The IPL final

Yesterday I watched the IPL final in Dubai when the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat the Kolkuta Knight Riders (KKR) by 27 runs.

I did not watch with much enthusiasm but did so as there was no other cricket and to get into T20 mode as its this format’s World Cup starting this Sunday.

Quite apart from the noise and brashness I find the stroke play unsatisfying.

The T20 batter holds his bat horizontally like a baseball player and is a swiper and slugger.

You will not see a David Gower graceful cover drive, nor a wristy glance off the legs a la Sri Lankan.

It’s all about power and soaring sixes.

Apologists for this format argue you get a tense finale but there was no sign of this yesterday.

CSK posted a big total of 192  and although the KKR openers – Shukman Gil and Venkatesh Iyar – provided s a platform of 100, they lost their next 7 wickets cheaply and finished  27 runs short.

Even  with some abject bowling in a penultimate over in which 17 runs were conceded the result was never in doubt.

I was happy for the old warhorse M.S Dhoni who won his 5th IPL trophy.

FaF du Plessis’s big innings of 55 off 86 balls made me wonder how he could possibly be eliminated from the South African T20 side and that admirable cricketer who has hung up his Test boots – Moeen Ali – chipped in with 30.