Manoj Narayan is a writer for Wisden India contributing IPL commentary to The National for the 2016 season. Here, he offers his talking points after the first two matches.
Read more: 2016 Indian Premier League: Updated results, analysis and fixtures in UAE time
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Newbie jitters? What’s that?
The opener of the 2016 Indian Premier League between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants was a mismatch. Contrary to expectations, though, it wasn't the defending champions who eased past a side expected to lack chemistry. Instead, the newbies were clinical and ruthless. Their bowling was supposed to be the weaker suit, lacking an outright speedster and over-reliant on the Indians. Yet, it was their bowlers who landed the win. Apart from Harbhajan Singh's late 30-ball 45, only two other Mumbai batsmen entered double digits. Mitchell Marsh could do no wrong, Ishant Sharma was menacing, and both returned two wickets apiece. Even Murgan Ashwin, the relative unknown who claimed an eye-raising Rs4.5 crore at the auctions, returned a commendable one for 16 in four overs. It meant Mumbai were restricted to 121 for eight, a target Pune chased down in 14.4 overs, with Ajinkya Rahane scoring a fine 42-ball 66. Afterwards, MS Dhoni confessed "moving on" from Chennai Super Kings was emotional. Pune looks like a fine new home, though.
New team, old problems
A new season always brings with it much hope; there’s nothing quite like a clean slate. Delhi Daredevils have been IPL’s biggest underachievers: they are yet to win the trophy, and in the last three years, they finished in the bottom two. At the auctions this year, they revamped the side … again. They focused on youth, put Rahul Dravid and Paddy Upton at the helm of things and appointed the veteran, Zaheer Khan, as captain. Unfortunately, old problems still persist. Against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, their batsmen lacked bite and carelessly threw away their wickets to be bundled out for 98. Kolkata then rode on the back of Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir’s 69-run stand to ease to victory. Afterwards, Zaheer said he was “proud” of the intent shown by his young side, but it wasn’t tangible out in the middle.
Familiar voice goes missing
There was uproar on social media on the opening day of the tournament. Harsha Bhogle was commentating, but he was doing so on Twitter, rather than on air. It soon emerged that his contract this year had been suspended by the BCCI. He even told the Indian Express that he didn't know why: "No one told me anything". The report suggested that it could be the fallout from an argument he had during the World Twenty20 with an official at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, the home association of BCCI president Shashank Manohar. Others believed it to be the result of a tweet by popular Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, who didn't quite name Bhogle, but pointedly said Indian commentators should focus on Indian teams. BCCI are yet to comment on the issue, but more details are likely to emerge.
Star performance
That the powerful Mumbai batting line-up was in trouble had a lot to do with Mitchell Marsh's incisive spell. He returned two for 21 in four overs. He should have had three, but was denied a wicket despite seemingly trapping Kieron Pollard plumb in front. He varied his pace intelligently to dismiss Hardik Pandya, and swung the ball with controlled verve to outclass Jos Buttler on his IPL debut. It was pure class.
Worst display
The Delhi Daredevils batting. That they were restricted to 98 had more to do with their lack of discipline than Kolkata Knight Riders' bowling. Quinton de Kock gave them a good start, but it was a procession after he departed. Pawan Negi's dismissal was a reflection of the whole innings. With prudence the need of the hour, Negi stepped out of his crease and looked to slog Brad Hogg, only to be deceived completely and stumped.
Best shot
There's something about Carlos Brathwaite and Eden Gardens. A week to the day since he hammered four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes to win the World T20 final for West Indies, he carried on from where he left off. In the first legal delivery he faced after he came on, he hammered Piyush Chawla's flighted delivery high into the Kolkata sky for a maximum. He was then dismissed, but that shot was brutal and romantic all at once.
Best quote
When he came in, he just told me to play my game and said he’ll give strike. It was very different … Kevin Pietersen saying, ‘I’ll give you strike and you play shots.’
Ajinkya Rahane on batting with the maverick.
Key game
Two two-time winners will clash at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. Both have hopes of winning the tournament a third time, but their campaigns have got off to contrasting starts. Mumbai were beaten convincingly by Pune, a nine-wicket reversal that they must ensure is an aberration before it turns into a glut. Kolkata, meanwhile, had an easy outing against Delhi, and will be brimming with confidence ahead of this early season blockbuster.
Key statistic
4 – In the Pune-Mumbai clash, four Pune bowlers claimed a wicket with the first ball of their first spell: Ishant Sharma, Mitchell Marsh, Rajat Bhatia and Ravichandran Ashwin.