Kolkata Knight Riders went first for the Super Over. KKR would bat – their assigned three batsmen would be Chris Gayle, Brendan McCullum and Sourav Ganguly.

Chris Gayle was the hero of the super-over for Kolkata Knight Riders. He hit three fours, bringing up a total of 15 runs for KKR.

Rajasthan Royals would need 16 runs to win the super over and the match.

Rajasthan Royal’s Yusuf Pathan managed a six off the first ball bowled by Ajantha Mendis. A better start to their over than KKR for sure. Will they manage to sustain it? It looks like the choice o Ajantha Mendis, a spinner, backfired.

But there was no stopping Yusuf Pathan, and Rajasthan Royals carried IPL’s first super over and the game.

John Buchchanan and Shah Rukh Khan would be hopping mad!

There you have it guys – IPL’s first spectacular success: The Super Over! Nothing has brought people such edge-of-the-seat entertainment than the first ever Super Over. Lalit Modi would laugh himself to sleep tonight.

The new diamond studded MOM trophy is a two feet tall golden trophy with around 550 diamonds on it and 785 precious stones as a symbol of the most precious player. The new launch of the trophy comes following IPL being considered more than just a sporting activity. According to Gitanjali Group executives, cricket is no longer restricted to men as women of the like sof Mandira Bedi, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty have come to the forefront with the game. The new move by Gitanjali Group for an association with an IPL team is aimed at reaching out to the global audience. This apart,  Gitanjali considers this as a start and will be looking at more tie ups with many more sporting events such as this.

It has been pointed out the diamond major will soon get associated with Formula One racing in China and the IFA awards following that. This in fact means that Gitanjali is spreading its association to more than just fashion. According to a senior official, it would be not only looking at fashion or sports or entertainment in particular and as a lifestyle brand, Gitanjali would look at growing with newer opportunities. Gitanjai even took the opportunity to launch the Man of the Match diamond studded trophy to bring in the cast of a film which has cricket as its main theme. Actors Boman Irani, Kunal Khemu and Cyrus Broacha who star in 99, based on the agony of a cricketer for missing a century by a single run, were present.

With the venue decided, the IPL is now readying a final schedule for the 59 matches and the host venues for the eight franchises.

It is expected that the opening ceremony is in most likelihood would be held in Cape Town on April 18. This is a week later than initially scheduled. Probable venues for the matches would be Johannesburg, Durban, Centurion, Port Elizabeth, East London and Cape Town.

The weather factor seems to have given South Africa an edge over the other contender England. Besides the weather, England also faced issues in the form of cost, scheduling and the likelihood of conflict between television rights holders.

England had initially emerged as the preferred venue to host the tournament after a powerful lobby within the BCCI and the Indian team management felt that such a move would help in preparing for the World Twenty20 in June, sources said. The Board of Control for Cricket in India at an emergency meeting on Sunday had decided to hold the Twenty20 tournament outside the country after the state governments expressed their inability to provide security to the tournament as it clashes with the general elections.
Meanwhile, Tendulkar, captain of the IPL team Mumbai Indians, has opined that he is disappointed with IPL being held abroad. “It is disappointing that IPL has been moved out of India, Tendulkar said. We will miss playing in front of our supporters. It won’t be the same, he added.

Adding, Yuvraj Singh, the Kings XI Punjab captain was also of the opinion that the second edition of the Indian Premier League is going to be different. Pointing out that it was sad that the IPL wont be held in India, he said, “but it is the decision of the board and we will have to follow it.”

Several state governments had earlier been reluctant to spare security forces for the protection of the IPL teams and venues as the 2009 Lok Sabha election season was also on.

BCCI top brass and IPL chief Lalit Modi has been in discussions with the Home Ministry for a couple of weeks now. But the talks were deadlocked, and the government was not amenable to the schedules suggested by the IPL. Lalit Modi had assured the media yesterday that IPL would take places no matter what – and this is the end-result.

An emergency Working Committee meeting of the BCCI which was held in Mumbai decided to take a final call on the cash-rich event could not find a way to conduct the 2009 IPL season in India despite BCCI chieftain Sharad Pawar who is also the agriculture minister in the UPA cabinet. The attitude of the government that it was not ready to spare security forces for the cricket tournament is said to have forced to take the decision.

The actual venue is unclear as yet. IPL chief Lalit Modi and the franchises have said that the venues could either be in New Zealand, South AFrica or England.

Security would not be an issue in any of those countries as it would be in India. Not just that, the matches would be telecast in India at 4 PM and 8 PM IST. So the TV audiences would still be there. While the IPL franchises would lose our on revenues from local ticket sales, ticket sales in countries with a large expatriate Indian population would be high – and ticket prices would be much higher too outside India. The franchises would save on the security costs, while the TV audience in India would remain.

