Thursday, February 21, 2008

IPL - Team Kolkata

Shah Rukh Khan's side has gone for the crowd pullers. Shoaib Akhtar, Ricky Ponting, Chris Gayle and Ishant Sharma give Sourav Ganguly a real star cast.

Two of their four fast bowlers - Shoaib Akhtar and Ajit Agarkar - are prone to be erratic. While one frequently breaks down, the other often blows hot and cold. Umar Gul at US$150,000 must go down as one of the best bargains. A bowler capable of firing in yorkers under pressure, and who finished as the highest wicket-taker in the World Twenty20 in South Africa, must be worth more.

In contrast to the canny deal for Gul, the US$950,000 they splashed on rookie fast bowler Ishant Sharma is perplexing. While he has been outstanding on the Australian tour, he is still untested at the Twenty20 level and doesn't yet have the star power to command such a high valuation.

Squad

Sourav Ganguly (icon)
Shoaib Akhtar (US$425,000)
Ricky Ponting (US$400,000)
Brendon McCullum (US$700,000)
Chris Gayle (US$800,000)
Ajit Agarkar (US$330,000)
David Hussey (US$675,000)
Ishant Sharma (US$950,000)
Murali Kartik (US$425,000)
Umar Gul (US$150,000)
Tatenda Taibu (US$125,000)

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