IPL Scan: Former UAE coach makes IPL wickets

Kuruvilla keeps busy

Former UAE cricket team coach and Indian pacer Abey Kuruvilla is a busy man. He is in charge of the D.Y. Patil cricket stadium wicket in which some of the most important matches of the IPL are being held. This is also the pitch for this year's final. Kuruvilla, after completing his work on the wicket, said that it will have a good carry and is suitable for IPL matches. The clay for the pitch was imported from South Africa. Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Sourav Ganguly has praised the wicket. "Kuruvilla is a former Indian teammate and he will make sure to give a wicket with bounce and carry to help both fast bowlers and stroke-makers," remarked Ganguly.

Modi in secure zone

Lalit Modi, the chairman and commissioner of the IPL, is protected at all venues by his bodyguards. During the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens he made sure that his bodyguards were around him. It should be noted that Modi's bodyguards were responsible for a scuffle in December during the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) election. The scuffle started when Congress workers allegedly objected to the presence of about half a dozen armed bodyguards of Modi in the RCA premises. Speaking to reporters about the match, Modi said: "It's always nice when bottom-placed teams do well. The Knight Riders finished last in 2009 and, now, have started with wins in successive matches. Good for them and good for the IPL, as bigger crowds will come."

Dog's day out

A dog strolled into the M.A. Chidambaram stadium on Sunday and stopped play during the match between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers. In the first game of the IPL in 2009 at Newlands a dog also made its appearance and stopped play. India's former captain Sunil Gavaskar must have been thankful that the IPL is being held after his playing days. Gavaskar's fear for dogs is legendary. Interestingly, no attempt was made to tie up the dog which merrily strolled in the outfield as the match progressed.

Cake in the Cup

Kolkata Knight Riders' players may not get cakes from Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of their team, until they win the IPL this year. In all previous IPL victories, Khan used to celebrate his team's wins by cutting a cake in the dressing room. Despite Riders' two successive victories, Khan has refused to do it this time. He spent only a few minutes after the match at Eden Gardens and his expression of joy was confined to handshakes and few hugs to some of the top players in the team.