Bhatia views IPL as a springboard

Rajat Bhatia views the Indian Premier League as the platform to press his claims for international honours with India.

Bhatia will represent Delhi Daredevils in the Twenty20 spectacular and the all-rounder is keen to prove his class.

The 29-year-old has yet to represent his country and there are those who feel he has missed the boat, but Bhatia is not short on confidence and a prominent showing in South Africa could boost his hopes of an international call.

“In the short format of the game all-rounders certainly provide the edge. This time I will leave no stone unturned to show what I am capable of,” he told IPLT20.com.

“I bowled more than I batted last year, this time I will try and balance both the things to emerge as a genuine all rounder for India.

“I will try to capitalise on this opportunity.”

The IPL kicks off on April 18 and all the action is live on Setanta Sports, while ball-by-ball coverage will be provided by setanta.com. Click here for details on how to subscribe to Setanta Sports on Satellite, Freeview and Setanta By Broadband.

It'll be nice to take on the big guys: Harbhajan

New Delhi: Last year's slapping row with S Sreesanth and the subsequent ban firmly behind him, feisty Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh says he is focussed on making an impact in the Indian Premier League's second edition.

"I missed the whole IPL last year because of reasons well known. But I'm looking forward to come back and it should be nice against Andrew Symonds, Matthew Hayden and all these big guys," said Harbhajan, who was banned from inaugural IPL season after playing only three matches for Mumbai Indians for slapping Sreesanth.

Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth after a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in Mohali for which he was banned for 11 matches which cost him around Rs three crore.

The Punjab off-spinner, who was in prime form during India's just-concluded tour of New Zealand scalping 16 wickets, said the main reason Team India has been doing well is that the players are no more insecure about their place in the side.

"Why we are winning is because we are playing good cricket. Everyone is performing, everyone is willing to be a champion. A lot of credit must go to the support staff and team management for giving the surety to all the players that they would be getting at least 10-15 games. That gives a player a lot of confidence," Harbhajan told a cricket website.

"This team has a lot of talent of course like Viru (Sehwag), Gautam (Gambhir), Yuvraj (Singh), (MS) Dhoni, (Suresh) Raina ... who have been doing big things which helps us believe we can win anywhere in any sort of conditions," Harbhajan said.

"Probably that was lacking earlier, but now everyone is confident. They are not worried about their places, people go out to play for the team rather than playing for themselves." Harbhajan's six-wicket haul in the second innings in Hamilton inspired India to a 10-wicket win, their first in 33 years in New Zealand before taking seven wickets in the drawn final Test in Wellington.

"It is always challenging bowling abroad - you don't get much spin, bounce. You do get bounce but you don't get sideways spin. It is always drifting kind of spin you get. Also with Anil bhai not being there it was challenging and there was a lot of responsibility on me as the senior spinner to do well. This was my third tour there and I'm glad that my wickets came at the right time - we won the game in Hamilton and we almost won it in Wellington, too."

Harbhajan has now set his sights on a Test century and for this he said he would take tips from Sachin Tendulkar, his Mumbai Indians captain.

"One day I will get my hundred. I would like to spend time with Sachin, who has got so many centuries, and probably he can advise me to slow down or what I need to do to get from 60 to 100."

He admitted Twenty20 was a batsman's game but the bowlers will have to be brave and patient to earn success in this format.

"It is tough on bowlers. You need to be little more brave and smart and go with the flow. In this format you need to be smart rather than bowling magic balls."

Warne is as wily, competitive as ever

The Rajasthan Royals skipper has an organised programme for his team, writes Peter Roebuck

Rajasthan Royals have established their base camp in Cape Town. As the South Africans and Australians played the third one-dayer on Thursday, the smartly-attired Royals cricketers sat in a nearby corporate box sucking in the atmosphere and watching the cricket.

Already the Indian Premier League (IPL) has flexed its muscles. Until a few days ago the box was due to be occupied by its long-standing owners. The Royals have changed all that. The offices on the second and third floor of the administrative block have been taken over and 90 free tickets were demanded to a match supposedly sold out. The big boys are in town.

Shane Warne, cricketer extraordinary, appeared in the media centre to catch up with old pals and fulfil his obligation to promote the tournament.

Looking fit and slightly scandalous, the old trouper said he had not bowled a ball for 12 months and was unusually nervous. No sportsman, let alone a champion, wants to make a fool of himself. His hide is not quite as thick as it seems.

Talking about his team, Warne outlined an organised programme of preparation and reported that within a week the squad would be cut down from 27 to 18. Nine of the young Indians will be sent home but they’ll live to fight another day.

Between them, IPL and ICL have changed the lives of thousands of young Indian cricketers, opening doors, persuading parents. It’s not so long ago that talented lads were punished whenever their thoughts turned from study to the game of bat and ball.

Warne likes taking charge. Typically he has surrounded himself with advisors able to work with him, youngsters happy to listen to him and overseas cricketers with good track records.

Darren Berry, his team-mate and pal from Victoria, coaches the side and Jeremy Shape, the balding Englishmen previously known for is flat off-spin, serves as mentor. The Royals have also made shrewd signings.

Whilst others have thrown money around, Warne and his owners have played their cards carefully. Money has been spent on respected but obscure Australians and South Africans, nowadays including Tyrone Henderson, Lee Carseldine and Robert Quiney.

Warne and Graeme Smith are the only stars of this show, the rest are performers. Accordingly, it’s been easier to turn them into a team as opposed to a collection of players seeking to justify or improve fat contracts.

Warne also relishes the theatre that is also part and parcel of IPL. Apparently all eight teams will parade through Cape Town on the eve of the first match.

There will be a concert responding to all tastes with a wide range of African and Indian musicians and dancers, and several big Western name acts, including the Three Tenors, Snow Patrol and George Michael. Warne adds that Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman will walk across the field at the height of the opening ceremony. Some of it may be hype but the scale is impressive. IPL may be an Indian domestic competition but it is also a television extravaganza.

On Friday, as the cleaners swept away the debris of the night match, the Royals were back at Newlands. With Warne at the helm, they stretched muscles, sprinted between flags, worked on their fielding and went into the nets. A practice match against the Cape Cobras has been arranged for the weekend.

Everyone thought the last word had been written on Warne but the old rogue, the great competitor, is still around, catching the eye, embracing the spotlight, playing poker off the field and on it.

Ultratech to sponsor for Rajasthan Royals in IPL

MUMBAI: Aditya Birla group-owned Ultratech Cement will be the main sponsor for Rajasthan Royals, the Jaipur franchise of the Indian Premier 

Ultratech will have the logo branded on the team’s jerseys and othermerchandise and also have significant in-stadia presence during Rajasthan Royal’s matches.