It is being said that the BCCI had to shift IPL out of India for this season owing to the fact tat the state governments in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra had changed their stance at the last moment. While the Andhra Pradesh government revoked its earlier permission, Maharashtra Chief Minister wrote a letter that the state can’t host matches in that state until 13 May, 2009. There are also hints that Lalit Modi is closely associated with some BJP leaders, and therefore the Congress government was not very keen on helping him out.

The BCCI is now in talks with other boards who are willing to host the event. However, the BCCI has assured fans that the event will be go on and fans can watch the event on television. The new venue is expected to be decided in the next 3 days.

Though the venues would change, IPL Commissioner and Chairman Lalit Modi has clarified that the number of matches, format and timing of the event will remain unchanged and the organisers would not tinker with the integrity of the tournament.  He added that dates and timings of the matches will remain the same.

A final schedule would be announced very soon.

For those who were concerned about the possibilty of Indian Premier League (IPL) being put off, here comes good news. IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi has said the league would go on, and brushed aside speculations on the matches not happening.

There had been rumours that IPL could be moving abroad in the wake of terror attacks on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore. However Modi has clarified that they are just speculations are untrue. This apart, he said that the IPL officials are discussing the various issues involved and will come out with a new schedule by next week.

Meanwhile, with the general elections just round the bend, has added to the IPL woes regarding dates. However, it is now being said that the IPL dates won’t be shifted but there won’t be be any matches held held on days when counting of votes takes place. It is expected that the revised schedule will be worked out in consultation with the various teams and state governments.

The second edition of the immensely popular IPL tourney will have 14 cities available currently. IPL officials will sit together and decide on eight venues among the total shortlisted 14.

The IPL organisers had already sent a revised schedule of matches to the Home Ministry, which will now decide whether security can be arranged for the tournament. Organisers had redrafted the tournament’s schedule, taking care that no matches are held on polling days in cities hosting the games. It has specially been taken care that host cities will not allotted a match two days before and after the polling day.

In case the tournament is put off for another season, chances are that it could lead to massive financial losses for the franchise owners as well the tournament itself. It is expected that this fear has now been allayed with Modi’s clarification.

However, the ministry has reiterated that the players’ security would be their own and respective IPL team’s responsibility. According to the ministry it has already sent its recommendations on a note moved by the Pakistan Cricket Board to the President’s Secretariat, said reports.

It may be recalled that the Pakistan Cricket Board had earlier moved a note seeking to know whether the ministry would allow Pak players to take part in the IPL this year. The nod from the ministry has clarified that the players can individually decide what they want to do and that the minitsry had no qualms abot their participation in the IPL. The ministry also said that it has stated its no objection reagrding this. The note has been sent to the President’s Secretariat for further action.

According to norms, the President’s Secretariat is authorised to issue a guideline or policy for the players to participate in the IPL. Earlier reports had said that the PCB had moved the note to the ministry seeking its opinion after the IPL authorities asked it to confirm if Pakistani players were allowed by their government to take part in the IPL.

It may be noted that the IPL top bosses had conveyed to the PCB that if Pakistani players were stopped by their government from playing in the Twenty20 tournament they would not be paid anything but if they couldn’t take part in the league because of Indian government’s decision that they would be fully compensated.

In the meantime, the ministry has also added that it had earlier decided not to send its national hockey and squash teams to India owing to the fact the relations between India and Pakistan were not very bright. Post-Mubai terror attacks the two nations are not seeing eye to eye taking into account the not so good relations between the two.

Along with the trade, four temporary replacements in the first season were replaced by their respective franchisees and three young cricketers will be making their IPL debut this year.

The top trades in the list were Zaheer Khan and Robin Uthappa who were traded between The Banglore Royal Challengers and The Mumbai Indians. This trade will see both the players now play for their respective home towns, Zaheer Khan for The Mumbai Indians and Robin Uthappa for The Bangalore Royals.

Another trade took place between the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Daredevils swapping left arm seemer Ashish Nehra for the very impressive Shikhar Dawan.

The mumbau Indians were pleased to have Dhawan in the team.

A three-way-trade took place as Jaydev Shah moves to the Mumbai Indians, Gaurav Shah of Mumbai Indians moves to the Bangalore Royal Challengers, and Pankaj Dhawan of Rajasthan Royals moves to the Bangalore Royal challengers in the upcoming season of DLF IPL.

All in all there were 84 enquiries made for 54 players, which included a search for 26 Indian players and 18 foreign players.

Since the number of foreign players that a team can have in their inventory has been increased to 10, the teams have been trying to beef up their teams by wooing overseas players during the current trading window. The franchisees have been signing young and promising upcoming players.

