Is it Fixed???

55 runs required of 33 balls with 6 wickets in hand, Delhi was truly on course to win the Qualifier against Knight Riders in IPL 2012. Especially those wickets in hand included the big names of Irfan Pathan and Ross Taylor. Some of the good finishers of the game currently in business. As Jayawardene got out at this point, shockingly a relatively unknown Pawan Negi walked into the crease ahead of Pathan or Taylor. I did not believe or want to believe all along that games in IPL are fixed. Now, I’m forced to doubt my beliefs.

In one of my earlier columns, I’ve mentioned how games get fixed at the elementary level. You don’t see somebody dropping a catch deliberately or a batsman getting himself out purposefully or a bowler bowling barrage of rank bad deliveries. Simply, the star players of the side will be benched to get the result in favor of the opposition. Negi walking into the crease ahead of Taylor and Pathan reminded me the old age style of fixing.

Sehwag & Co may have some points for defense such as Irfan Pathan was injured while bowling (but he finished his quota of overs) and Ross Taylor’s form may not be the best bet on the turning track etc., However, any of these reasons are far from satisfactory. I’m sure somebody could even be asking why Venugopala Rao batted ahead of Taylor or Pathan. As a matter of fact Pathan could have been a better choice ahead of of even Venugopala Rao in that situation keeping the left hand right hand combination going. Irfan Pathan also has a Test Hundred to back his credentials to bat ahead of Rao. I did not watch the post match presentation and so I’m not sure if anybody inquired about these strange tactics to Sehwag.

Earlier, 3 teams had relatively simple task to outclass third placed Mumbai Indians and the fourth placed Chennai Super Kings. But all these teams failed so lamely is worth the suspicion.

Bottom line: Are IPL games fixed?

Dinesh

Cricket Lover