League, according to people familiar with the development. 

Interestingly, another Aditya Birla group company - Idea Cellular is the principal sponsor for Mumbai Indians. Idea’s deal with Mumbai Indians is in the range of $2 million and Rajasthan Royal’s deal with Ultratech is also estimated to be in the same range. 

Bajaj Allianz was the main sponsor for Rajasthan Royals last year but the deal was mutually dismissed after the two sides had issues over the deal amount. 

Being main sponsors, Ultratech will have the logo branded on the team’s jerseys and other merchandise and also have significant in-stadia presence during Rajasthan Royal’s matches. 

Tata Consultancy Services has also signed on to be the technology partner-cum-sponsors for Rajasthan Royals. The deal entails that TCS will provide technology solutions to the team that would help them analyse player performance, fitness and also communicate with fans across the mobile and internet platforms. 

TCS will have their logo on Rajasthan Royals caps, helmets and the benches on-field. Commenting on the alliance with TCS, Ranjit Barthakur, vice-chairman of Rajasthan Royals said: "We've signed on at least nine sponsors till now which makes up 90% of our sponsorship deals. We are much better off this year than the last year." Other sponsors include Puma, Kingfisher and Boost.

Shilpa calls on God

First-time IPL team owner Shilpa Shetty is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that her boys have a great showing in South Africa. She is seeking support not only from fans, but from God Almighty as well.

On Thursday, the actress was at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, clad in a sunny yellow churidar-kameez; last month, she had met with Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr, one of America’s foremost religious and political figures, in London; and her blog sends out appeals for best wishes. “Thank you to all those who’ve been wishing our team Rajasthan Royals. We always need your support,” she has written.

In Amritsar, there was no sign of the Bollywood siren that Shilpa usually is. Covered from head to toe, only her big gold watch, bigger sunglasses and the large rock on her ring finger could tell an onlooker that this was no ordinary devotee. Her mother, sister Shamita Shetty and boyfriend and business partner Raj Kundra were with Shilpa. The group also included Jeetendra and his wife Shobha.

According to reports, while she was heading back to the airport with her family, Raj played Shilpa’s real-life hero by bashing up a man who tried to misbehave with her. The man touched Shilpa and as she cringed, a furious Raj hit him.

This is not the first time the actress has shown her religious side. She had said in an earlier interview, “I visit temples often. When I am in Mumbai, I walk to Siddhivinayak [temple] every Tuesday. I strongly believe in God.” When we probed the motive of this darshan and parikrama at the Golden Temple, a source revealed, “She considers visiting holy places to be lucky, and makes sure to go for a darshan before getting started on any important task… this time, the IPL.” 

IPL offers learning curve to Kevin Pietersen

Work in progress: Kevin Pietersen can learn from his IPL experience Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Even more remarkable still that the England & Wales Cricket Board thought it could host the IPL. Last Tuesday at Lord's it launched 'The Great Exhibition' to promote this summer's "unprecedented festival" of cricket. Goodness knows what they would have called it if the 59 IPL fixtures had been slipped in amid some 500 domestic fixtures, 10 one-day internationals, seven Tests and the World Twenty20 tournament. So befuddling is this smorgasbord of entertainment that the accompanying fixture list proclaimed the ODIs to be of 40 overs duration. Nice idea, especially if to try and validate the doomed Pro40, but not yet.

The ECB also failed to recognise the hypocrisy in inviting the world's best Twenty20 cricketers here as warm-up for the World Twenty20 at a time when it was bleating about Kent's signing of Stuart Clark. But, as we have seen with Mr Stanford, the dollar signs can be awfully hypnotic.

That said, the IPL can be good for those seven cricketers from England (Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Graham Napier) taking part, especially Pietersen. For the truth is that, despite attracting the top dollar (1.55m of them, along with Flintoff) at the recent auction, he is not yet very good at Twenty20.

In this format he has not yet found the ideal batting tempo. It has become a well-used, if perplexing to some, Twenty20 cliche that players have more time than they think.

But they have; 120 balls is a long time. And a journey cannot often begin in the outside lane. Pietersen must learn this.

He is also to captain the Bangalore Royal Challengers, with a rather appetising confrontation coming a week tomorrow in Port Elizabeth against Chennai Super Kings, captained by his old rival from the winter, MS Dhoni, with Flintoff in his ranks. One must pray that, amongst such a galaxy of stars (he has the likes of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher in his squad), Pietersen rediscovers a desire for leadership, so evidently missing in recent pronouncements. England need Pietersen to skipper their World Twenty20 campaign. If required, bended-knee entreaties must be made.

Calls for Rob Key are misplaced. Key is a decent, inventive county captain. He is also a decent Twenty20 batsman. But he is no short-form specialist. Until recently he was a moderate one-day player. If only one Kent opener is to play in the World Twenty20, it must be Joe Denly.

To Denly the IPL would have been a godsend, but instead Napier (now of the Mumbai Indians) goes as our uncapped bolter. He might not find the bowling as accommodating as Sussex's in his career-defining 152 not out last season, but he now has a meaningful opportunity to push for an England place.

Initial news of crowds out in South Africa is heartening, with the double-header in Cape Town on Saturday (Flintoff's Chennai versus Napier's Mumbai, then Pietersen's Bangalore versus the champions, Mascarenhas' and Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals) a sell-out.

And after-season pitches might be juicy; a far cry from India last year and average scores around 180. Think more like 140 now. But whatever the IPL brings, it will doubtless bring something different. We have already had coach John Buchanan's madcap multiple captains theory for his Kolkata Knight Riders (presumably a circuitous method of telling Sourav Ganguly he is not captain). Now we will have colourful fast bowler Sri Sreesanth, nominally of the Kings XI Punjab but injured with a stress fracture, acting as a 'fans mentor' throughout the tournament.

"I'll be mixing with the fans, interacting with them and keeping the mood alive. Of course, there'll be a lot of dancing," he says.

And, for those who might recall an incident when Harbhajan Singh slapped him in last year's IPL, no crying.

How the IPL teams line up

IPL starts on April 18 – in Cape Town – with Rajastan taking on Bangalore. The final is in Johannesburg on May 24. Kevin Pietersen’s Bangalore play Andrew Flintoff’s Chennai on April 20.

The Deccan Chargers
Team worth: $107m.
Star men: Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist .

Rajasthan Royals
Team worth: $67m.
Star men: Shane Warne, Shane Watson.

Mumbai Indians
Team worth: $111.9m.
Star men: Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar.
Englishmen: Graham Napier.

Chennai Super Kings
Team worth: $91m.
Star men: MS Dhoni, Matthew Hayden.
Englishmen: Andrew Flintoff.