As a result, teams have started hunting uncapped first class players. The Delhi Dare Devils have signed up uncapped Aussies David Warner and Andrew McDonald.  Both these players showcased their talent at the recently held Test series and T-20 matches’ at the SCG against South Africa, at the start January 2009.

Delhi Daredevils COO Amrit Mathur said, “We are really delighted to have signed David. His debut game for Australia the other day has been sensational and we are hoping he will carry forward this brilliance into season 2 of the DLF IPL.”

Warner said, “I am thrilled to be joining the Delhi Daredevils, and I can’t wait to play in the IPL. My international debut has given me a taste of what it is like to score runs in front of a big crowd, and I am looking forward to more of the same in India. Playing alongside, top players from all over the world like Virender Sehwag, Glen McGrath and Daniel Vettori is going to be an amazing experience.”

Ashish Nehra will play for his home team The Delhi Daredevils.

The Deccan chargers picked up Aussie Ryan Harris, and the Mumbai Indians the Essex batsman Graham Napier.

Shahrukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders have provided long-term contracts to a couple of their replacement players from last season, Srilankan spinner Ajanta Mendis and Australian Brad Hodge.

The Mumbai Indians also signed Dwayne Brava and Chennai Super Kings signed a long-term contract on Chamara Kapugedera.

DLF IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi says, “I know that all the franchises are putting in a lot of work to ensure that their playing squads are even better than last season. The second player’s auction at Goa on February 6, 2009, will be an opportunity to sign some experienced internationals to complete their playing squads.”

Modi continues, “Following the Goa auction, I believe that we will have most of the world’s top cricketers registered to play in the DLF IPL. But, I am particularly pleased to see franchises investing in the gen-next of world cricket with the addition of many top young players. One of the most exciting aspects of last season was seeing some of the young players really develop and enhance their reputations – players like Yusuf Pathan, Shaun Marsh and Shikhar Dhawan.”

English players Steve Harmison, Kevin Pietersen, and Andrew Flintoff will be available for DLF IPL Season auction.

The DLF IPL Season 2 will start on April 10, 2009. The auctions for Season 2 will be held on February 6, 2009.

There is no doubt that IPL 2009 if nothing will be a better version of what we saw in last year.

The ongoing economic crisis may have tempered the enthusiasm a bit. But IPL title sponsor DLF assured that their commitment with the IPL is resolute for the next five years. DLF is a real estate major, an sector that has been hit hard by the economic slowdown. Rajeev Talwar, the group executive director of DLF said, “DLF will continue to play an integral part in helping develop the league into a truly world – class platform for showcasing and developing cricketing talent globally.”

As the league becomes older so do the teams. At least three franchisees have decided to pare their teams down to their essential requirements, and hence reduce the number of players they would have on their roster in 2009. What was it that made the teams take such measure? Recession would be an obvious answer, but no. With the second season of the IPL, teams have just become more mature and wiser. It seems these teams are working to a target, and know exactly what kind of team composition would help them achieve it.

With the player trade window open for one month, IPL teams are planning player transfers and new signings. The Bangalore Royal Challengers are eager to have the Karnataka captain Robin Uthappa in their team. In return, they are willing to give up the services of the left-arm seemer Zaheer Khan to the Mumbai Indians who would appreciate his inclusion in the team.

Sources say there could be a possible captaincy switch between Rahul Dravid to Robin Uthappa, if the later makes it into the Bangalore Royal Challengers.

Meanwhile Mumbai Indians have already made a trade by swapping left-arm seemer Ahish Nehra with the left handed opener Shikhar Dhawan of Delhi Daredevils with no money exchanged.

Deccan Chargers are all set to have a contract with the U P bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar after his amazing performance in the Ranji trophy, who also managed to take the wicket of Sachin Tendukar on a duck, the little master’s first in the Ranji trophy.

The IPL 2009 season might also see players from England taking part with different IPL franchisees. England Captain Andrew Strauss said that he and his players can afford to participate in the upcoming IPL season without having to compromise with their national duties. Negotiations are on between The ECB and PCA and players are eagerly waiting for things to get sorted out before the deadline of February 4 set by the IPL board. Meanwhile talks are going on between IPL and ECB for having a stable cricketing calendar. Chennai Super Kings have already started their talks with the flamboyant English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff. Reports say they are eager to buy him.

On the other hand, Cricket Australia has allowed the players to play in the IPL and will not ban any of the top players. However, they also made it clear that the players who are unfit or carry any injuries will be barred. The CA public affairs manager Peter Young thinks that the two month outing in India could be a good platform for the players to prepare for the upcoming Ashes series, despite the list of injured players they have that includes Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Peter Siddle and Shane Watson.

All together, the IPL 2009 tournament seems to be sumptuous and promises more breathtaking encounters. The IPL 2009 is scheduled to commence on April 10, for an absorbing two months of cricketing action till May 24.