Fiction, crime & sports in IPl age
New Delhi: The timing of the release of Rajiv Rajendra’s second ‘Crim-Cric’ novel “The league” is perfect considering it falls bang in the middle of the Indian Premier league, on which, it is loosely based. With a story that pans out more like a Bollywood film, Rajendra is ready turn his main protagonist star cricketer Tarun Krishnan’s adventures into a franchise after his debut novel “Doosra”.
The tale about a billion-dollar cricket league in a fictitious island called Palmyra and run by a filthy rich Arab sheikh called Abdel Rafter al Rafter, the tome is not a production from the “whodunit” stable. Rather it reads more like an edge-of-the-seat thriller with detailed account of how the guilty will be nabbed.
‘Test cricket is ultimate’
Jaipur: Twenty20 cricket is money-spinning and popular but for Sri lankan captain Angelo Mathews, nothing comes close to the thrill of playing Test cricket. “Test is the ultimate format. I really enjoy playing Test cricket. It’s not always as easy as you think, but Test is the ultimate form. And we (Sri lankans) always enjoy playing Test cricket,” Mathews, who has been named Sl skipper for CT, said.
PUNJABWIll BE TOUGH: Vettori
Mohali: Sitting pretty at the second position in the points table, Royal Challengers Bangalore are not facing an intimidating rival but they are not taking Kings XI Punjab lightly either in Monday’s IPl match. In contrasting campaigns, Punjab have managed to win just four out of their 10 games so far while RCB have seven wins in 11 games. “I think Mohali is a strong side in these conditions. They are playing some good cricket right now, particularly their batting. (Shaun) Marsh and (David) Miller, in particular, have performed well. It’s going to be an extremely tough game,” Vettori said.
‘Wake up call for our players’
Mumbai: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming termed the 6--run defeat of his team against Mumbai Indians on Sunday as a wake-up call before they proceed towards the business end of the tournament. “Striving to get to 8-10 (victories) was what we aimed for. The nature of the competition is such that it has not been done before. There is a reason for that because getting up every day, performing well and being consistent is tough work. Today we were not just good enough to do that,” Fleming told reporters on Sunday. “Restricting them to 130-140 was a pretty good effort. With our batting line-up, it was more than a gettable target to chase. But we had a bad day in batting. If the players needed a wake-up call, then it certainly was one.”
We can win the tourney: sammy
Hyderabad: Having posted their seventh win in the ongoing IPl, Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Darren Sammy expressed confidence of making the play-offs. “I feel we will make it to the Play-Offs. That is our goal at the moment and who knows we might go as far as winning the IPl. We will take one game at a time and improve on our consistency,” Sammy said. PNS/Agencies