Kings XI Punjab
Team worth:$76m.
Star man: Yuvraj Singh.
Englishmen: Ravi Bopara .

Kolkata Knight Riders
Team worth: $75.09m.
Star men: Sourav Ganguly, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle.

Delhi Daredevils
Team worth: $84m.
Star man: Virender Sehwag.
Englishmen: Paul Collingwood, Owais Shah.

Royal Challengers Bangalore
Team worth:$111.6m.
Star men: Kevin Pietersen, Jesse Ryder, Dale Steyn.

Shilpa Shetty: IPL more important than Raj

Shilpa knows how to make right use of her blog. Apart from promoting her team Rajasthan Royals, she is also offering clarifications about the news reported in newspapers. It was reported that Shilpa will tie the knot in October but the actress claims that she has marriage on her mind with beau Raj Kundra but is yet to decide the date.  She said, “I am looking forward to getting married sometime after October...But haven’t thought of a month or a date.” Shilpa’s extremely content the way things are happening in her life. After foraying into IPL with Rajasthan Royals, Shilpa has recently launched her beauty spa and is also working on her Indo-Chinese project, Desire. “It is difficult to concentrate on everything at a time that’s the reason I have kept my production on hold.”  Coming to her marriage Shilpa says, “I will be more than happy to make an official announcement the day we are ready to make one but for now the congratulatory calls can be kept on hold. My hands are quite full right now juggling so many things.” She signs off.

Hughes turns to Waugh for advice on Ashes

Melbourne, April 11: As the battle for the Ashes draws near, Aussie Phillip Hughes has turned to Steve Waugh for advice on how to tame the English in their own backyard. Waugh played a crucial role on Australia’s 1989 tour of England. 

Hughes, who became the youngest player in Test history to score two centuries in a Test during the second game of his career in Durban, will be flying to England to play for Middlesex next week, an opportunity he believes will help him get accustomed to the seaming conditions.

"It will be a lot different, I haven`t played in those conditions before. We sat down a little while ago and had to decide between playing in the IPL or going to England. There`s three forms of the game and we had to decide which way to go. I haven`t played an Ashes before so with that coming up this was definitely the way to go," Hughes told a cricket website.

Hughes was awarded the Steve Waugh medal last month in view of his outstanding performance for New South Wales.

"At the Steve Waugh night I spoke to Steve Waugh about England. Definitely before I go there I`ll be getting around and talking to a few guys like Justin Langer and guys that`ve had success in all the conditions all around the world,” said Hughes.

"It`s a big one because England is very different conditions. The advice from Steve was more to keep enjoying it and be yourself. He said it`s different conditions but the longer you`re there you`ll get to know them pretty well," added the southpaw. 

IPL hot but leaves CJI cold

NEW DELHI: The whole country may be going nuts over it but the IPL has left Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan cold. 

Heading a Bench also comprising Justice P Sathasivam, the CJI could not keep his smile off his face when an advocate petitioner argued that the country's image has taken a serious beating because of the forced shifting of Indian Premier League (IPL) to South Africa. 

The petitioner said that many state governments expressed their inability to provide adequate security on the ground that forces were deployed in sensitive areas for the smooth conduct of the general elections. This has led to India being branded as an unsafe destination in the world, he argued. 

The CJI tongue-in-cheek asked: "Is IPL a government controlled event? Is it not a purely private agency's tournament?" 

When this did not enlighten the advocate the futility of pursuing the PIL seeking a constitutional remedy from the apex court, the Bench bluntly put it across: "IPL is totally a private event over which the government has no control. The government has considered it and given its views on the holding of the tournament in the country." 

When the petitioner said that election was a bogey raised by the government to deprive millions of cricket fans the chance to see players from across the cricketing countries converge on Indian soil and play hard cricket, the Bench said: "Some people think elections are more important than IPL." 

But, the CJI appeared ignorant about the format of IPL when he responded to the petitioner's argument that the country's image has taken a beating because of the shifting of the IPL to South Africa. 

The CJI said: "The country's image would improve if the Indian team does well in the tournament by winning it." He probably thought IPL is like any other T20 tournament played among countries. The court posted the matter for regular hearing on April 20. 

Well, cricket is complicated these days and the CJI, burdened with huge pendency in the Supreme Court, must have lost track of the IPL being played between teams owned by Indian businessmen and showmen who have hired players from various cricketing countries, including India, and pooled them into teams to compete against each other. 

I don't bother what others think about me: Sehwag

Virender Sehwag's captaincy in the Napier Test may have come for stinging criticism from Martin Crowe but the swashbuckling opener on Saturday said he is not unduly bothered by what others have to say about him.

With regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni skipping the second Test against New Zealand in Napier with a back injury, his deputy Sehwag led India in the match which the visitors barely managed to draw after following on.

Crowe felt Sehwag was a disaster as a captain in the match even though the former Kiwi skipper subsequently apologised for being so harsh on the Delhi opener.

Sehwag said he was not even aware of the entire episode. "I have no idea about it (Crowe's criticism). I'm hearing it from you (journalists)," Sehwag told reporters here.

"In New Zealand, neither did I watch television, nor listened to commentary or read newspapers. In fact I don't bother what others think about me. I rather concentrate on what I can do," said the nonchalant opener.

Sehwag seemed equally cold to accolades and did not sound overwhelmed after being named the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2008 by Wisden Cricket Almanac, considered the Bible of the game.

"For me, playing for my country is the greatest honour. I'm not too worried about what I'm getting from others," he said.

"I think they appreciate me because I play for my country, I see it that way," Sehwag said.

The hard-hitting right-hander also took the occasion to shower praise on his Delhi Daredevils teammate Gautam Gambhir, describing the left-hander as the best Indian opener since Sunil Gavaskar.

"After Gavaskar, he is undoubtedly the best regular opener we got. I started in the middle order and then moved up to the opener's slot, so I don't consider myself a regular opener.

"But Gautam has all the virtues of a quality opener. In Test matches, he can go slow, in one dayers he can score run-a-ball and in Twenty20 matches, he can score at a faster rate. I think this is a rare talent and that makes him so special," Sehwag said at a send-off ceremony by Coca Cola for the Delhi Daredevils.

The Delhi captain reckoned IPL would not be the same this year after being shifted to South Africa and said he would miss the frenzy that surrounded the league in its inaugural season last year.

"I'll definitely miss the fans this time. In South Africa, matches will take place at day time and it would not be the same.

"Had it been here, getting passes for people I know would have been a trouble but still I would have managed that," he quipped. 

Gambhir, who won the Man of the Series in New Zealand, said his career took an upswing after India's 2007 Twenty20 World Cup triumph and he just wanted to continue the momentum.

