Could it be a India Bangladesh final.....

Any doubts about how an Indian batting line-up would perform without their senior players were put to rest by the clinical victory over Pakistan. Bangladesh, who are yet to win a match against significant opposition since last year's World Cup, now have the unenviable task of beating an in-form India to avoid elimination.

India's massive win on Tuesday means that only an unlikely defeat by more than 218 runs will stop them from making the title clash. That match also dented Pakistan's net run-rate to such an extent that even a one-run victory for Bangladesh will see the hosts through to the final.

Ganguly and Gul end Kolkata's campaign on a high

The final game of the IPL's first season for the Kolkata Knight Riders provided Sourav Ganguly and Co a chance to redeem themselves in front of their home fans. An insipid performance in the field and for three-fourths of the chase suggested the campaign would end on a low note, but after Umar Gul sparked life into the chase, Ganguly did the rest to upset Kings XI Punjab' winning momentum ahead of the knockout stages.
It was fancinating to see Ganguly win the match in the last over........

Warne may consider an Ashes return...

"If Australia really needed me and there was no one else around, and Ricky Ponting thought I could do the job, you would weigh up the options," Warne told the Herald Sun.Shane Warne has opened the door for a dramatic return for the 2009 Ashes, but only if Australia still have problems with trying to fill his spin position. Warne retired from internationals following the final Test against England in Sydney in 2007, and earlier this year ended his first-class career by withdrawing from his Hampshire deal.
Is it right for him to come back....and can he maintain international standards,straightaway after two years remain to be seen.....

Weak rupee to boost IT cos’ topline

The topline of the country’s top four software exporters —TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Satyam —could exceed projections by between 3.3% and 6.3% if the trend of depreciation in the value of the rupee against the US continues, a report by Angel Broking says.

The rupee has depreciated by 6.76% against the dollar since the beginning of this fiscal. It closed at 42.54/55 on the interbank forex market on Friday.

The report, authored by Harit Shah, said India’s biggest IT services exporter, TCS, would top its revenue guidance for the fiscal by 3.8% at a conversion rate of Rs 41 and by 6.3% at Rs 42. Satyam’s revenues are seen beating guidance by 3.6% at an exchange rate of Rs 41 and by 6.1% at Rs 42.

So is a sort of revival for the Indian IT giants.....

Security concerns overshadow build-up

Uncertainty loomed over this fixture after a series of bomb blasts ripped through the heart of Jaipur on May 13. Shane Warne, the Rajasthan Royals captain, and other high-profile overseas players were reportedly wary of staying on in the city while Bangalore requested the game be switched to the Chinnaswamy Stadium. However Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, refused to change the venue and assured the "necessary security arrangements" would be put in place for "the safe conduct of the game".

Kolkata embarrassed in record rout

Shaun Pollock led a stand-out seam-bowling performance as the Mumbai Indians notched up the most convincing win of the tournament, and their fifth in a row, handing the Kolkata Knight Riders an eight-wicket drubbing at the Wankhede Stadium. None of Kolkata's batsmen came to terms with the seamer-friendly pitch, crumbling to an embarrassing 67 all out - the lowest score of the tournament and the fifth-lowest in all Twenty20 matches - before Sanath Jayasuriya hastened the finish with a 17-ball 48, as Mumbai sailed home with 87 deliveries to spare - a record in all Twenty20 games - significantly boosting their hopes of a semi-final berth.What will haapen next remains to be seen....

Intriguing battles in crucial clash

If the marquee names play to form this could be an intense contest. The key battle will be between the Kolkata Knight Riders' new-ball pair of Shoaib Akhtar and Ishant Sharma and the Mumbai Indians' opening pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya - sheer pace and movement against mammoth experience.