Few would have thought, midway during the Deccan Chargers' innings yesterday, that the Kolkata Knight Riders had a bat's chance in hell of
pulling off a victory.
Those, however, are probably the same few who would have predicted that the Deccan Chargers could win IPL 2 in 2009.
What do these few base their predictions on? Informed opinion, or some kind of gut feel that you can let loose when you know there is no money riding on your gut feel? We're more inclined to think the latter.
Yet, several things go in favour of the Kolkata Knight Riders pulling off a massive upset in IPL 2010.
Firstly, failure is a hydra-headed potion - while it can finish off plenty of men who believe it's prudent to cut their losses, it can also engender exceptional will in the humiliated, it can reduce the pressure on them due to expectations vanishing, and it can foster a sense of purpose that creates a magic melting-pot into which all personal agendas and egos dissolve.
For the KKR, reunited under a steel-willed Ganguly, the crushing failure in IPL 2009 can be the biggest blessing. The exceptional drive and unified purpose was there to see in the celebrations after Ishant Sharma bowled the last ball. The hugs were hard and long and eager, the expressions were more steely than triumphant, and the words were frugal, in an indication that they do not think they have much to talk about yet.
Secondly, Ganguly's is a career of incredible comebacks. Having the most successful captain of India, and one who has routinely come up trumps from the worst possible situations, as your leader can make you actually believe it every time he says that it can be done. And like we all know, faith can move mountains.
Thirdly, the whole feeling of change, and a new beginning. KKR in IPL 2 was all about controversies and egos. Buchanan and his F&F running the team like a personal fiefdom, the ridiculous (okay, in retrospect) multiple-captain experiment, Kolkata livid over the snubs to Ganguly, McCullum trying to lead a team who did not want to be led by him, and the mystery blogger - it was as perfect a recipe for disaster as one could get. Now, there's far lesser complications, and everything is one unit under the man everyone wants to be led by.
Yes, it can be understandable if you're plumping for KKR to go all the way in IPL 3. You'll be pardoned your gut feel, and you'll even be indulged if you call it informed opinion.
And it's going to be a
fun month ahead.