"Since the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup, a lot has changed for me and I just hope the trend continues.

"The New Zealand tour was pretty crucial for me. It was my first tour outside the sub-continent and meant a lot. Fortunately I did well too," he said.

"Now I have IPL and then the Twenty20 World Cup. I'm hitting the ball well and I just want to go out and enjoy myself," added the pugnacious left-hander.

His Delhi Daredevils teammate Amit Mishra was also present on the occasion and the leg-spinner said he would try to better his last year's performance in the IPL.

"I reckon the pitches in South Africa would have some turn and bounce as well and I'm looking forward to doing better than last year," said the leggie who recorded IPL's second hat-trick last year against the Deccan Chargers.

Preity gung-ho about IPL, rubbishes break-up rumours

Mumbai: Preity Zinta, who has been dodging the media of late, recently surfaced as the brand ambassador for Godrej Eon. And we at CNN-IBN couldn't help but ask her about the rumors of her break-up with Ness as well as her campaigning for the Congress.

"All rumours. The press seems to know my feelings better than me," said Preity when quizzed.

With the IPL season about to take off, Preity is quite excited and more so about the new venue.

"I'm really happy that the IPL is in South Africa. People there are very excited and all the tickets are already sold out. We will miss the buzz in India, but we will capture the people of South Africa," she said.

And Preity wouldn't leave without appealing to the youth to vote this election.

"Don't vote for anyone who has been to jail or has a criminal record," she said.

After India, IPL moves out of multiplexes

Multiplex owners are in a fix as the possibility of screening the newly migrated Indian Premier League is increasingly remote. The clash between Bollywood producers and Multiplex exhibitors continues to be a stalemate. So can multiplexes afford to keep their cool?

The multiplexes are facing an unusual amount of heat this year. Plans of showing IPL matches on the big screen seem to have fallen through for now. While the BCCI is said to have floated a tender to sell these screening rights, there were no takers since viable profit sharing arrangements were never really decided upon.

"There was no clear profitability emerging from this. But now if it happens, we can try and work it out in 24 to 48 hours," said Shirish Handa, senior VP, Marketing, Fun Cinemas.

With just nine days for D-day, live cricketing action on the big screen may happen only for the final big matches.

Multiplexes also continue to face the danger of losing out on audiences that too in a vacation, as the clash between producers and exhibitors has hit a stalemate and high profile Bollywood releases won't be hitting the box - office till that is resolved.

"We won't be releasing any films till the issue is taken care of, " said actor Shah Rukh Khan, who is also the founder of Red Chillies Entertainment.

And now all the multiplex owners can bank on is Hollywood releases, regional cinema and old films. So does this mean their summer could be a little more "thanda" than they expected??

‘Hope IPL brings out the best in me’

Good Friday turned out to be really good for a couple of Delhiites who got a chance to host India spinner Amit Mishra at their residence through a Fever 104 initiative.

While Mishra went about obliging his fans, HT caught up with the leg spinner who has just returned from New Zealand and will be flying to South Africa on April 16 to represent Delhi Daredevils in the IPL.

Although Mishra couldn't play a single Test in New Zealand, he is not disappointed. “I was told that the conditions were good for medium-pacers. And even though I didn't get a game, I got valuable foreign exposure,” Mishra said. Asked whether being away from competitive cricket for about two months will affect his performance in South Africa, Mishra replied, “I had played a few Ranji games before going to New Zealand. Besides, I was bowling regularly at the nets, so I guess it should not be a problem.” Twenty20 games are believed to be tough for bowlers, especially the spinners. “It all boils down to planning and strategising. If you have the right plans, things will fall in place,” said the bowler who took a hattrick in the last edition. But, will it be tough for him to perform in South Africa and will IPL have the same fan following there.

“It will be challenging but hopefully competition will bring out the best in me. As for the fan following, I am sure people will enjoy it.”

IPL Fever: Now Shah Rukh Khan feels the heat

Shah Rukh Khan is not called the King Khan by all just like that. He may be amongst our nation’s biggest superstars but when it comes to sheer hard work he doesn’t like shrink away opting for better comforts.  A source reveals, “There is sweltering heat in Mumbai but that couldn’t stop him from shooting his IPL team Kolkata Knight Rider’s music video out in the sun at Filmcity, Mumbai. The sun was literally burning the skin and there was no shade in picture there.  In the scorching sun, without any complaints, SRK shot his music video with his team members at the helipad area under the video’s choreographer cum director Farah Khan. It is learnt that this music video was first planned to be shot at his team’s conditioning camp at Kolkata but since IPL 2’s venue was shifted to South Africa, the whole concept of the video was changed.  The song will be the same ‘Too hot Too cool’ with some minor changes to it. No new song has been recorded this year. The music video will now also have an African feel to it with slight changes to the music. ” Our source further reveals, “SRK plans to leave for South Africa on Tuesday April 14th for the inaugural ceremony which is going to take place on April 17th. Though he won’t stay their throughout the tournament, he will make two big visits staying there for longer periods. ”

IPL: No decision on multiplex telecast yet

With no headway on awarding the in-theatre telecast rights of the forthcoming Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Twenty20 cricket tournament by its organisers — the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) — millions of Indian fans may not be able to watch the IPL matches in multiplexes in a ‘stadium like’ environment.

For the multiplexes, this means a further loss of potential revenue-earning opportunity, as there are no new films slated to hit the screens in April and May, due to the ongoing tussle between the Bollywood film producers and the multiplexes. IPL is scheduled to be played between April 18 and May 24 in South Africa.

“There is no forward movement on awarding the in-theatre telecast rights for the IPL to any party so far. The matter is still open and will be looked into as the tournament progresses,” a top executive in the IPL committee said, requesting anonymity.

However, sources in the film exhibition business said the BCCI and the IPL organising committee may award the live screening of the last seven IPL matches, including the quarter finals, semi-finals and the final, to select multiplex and single-screen theatres.

The 34-day IPL tournament, however, will be available live on cable and direct-to-home platforms on the SET MAX channel, the host broadcaster for the tournament. The second edition of IPL was shifted out to South Africa by the BCCI in March over security concerns.

Last month, the IPL organising committee had floated tenders to award the in-theatre telecast rights for the tournament. The rights holder would then have to share the high-definition feed of the IPL matches with the multiplex and the single screen theatres on revenue sharing arrangement.

Some names are doing the rounds, including that of leading media agency Group M and multiplex chain PVR Cinemas, as being shortlisted to get these rights. But the IPL has not made any announcement, so far.

Sensing an opportunity in showcasing a live event on the theatre screens in real time, UFO Moviez has already put its plans in place for airing any such events in their 1,500 single-screen theatres.

