spinner can match the figures of ”5 wickets for 3 runs from 4 overs” in a T20 International. Breaking that record is going to be the hardest thing for any spinner in World Cricket. Rangana Herath’s magic spell helped Sri Lanka to enter the semi-finals of the World T20, after being bowled out for just 119 runs.
When everybody thought New Zealand will cruise to the semis, Herath coming out of the bench to play his first game of the tournament had other ideas. He was unplayable and Kiwis was sent out of the World cup. He also bowled in a match winning spell in the previous World Cup T20 semi-final against Pakistan. Herath has never appeared in the IPL and what a selection policy?
Nuwan Kulasekera
Kulasekera was a part of the greatest death bowling display the world has ever seen in a T20 international game. Both he and Lasith Malinga helped restrict India to just below 20 runs in the last four overs of the Indian innings in the World T20 final.
Sri Lanka created its winning chance during first four and last four overs of the Indian innings. The Lankan bowlers just conceded 34 runs in those eight overs and took two wickets and Kulasekera bowled in both of those occasions.
Sachitra Senanayake
He was highly consistent throughout the World T20. He took vital wickets during the do or die game against Kiwi’s and helped Lasith and Kulasekera at to contain the Indians during the World T20 final, bowling at the start and end. Not to forget the mini cameo he played against the New Zealanders in that deciding game.
Fortunately, Mumbai Indians have retained Lasith Malinga and some other has picked Thisara Perera, while Muttaiha Muralitharan is also playing for another franchise giving a slight glimpses of the World champs to the IPL fans.
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