Best Team in the league Rajasthan Royals wins Debut IPL tournament defeating Chennai super kings by 3 wickets.
What a match! Two dull semi-finals but the final was an absolute humdinger. The momentum swayed throughout the match as both teams fought tooth and nail. Chennai kept picking up wickets at crucial times but the Royals never let the run rate spiral out of control. Great innings from Yusuf Pathan, but the 21-run partnership between Warne and Tanvir was instrumental. They kept their cool and steered their side home.
Dhoni’s got his players together and he’s telling them that they’ve fought superbly. What a game, what a fitting finish to the tournament. Warne looks relieved and excited hugging Darren Berry. Warne’s now calling his players together as the fireworks go off in abundance at the DY Patil stadium.
“Come over, come over boys,” shouts Warne. They are in a huddle and they’re jumping up and down, lovely scenes. Hugs all around among the Rajasthan players. The fans are dancing too.
Graeme Smith says he thinks he’s hurt his hamstring again while running out to congratulate the boys. He missed out today because of his injury which he says is a Grade two tear. He expects to be out for about four weeks.
Yusuf Pathan’s got a stump as a souvenir and he looks overwhelmed by emotion. Today was his match, 3 for 22 with the ball and then a half-century with the bat. And how fitting that Warne was in the middle when the winning runs were hit. Chennai competed splendidly but few will disagree that the better team won.
“A true finale….salute to good cricket and two good captains…a great day for cricket,” says Sunil.
There’s a massive presentation coming up, with loads of prizes. I’ll have all of that for you …
Chennai’s Super Kings are standing with arms over each others shoulders for the presentation, like footballers do during a penalty shoot out.
Yusuf Pathan wins the maximum sixes award for hitting four sixes today, and massive ones they were too! He’s the Man of the Match as well, a shoo-in really with 3 for 22 and 56 off 39 balls. “I’m speechless,” says Yusuf.” I’m so happy.” He really is speechless and Shastri has to coax him and then he gives credit to the bowlers for restricting Chennai. He says he was really nervous before the start of his innings. The nervousness showed in the early part of his innings as well but he settled down superbly.
There’s an award for the best under 19 player of the tournament and the winner is Shreevats Goswami who plays for the Bangalore Royal Challengers. “I learnt quite a lot …a dream come true to share the dressing room with such experienced players.”
Shaun Marsh isn’t here to collect the orange cap that he’s made his own by scoring 616 runs in the tournament. He was terrific. Sohail Tanvir walks up proudly to collect the purple cap, Tanvir took 21 wickets in the tournament.
“I bowled really well throughout the tournament,” says Tanvir ” but not in the final. It will help me in the future. He says he was feeling the pressure during the end of the run-chase but drew confidence from his hitting during the end of the World Twenty20 final against India in South Africa
The fair play award of the tournament goes to the Chennai Super Kings. Dhoni has a lot of hands to shake before he goes back to his team.
Now it’s time for the Man of the Series … step up Shane Watson who’s been a star with 474 runs and 17 wickets. “Winning was the most important thing,” says Watson. “I just tried to play as well as I could and everything came together well for me. We have a great set up and a team dynamic and the experience was amazing.”
Chennai’s players are now lining up to collect their medals. Dhoni’s collecting the runners-up cheque for Rs 2.4 crores ($600,000).
Dhoni: “I think the standard of our cricket was really good. We were up to the mark in the finals. We lost as a team. There were a few errors in batting and bowling. We’re not really unhappy or bogged down by it. We’ll go back to our hotel and enjoy it. That’s what sport is all about. the response from our team was great. even the guys who didn’t get a chance were completely behind the team. So the spirit was great.”
The Rajasthan team line-up to collect their medals from Sharad Pawar. Loud cheers as Warne goes up last to collect his medal, the winners cheque of Rs 4.8 crores ($1.2 million), and the trophy. He’s got his entire team with him.
“It’s been a fantastic journey. We’re gelled together really quickly. It makes me proud to see so many young guys learning and executing their skills in the middle. I think the crowds all over India have made the atmosphere amazing. Congratulations to Chennai. It’s been a wonderful ride for us.”
Warne says he was nervous and was hoping that Tanvir would be on strike for the final ball. He’s smiling of course. “As soon as Tanvir hit the ball I was ready to tear my hamstrings running for the single.”
Warne says “I don’t think there’s been too many better teams that I’ve played in during my career.” Warne goes back on stage to collect the trophy and the confetti machines go off, dousing the Rajsthan players as they celebrate once more.