“We have already made a presentation to the BCCI and IPL committee on how our technology can be used to screen ‘live’ IPL matches in single screen theatres at a very short notice. If some one can get the theatre rights, we can partner with them to show IPL or any such events on our single screens in high definition format,” says Kapil Agarwal, joint managing director of UFO Moviez, a film exhibition company that specialises in satellite-based transmission of films across theatres in real time.

This means exhibitors using UFO technology do not require physical movie prints.

Some multiplexes are mulling taking the standard definition TV feed from SET MAX and showing it on their screens. Rohit Gupta, president of Multi Screen Media (MSM) said it was up to the rights holder, IPL, to decide on sharing the TV feed with any theatres. MSM runs channels like SET MAX, Sony TV and Sony Pix among others in India.

IPL ideal preparation for World T20: Yuvraj

Mumbai, Apr 11 (PTI) Flamboyant Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh sees the second edition of the Indian Premier League in South Africa as the perfect dress rehearsal for cricket playing nations ahead of the World Twenty20 Championship in England in June.

"The IPL has come at the right time to help all (countries) to prepare for the T20 World Cup. It will give all the players lot of practice as each team will play at least 14 matches. It's going to get better, the World T20 Cup (because of IPL)," the left-hander told reporters here today.

Yuvraj, who is the captain of Kings XI Punjab, co-owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, was here along with the latter to announce Emirates association with the Mohali-based outfit as its official team sponsor.

Yuvraj, who did not have a successful Test series in New Zealand which India won 1-0 to rewrite history in Kiwi soil after 41 years, said the Kings XI would play similar to what they dished out last year en route the semi-finals in the first edition of the cash-rich T20 league.

"We won 8-10 games (actually ten out of 14 before losing to Chennai Super Kings in the semi-finals on May 31, 2008) last year. We will play in a similar fashion," he said.

He, however, refused to be drawn into a debate on the controversial multiple captaincy theory put forth by Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan. PTI

IPL in SA will be bigger than last year: Yuvraj

NEW DELHI: Yuvraj Singh did not get too many big scores on the New Zealand tour but the stylish southpaw says his confidence has not been dented. 

Will power and self-belief have always helped Yuvi rebound from difficult situations. Now, he is ready to deliver in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in South Africa. The Punjab Kings XI skipper spoke to TOI on Thursday about his form, IPL and India’s recent victory in New Zealand. 

Excerpts: 

Are you happy with Kings XI’s team balance? 

We have a good team this season. The only worry is the pace department. A couple of pacers are coming back from injuries while Sree Santh has been ruled out. But I am confident that the rest of the squad will rise to the occasion. We have a good batting line-up with the likes of Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Shaun Marsh. Besides, we also have Ravi Bopara this year who can also bowl a bit. 

What are your expectations from your team this time? 

We reached IPL’s semi-final last year, but hope to perform better this year. I am keen to test my skills with the bat and enjoy the Twenty20 format again. Individual feats look nice only if your team is doing well, so it’s important to score consistently to win matches. 

What kind of pitches are you expecting in South Africa? 

Pitches are going to be great for batting barring Durban which is a bouncy track. Johannesburg and East London have perfect batting conditions while the pitch in Cape Town is slightly on the slower side. It’s going to be fun for the spectators. The fans can expect a lot of runs. 

Do you think IPL will be a hit in South Africa as well? 

Why not? It’s going to be bigger than last year for sure. The Indian fan base in South Africa is huge and we are expecting them to turn up and support their city teams. I am sure that the Punjabi community settled in South Africa will support us. Similarly, those originally from Mumbai would certainly come for Mumbai’s matches. Some Indian fans will also fly down to South Africa. 

Are you disappointed with your performance in New Zealand? 

I could have done better, but you can’t score big in every series when you are a strokemaker... I hope to make amends in the upcoming matches. What’s important is that the team won the One-day as well as the Test series after several years. 

What are your thoughts on Gautam Gambhir’s form in the Test series? 

Gambhir has gone one level up and I am not surprised. The innings at Napier was really special. He knows when to shift gears, which is a must at the highest level. 

And Harbhajan Singh? 

I can only remember one or two instances when he bowled bad deliveries. Otherwise, he was just immaculate. I am not saying this because he got those crucial wickets in the Test series, but because he pitched the ball in the right areas throughout the series.

IPL, CSA yet to resolve hospitality dispute

Durban: The organisers of the Indian Premier League and Cricket South Africa are yet to resolve the hospitality suites dispute at eight venues which will host the matches of the Twenty20 tournament.

The controversy arose following uncertainty over whether the owners of the suites will be allowed free entry there during the IPL matches.

Cricket South Africa CEO, Gerald Majola, said in a statement that everything was being done to resolve the problems.

"Cricket South Africa is in discussions with the DLF Indian Premier League and the cricket boards at the eight venues that will be hosting Season 2009 of the league in South Africa," he said.

"CSA will look to uphold the interest and rights of all stakeholders. Discussions are in the final stages of an amicable resolution for all parties concerned and CSA is confident that this matter will be settled soon," he added.

Majola, however, said CSA is not in a position to comment further and a statement will be issued after the conclusion of the discussions.

The venues where the IPL matches will be played are in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Bloemfontein and Kimberley.

The IPL is set to kick off in Cape Town on April 18.

South African players not a must to win IPL: Irfan

Having a few South Africans in the ranks may help but it's not a must and whichever team plays best would win this year's Indian Premier League, King's XI Punjab seamer Irfan Pathan said.

The Mohali-based side does not have a single Protea in their ranks but Irfan does not see it as a huge disadvantage.

"Of course it would help if you have some South Africans in the side, for the event is taking place here. But I don't see it as a huge handicap for us," the left-arm seamer said.

"We played the Twenty20 World Cup here and won it, South Africa did not. So I don't think you necessarily need to have South Africans to win IPL this time," the Baroda all-rounder said.

"At the end of the day, whichever team plays better will lift the title," he added.

Irfan also dismissed suggestions that gelling with teammates would be a problem this year as the side got too little time to camp together.

"On the contrary, I think we had more time this year, at least 10-12 days to mingle with each other. Besides we have played nearly two months together last year," he told NDTV. 

Irfan's brother Yusuf said he would miss playing before home crowd but was still braced up to give his best to the tournament which proved a turning point in his career.

"Of course I would miss the home crowd but IPL gave me the name and fame that I have today and it's coming again. So I just cannot wait to get into the action," said the all-rounder who played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royal's triumph last year.

Asked if Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne had already assigned him a role, like the Australian had done to all his teammates last year, Yusuf said, "Not yet. First we would get a good idea of the wickets and conditions before roles are assigned."

