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Legends League Cricket 2022 | Bruised and battered, India Maharajas seek finale spot in a do-or-die clash
The inaugural season of Legends League Cricket (LLC) has produced some exciting battles. While World Giants and Asia Lions have been top-performers, India Maharajas surprisingly failed to deliver as per the promise.
Boasting of the veterans of Indian cricket, the Maharajas have looked like a pale shadow of themselves so far in the tournament. Yusuf Pathan's heroic knock in the first game plucked the victory out of the jaws of defeat. However, the following matches did not see any player repeating the same kind of brilliance as the team currently lies at the bottom of the points table.
In unexpected events, India Maharajas' first defeat came against the World Giants as Imran Tahir's magical performance with the bat blew away the bowlers. Subsequent encounter against the Asia Lions turned out to be a one-sided affair which witnessed India Maharajas being annihilated by the opposition team.
Led by Mohammad Kaif, the batting department of the Maharajas have exceeded the expectations of their fans. While Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh did not join the squad at the end moment, the other batters pulled up their socks and made up in the absence of their two star players.
Yusuf in the first match followed by Naman Ojha's blistering 140-run knock against the World Giants, batters of the Maharajas raised their hands in the crisis.
However, bowlers have put on a disappointing show so far in the tournament, conceding totals of 209 and 193 in the second and third match respectively. Harbhajan Singh was expected to lead the spin department but got tested positive for Covid-19 and had to miss out. Stuart Binny and Manpreet Gony have claimed four scalps each but find themselves at the receiving end of high economy rate, which does not do any good to their team.
With Munaf Patel having considerable international exposure, the team needed more from him but he has not fared well, barring a single match. Constant chopping and changing also has played a significant role in India Maharajas' poor returns in the tournament.
The bowlers are to be held responsible, captaincy should not be spared either. Kaif has shaped up terrifically as a middle-order batsman. But his field placements and bowling changes are questionable and puts him under the spotlight.
With one match left in the league stage, it is going to be a do or die battle for India Maharajas. In today's clash against the World Giants, Mohammad Kaif and Co. will aim to edge out Asia Lions in the Net Run Rate and book their berth for the final, which seems highly improbable looking at their current form.
