Domestic players continue to shine in IPL

New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) With the crowds fading, the popularity of the Indian Premier League (IPL) dipped in the fourth season but it continued to be a platform for the cricket crazy nation's domestic talent.

Kings XI Punjab's explosive opener Paul Valthaty, who is yet to make a first class debut,Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Iqbal Abdulla, Bangalore Royal Challenger fast bowler Sreenath Aravind and Pune Warriors' Rahul Sharma have been the new stars this season and have staked their claim for a potential national cap in the future.

Valthaty took the IPL by storm with his match-winning 120 runs off 63 balls for Kings XI Punjab against eventual champions Chennai Super Kings in a league match at Mohali. He overshadowed his opening partner and captain Adam Gilchrist on many occasions during the league stages, smashing the ball from the word go with the great Australian batsman being a mere spectator.

Valthay, with 463 runs from 14 matches, ended up as the sixth-highest run-getter despite being inconsistent.

'Paul has an attacking style of play and in such a style results are always inconsistent. I know this because I am speaking through personal experience,' said Gilchrist.

Mumbai's Abdulla also made had a fairytale run and from a bench-warmer emerged as a match winner for Knight Riders.

Abdulla had an impressive Ranji season and continued in the same breadth in the IPL as well.

The left-arm spinner from Azamgarh played a crucial role in the turning the the fortunes ofKolkata Knight Riders, who made their maiden second knock-out appearance after faring poorly in the last three seasons. With 16 wickets in 15 matches, Abdulla was the pick of the bowlers for the Kolkata franchise.

The 21-year-old delivered whenever the team needed wickets in the first six overs and was also handy down the order. Abdulla, who has played for India A, was adjudged as the rising star of the tournament.

'I never thought I will get this award before the start of the tournament. It will motivate me to get into the Indian team,' said Abdulla.

The IPL was also the turning point of Punjab younsger Sharma's career as one time he thought of giving up the game due to a career-threatening facial nerve dysfunction during his stint with the Deccan Chargers last season.

But the leggie has fought back strongly as looked as if he was the lone warrior in Pune Warriors team, who finished ninth in their debut season.

The leggie took 16 wickets in 14 games, conceding a mere 5.46 runs per over, the best economy rate of the season.

'IPL 4 has been the turning point of my career. I had played for Deccan Chargers in previous season and took six wickets in as many matches. But this time, I am extremely happy with my performance. I played well in the Ranji circuit also but unfortunately those matches do not get telecast,' Rahul said.

But among all Indian bowlers, Karnataka boy Aravind was the show stealer. He was the second highest Indian wicket-taker in the IPL with 21 scalps.

Aravind came into the Royal Challengers as a replacement for Dirk Nannes and the made the most of the opportunity that came his way.

'During the last two years, I have been improving a lot on each day by watching the seniors. I can say that in Karnataka, many people are helping me out in domestic circuit.

Chennai thump Bangalore, maintain IPL supremacy

Chennai: A clinical Chennai Super Kings clinched their second Indian Premier League title in a row with a 58-run thrashing of Royal Challengers Bangalore in a lop-sided final on Saturday.

Opener Murali Vijay cracked 95 runs off just 52 balls to help the defending champions pile up 205-5 before Ravichandran Ashwin removed Bangalore's openers early, ensuring a fine win for the hosts at a packed Chidambaram Stadium.

League-toppers Bangalore, who were seeking their maiden IPL title, folded up at 147-8 off 20 overs.

For Chennai, it was their eighth win on the trot at home this season, underlining their dominance in home conditions.

The home team owed their win to Vijay whose record 159-run stand for the first wicket with Australian Michael Hussey (63) set the platform for a winning total after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat first.

Their stand surpassed the 155-run partnership between Adam Gilchrist and VVS Laxman against Mumbai in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008.

"I was concentrating on just converting my start today, as it hasn't always happened this season," said Vijay, named man of the match.

"This (Chennai) is a special unit to be part of and to retain the title feels really great."

Bangalore's chase was derailed early with off-spinner Ashwin (3-16) getting rid of the dangerous Chris Gayle for a duck in the very first over.

Gayle, who still finished as the highest run-getter with 608 runs from 12 innings, offered an outside edge which was snapped up by Dhoni behind the wickets.

Gayle's dismissal triggered a collapse with Bangalore losing their next six wickets inside 11 overs to be reduced to 70-6, a situation from which they could never really recover.

Saurabh Tiwary offered some resistance with an unbeaten 42 but the other Bangalore batsmen simply caved in under pressure.

"It would have been a much better game if we could have put up a bowling performance like on Friday (against Mumbai) but it was not to be," said Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori.

"I think 160-170 would have been chaseable but their openers took the game away from us."

Vijay, pointed out as the weak link in the Chennai line-up after an indifferent run with the bat in the tournament, decided to make amends at the big stage, unleashing six sixes and four fours in his blazing knock.

Hussey also impressed, hitting three sixes and as many boundaries in his 45-ball innings before holing out to Abhimanyu Mithun near the boundary ropes off left-arm spinner Syed Mohammad.

Vijay, who seemed to struggle in hot and humid conditions during the later part of his innings, missed out on a well-deserved century when he offered a simple catch to Vettori off paceman Sreenath Aravind.

Aravind struck again off the very next ball to remove Dhoni, caught off a full toss by Virat Kohli after making 22 which included two sixes in one over by Gayle.

Gayle also picked up two wickets in two balls, sending back Albie Morkel and Suresh Raina in the 20th over with his wily off-breaks.