Like him, Irfan too said he would miss the frenzy that surrounded the inaugural edition of the Twenty20 extravaganza but was still happy that the tournament was finally getting underway.

"When I heard that IPL is being shifted to South Africa (after it clashed with Lok Sabha elections), I was relieved at least it's taking place. But I did feel for the fans as well," Irfan said.

News agencies reach deal to cover IPL

LONDON: The 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament in South Africa will be covered by major news agencies after the issues that had caused many news media to suspend IPL coverage last year were resolved.

The IPL and the News Media Coalition (NMC), an association that represents a worldwide collection of news organisations, said on Thursday they had agreed terms of coverage for the forthcoming season, and the IPL said it would extend a deadline for media to apply to cover the event by 24 hours.

“The outcome allows us to provide coverage of what promises to be a newsworthy spectacle. We are grateful for the time that the IPL’s officers have put into our successful dialogue,” NMC spokesman Andrew Moger said.

IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said, “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the global news media industry.”

The main sticking point, a clause that barred news organisations from distributing news and photos to specialised cricket websites, has been removed following negotiations.

“It’s a great outcome,” said Dave Tomlin, the AP’s associate general counsel. “Cricket is big news and we want to cover it. Now we can.”

The major news agencies declined to cover last year’s tournament because of similar issues. — Agencies

Amisha Patel dons the Kolkata Knight Riders colours

MUMBAI: Amisha Patel is one up on Shah Rukh Khan. Even before the actor could wear the black and gold colours of his IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, for a film, Amisha Patel has done that.

The actress said, “Manish Malhotra who has designed all the clothes for KKR has used that similar colour theme for a song in my latest film. Manish was designing the women’s line for his fashion shows in Delhi and Mumbai and he was discussing their designs. It was then that we decided why not try out the colour scheme for my costumes in a song. The costumes were striking and with my complexion, they are looking great on camera.”

So when she was teased that she is one up on SRK, Patel was startled, “No no… please don’t say that. SRK is the Badshah and be it as an actor, as a friend or as a human being, he is superior. So please don’t say that I am one up on him.”

After Patel’s get skimpy look in Thoda Pyar Thoda Magik, audiences are eager to see what she comes up with next. And with Malhotra styling her, we don’t have to worry about the looks, the question is about her role in the film… Now that’s going to be the next ladder to climb for Patel who has two of the biggest blockbusters of Indian cinema, Gaddar and Kaho Na Pyar Hai, to her credit.

McGrath scoffs at Buchanan's theory

New Delhi: Legendary Australian pacer and current Delhi Daredevils spearhead Glenn McGrath on Monday scoffed at John Buchanan's multiple captain theory while endorsing the importance of a single skipper.

"I have played under Buchanan and I know he has a lot of theories, may be this is another one. I don't know why he (Buchanan) has come up with this idea. I like a single captain idea.

"A good captain is one who uses his experience and takes the inputs and suggestions from other younger players of his team as well. But at the end of the day he should be the leader and accountable for his decisions," McGrath said on the sidelines of a programme to mark the team's send-off to South Africa.

Former Australia World Cup winning coach Buchanan, who is now manager of Kolkata Knight Riders, had suggested the multiple captain theory for the IPL second season, ruffling a few feathers including that of India great Sunil Gavaskar and former skipper Sourav Ganguly.

Talking about the challenges of the second edition of IPL, McGrath said conditions in South Africa would be similar to Australia and hoped to acclimatise soon.

"I did enjoy the fan support and playing in Delhi last year but if I just think about the conditions, I feel it would be bouncy and quick, somewhat similar to what we have in Australia. I feel we can adjust to the conditions quite quickly," McGrath said.

He said it was a tough decision for him to play in the second edition of IPL considering he has to take care of his children after losing wife Jane last year.

"It was a tough decision for me to play in the IPL. I have to take care of my kids, now that Jane is no more with us. But I enjoyed playing IPL last year and this is something special which I wanted to do for myself.

"I didn't play cricket for the last 10 months but I hit the gym and worked out regularly. We had a 12 days training here and I hope to continue to build that up in the next few weeks bowling in South Africa, so that I can be at the top of my game before the season kicks off," he said.

The 39-year-old McGrath, who emerged as the most economical (6.61) bowler for his team last season, reckoned India vice-captain and Delhi Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag as one of the most destructive batsman he has ever bowled to and rated him highly as a captain.

"I have always enjoyed bowling to Sehwag. As a skipper also I rate him highly, I have played under him and I hope this time we help him to win the cup," he said.

The lanky McGrath also threw his weight behind Brett Lee. "Brett is very experienced and a class bowler and he has put a lot of hard work in this last few months and has grown much stronger," he said.

McGrath also feels IPL has lifted the Twenty20 version of the game.

"Twenty20 is such a version where one can't afford to make any mistake, as a bowler you can't bowl 2-3 bad overs and I feel IPL has lifted the game as a whole," he said.

Meanwhile, explosive Australian batsman David Warner, who would make his IPL debut this year, said he would like to show India's Virender Sehwag some pyrotechnics of his own if given a chance to open with the Delhi dasher.

"I know it is up to the selectors to decide where I should bat and I can bat at any position. I don't have the experience like Sehwag and (Gautam) Gambir but if I am given a chance to open with Sehwag, I would like to show him some of my shots out of the park," he said.

Warner said his aim would be to win the title and bring it to Delhi.

"Last year Delhi made it to the semi-final, so this time I would like to put it on board in the final and win the cup," Warner said.

India discard Ashish Nehra, who switched loyalty from Mumbai Indians to Delhi Daredevils, said the domestic experience would help him to perform well this year.

"Last year it was a good experience playing for Mumbai Indians. This year I have played a lot in the domestic circuit for Delhi and I hope this will help me perform better," he said.

Coaching will be a challenge: Fleming

Chennai, April 6 (IANS) Looking forward to his first major coaching assignment, former New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming, admitted that his stint with the Chennai Super Kings in the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket tournament in South Africa, will have additional pressure, but said he was looking forward to the 'challenge'.

Speaking at a 'Meet and Greet Players' function organised by the Chennai Super Kings, here Monday, Fleming said: 'From my experience last year, I would say that we have a very strong set of core players and that will be the key.

'Managing the foreign signings will be a challenge, no doubt. We have a few senior players and so there is a wealth of experience at the top. The other players, too, are experienced. I am looking forward to my role.'

Fleming heaped praise on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, saying: 'Dhoni is a very strong captain who leads from the front. But I think, his role as a player (wicket-keeping and batting) has not received due recognition. I am looking forward to work with him and may be help him expand his knowledge regarding strategies.'

Endorsing the IPL, Fleming said: 'It has certainly added more depth and strength to Indian cricket, besides giving it a new dimension.'

Fleming declined to get embroiled in the 'multiple captains' controversy that Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan triggered by saying he would like to experiment with four captains.

'It remains to be seen how it (the theory) plays out. But from Super Kings perspective, we are lucky to have one of the best captains in world cricket (Dhoni) and we will focus on that,' he said.

Fleming to wait and watch Buchanan theory

Chennai: Joining the debate on John Buchanan's 'multiple captain' theory, Chennai Super Kings' coach-cum-player Stephen Fleming on Monday said it looked complicated but he would prefer to wait and watch what would come out of the idea.

"It sounds complicated. You speak to John he thinks about lot of challenges that the game throws out. I will wait and see what happens," said the former New Zealand captain Fleming before the team's departure to South Africa for the second edition of the Indian Premier League.

"It is certainly not something that I want to try but let the captain be proud of. I firmly believe that the decisions that he makes on the ground is seen to a point. I am interested to wait just to see how he decides what explodes out of it," he added.

Kolkata Knight Riders coach Buchanan has floated the multiple captain idea for his team for the second IPL season which has evoked mixed reaction in the cricket world.

Fleming felt the technical part of the game would play a major role in the game. "The cricket season in South Africa is getting over and the pitch conditions during the IPL tournament is not going to be the same."

Shahrukh Khan takes on Sunil Gavaskar!

Shahrukh Khan, the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders has criticized Sunil Gavaskar’s comment on John Buchanan and his multiple-captain theory.

On Sunday, SRK called a press conference in support of his Kolkata Knight Riders’ coach John Buchanan and criticized Sunil Gavaskar for his comments made on John. As per Shahrukh, he has bought the team and will run it as he deems fit.

It all started when India’s ace cricketer Sunil Gavaskar lashed out Buchanan's theory of multiple captains in a newspaper column by writing that too much importance is given to an Australian, who himself is a failed first-class cricketer. Gavaskar also mentioned in his column that he (Buchanan) is only trying to get jobs for "his Queensland pals".

This incident was enough to incite Shahrukh Khan who came to rescue his coach and said in front of the press, after giving due respect to Gavaskar, that “…this is an era where Gavaskar has not indulged in, nevertheless his knowledge about the game does allow him to make comments”.

Speaking about multiple captain theory, SRK said, “Please give it some breathing space. I am the owner of the team, I bought it…If one wants to implement something then let them buy a team and do whatever they want with it,”

It’s not secret that Sourav Ganguly, who was the skipper of the IPL team last year, is also not so happy with this new format.

IPL is set to start in South Africa on 18th April and King Khan is hopeful that this time his team will perform better.

Shah Rukh Khan lashes back at Gavaskar

Shah Rukh Khan, owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, has hit back at Sunil Gavaskar over his comments about franchise coach John Buchanan, and asked Gavaskar to stay away from issues concerning his IPL team.

In his column for the Hindustan Times, Gavaskar termed Buchanan a "failed former cricketer making a living telling international players to do what he couldn't do". It has not gone down well with the IPL franchise, which last week tried to put a lid on the controversy generated by Buchanan's theory of multiple captains by releasing a statement that during a game the team would resort to a group of "strategists" who would report to one on-field captain while making decisions.

Khan has come to Buchanan's defence, saying there was a marked difference in the time Gavaskar played and now. "I respect Mr Gavaskar - his knowledge about cricket is a billion times better than me," Khan told reporters in Mumbai. "But this is an era where Mr Gavaskar has not indulged in; nevertheless his knowledge about the game does allow him to make comments.

"This is a new format that's being tried out. Please give it some breathing space. I am the owner of the team, I bought it. If he wants to implement something, let him buy a team."

Gavaskar was scathing of Buchanan in his column, saying the former Australian coach had a way with words in India, a country Gavaskar said had few people capable of defusing opinion makers. "To comment on his multiple skipper theory is to give it the importance it doesn't deserve but what does require comment is how he has got his Queensland pals lucrative jobs with KKR," wrote Gavaskar. "They have a very big support staff which includes his son and most of them are from Queensland. The owners - poor souls - have little idea that they are being milked."

Gavaskar also said the Indian media granted unwarranted importance to Buchanan. "In India, where the media lives by the sound bite, Buchanan is a regular," he wrote. "If the Indian media had not made him out to be a 'super coach', he would have been just another failed former cricketer making a living telling international players to do what he couldn't at the first-class level."

Buchanan's radical theory had stirred a controversy on the eve of the team's departure to South Africa, forcing a nearly four-hour long meeting between Buchanan, Sourav Ganguly, Khan and Jai Mehta, who owns a stake in the team, in Mumbai. A subsequent statement released by Kolkata stressed that there would be only one captain, who would be fed with suggestions from this core group of strategists.

Shah Rukh Khan to Gavaskar: Put your money where your mouth is

Shah Rukh Khan told Sunil Gavaskar to put his money where his mouth is at a press event in Mumbai on Sunday, April 5, to announce a tie up between Nokia and his IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders. Photo Credit: Sawf News

April 05, 2009 - Shah Rukh Khan took a dig at former Indian Cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar at a press event in Mumbai on Sunday to announce new initiatives with his IPL team sponsors Nokia.

In his column in Hindustan Times Sunil Gavaskar had panned Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan for advocating that a team be lead by multiple captains for the IPL second season.

Shah Rukh Khan told Sunil Gavaskar to put his money where his mouth is at a press event in Mumbai on Sunday, April 5, to announce a tie up between Nokia and his IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders. Photo Credit: Sawf News

"I have great respect for Mr Gavaskar. I have grown up enjoying his performance as well as KR Vishwanath and Kapil's. We all respect him too much but having said that I would like to say that please give it (the multiple-captain theory) a breathing space to try now. If we fail we can always go back to the traditional way," Shah Rukh said at the event.

The Bollywood star then flexed his financial muscles saying, "I have spent lot of money on my team. If you have a problem then you buy your own team and run it the way you want."

SRK's latest hit - 'No, Boss'

The Badshah of Bollywood is taking his role as the Czar of modern-day cricket with the same seriousness he reserves for giving an emotional tearjerker of a shot for a Karan Johar film. Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of the black and gold ribbon Kolkatta Knight Riders (KKR) has lambasted erstwhile skipper and the great opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar by bowling him a judicious yorker, akin to a in-swinging dipper from Imran Khan, no less.

The latest sardonic exchange between the two super celebrities is the perfect curtain-raiser for IPL-2; cricket and entertainment are merging as seamlessly as Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. In my frank opinion, Mr.Gavaskar whose penchant for making acidic personal digs is as legendary as his long-on drives was asking for a sock in his jaw for his rather insufferable inquisition. He ridiculed the KKR Australian coach John Buchanan, terming him as an abject failure who was only attempting a novel experimentation like the four-captain theory as a capricious whim on a good old Indian summer afternoon. It was palpably nasty.

The problem with Sunny bhai is that he is so convinced that he is the Lord of the Kings of all that he surveys that he frequently puts his short foot in his big mouth with masterful dexterity. For instance, Mr.Gavaskar conveniently forgot that Buchanan presided over as coach of probably the greatest team ever in Test and One-Day international cricket history that the world has seen. That is an indisputable fact; so running down Buchanan was in pathetic taste and a tad humorless. By no means is he a Greg Chappell, for sure who was selected by

Mr. Sunil Gavaskar himself. Perhaps the fact that even Gavaskar's favorite fall guy Ricky Ponting has equally supported the four-captain theory may have got Sunny even more riled and restless. Hence the caustic column.

In making statements on Buchanan's selection of his support staff, Sunny touches abysmal depths of pedestrian allegations. It is strange how Mr.Gavaskar has himself held several positions simultaneously during his post-retirement career even while doling out his pearls of infinite wisdom to us as a TV commentator? I wonder then who was "milking" whom, Sunny?

Since Shah Rukh Khan is the man who controls his own purse strings, he has every right not to just repudiate Gavaskar's puerile and petty comments, but also ask Gavaskar to tone down his verbal diarrhea. Khan has hit the bull's eye in stating that Sunil has sub-zero experience in the "underwear" format of the game .The truth is that everyone knows that IPL T20 is nothing but an entertainment spectacle, a cocktail masala, a bizarre tragicomedy and whodunit combined. It is just 3 hours of intense cricket played on a Viagra pill.

Shah Rukh Khan is right when he talks of some "breathing space", an iota of respect for his tall lanky coach and giving the mini-version of mini-cricket opportunities for some tomfoolery in the testing laboratory. Since the buck stops at the top, Khan has every right, as does Buchanan, to develop their own game- theory. We all grew up admiring and respecting the Little Master for his batting genius, but Gavaskar seems to be afflicted with a peculiar agenda, which is frequently manifested in his weekly columns. I see something fishy here; is he fighting a "proxy war" for someone???

Maybe Shah Rukh Khan should have asked Gavaskar just one question," Sunny bhai, respectfully Sir, you scored 36 runs in 60 overs in a one day match. How many would you have scored in a T20 match?"

Your guess is as good as mine.

IPL: Rajasthan Royals bullish about number of sponsors

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) season two moving to South Africa, a ding-dong battle is on between sponsors and team franchisees over the value of sponsorship deals.

While sponsors are looking out for long-term deals with lower fees, team franchisees are opting for one–year deal if the sponsorship fee is less attractive.

"Sponsors believe that the shift of venue and ongoing recession would result in 20-40% dip in response. They are renegotiating and trying to reduce the sponsorship fee or going for short-term commitments," said Ranjit Barthakur, vice-chairman, Rajasthan Royals.

"Had it been held in India, which is likely to be the most recession-insulated place, the response would have been great. While a few previous sponsors are pulling out, new ones are joining in," Barthakur added.

However, the defending champions Rajasthan Royals hopes to equal the number of sponsors they had in last season. "We had seven or eight sponsors last year. We would have the same number this year too. Being champions, we are getting premium as well," Barthakur said without disclosing the likely revenue generated through sponsorships.

Apart from that, the team has also resorted to cost cutting measures to maximise revenue. "We have cut down 20% of our cost by cutting down on traveling and squeezing the advertising budget. We have also reduced the number of officials flying with the team," said Utkarsh Singh, business development head, Rajasthan Royals.

Sensing a drop in ticket sales, the defending champions are striving to rope in big players as its merchandise partners. "We are looking at partnerships in different categories like FMCGs, linen and kids products. They would use Rajasthan Royals' branding to come out with product formulations." Barthakur said.

"We already have tie-ups with PUMA in sports apparel, Kids Media India (KMI) in kids' products and GlaxoSmithkline in energy drink. There are around five major tie-ups in line, which we will announce next week," Barthakur added.

The team franchisee is also in talks with South African sponsors and partners to expand its fan base and provide maximum value to its Indian sponsors.

"We have tied up with a South African television channel Supersport and sports magazine Sports Illustrated, to connect with local fans. We have also launched a massive school contact programme in SA to garner support from young fans," Barthakur said.

I nearly declined to come for IPL: Mcgrath

New Delhi: He may be pushing 40, but Glenn McGrath still believes that he can make an impact in the IPL. The Delhi Daredevils star sat down with CNN-IBN's Asscociate Cricket Editor Nishant Arora for an exclusive interview to look ahead to the challenge, and a year in which he suffered a terrible personal loss.

Glenn McGrath: I'm looking forward to it. I've been retired now for nearly two years, but I'm still looking forward to get out there in the middle. Once I'm out there, I'm sure it will come back very quickly and be very competitive.

CNN-IBN: Some new people have joined your group (in retirement), the likes of Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist. Have you spoken to them?

Glenn McGrath: All the boys are very happy to be retired. I speak to Matty Hayden quite a bit, Gilly and the boys and Warnie. Everyone's very happy to be retired, but I'm sure they'll come back eager and ready to go for this IPL. It's only two months - two months a year is ideal for us.

CNN-IBN: Have you bowled at all during this time?

Glenn McGrath: I have. I bowled a little bit. I played a couple of matches back home - a testimonial match for Jason Gillespie, just a Twenty20 match, and we had a Bushfire appeal match at the SCG where I played as well. And a few other training sessions.

CNN-IBN: Looking at this Delhi Daredevils side, they look like a very strong unit going into this year's edition.

Glenn McGrath: I think we had quite a well balanced side last year. We probably lacked in just one area, and we fell short, getting beaten in the semi-final.

But this year, I think we have got some very classy openers, some big hitters, obviously Viru and young David Warner who is coming on board, who's taken the world by storm in Twenty20.

We have a few more powerful openers through the middle order, and hopefully the bowlers will do the job too. So I think we have a very well balanced side, and expecting a lot of it.

CNN-IBN: Now the tournament has been shifted to South Africa. For someone who has played a lot of cricket there, you'll have to play a major role in telling the youngsters about how to bowl in those conditions. You played that role last year to perfection, leading a young bowling attack. Do you think this time you have more in your plate, considering tournament is now shifted overseas?

Glenn McGrath: The young Indian bowlers are used to their own conditions. I guess South Africa is more similar to what we have in Australia. So hopefully I can impart that experience onto the young guys, help them make that transition a lot smoother and a lot quicker than maybe it would have happened in the past.