BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH

Two teams began their campaign in IPL 2010 yesterday... both on a losing note. For a change, the result of the matches was decided long before the final over. So I didn't have any regrets about watching Alonso and Massa make in a Ferrari 1-2 at the season - opening Bahrain Grand Prix over KKR's easy chase.

TEAM PERFORMANCE REVIEWS:

KKR: Sourav 'Dada' Ganguly disappointed many Eden Gardens visitors when he chose to field first after winning the toss. He said that he expected the pitch to be slow earlier and pace up in the evening. Take a bow, Dada! Not only did he get it absolutely correct, he also ensured that his bowling changes did not allow RCB to fly to an ungettable total and ensure an easy victory for KKR.

RCB: A disappointing start! I think Vijay Mallaya will soon be pleading with Lalit Modi that RCB should not open its campaign in any future IPL versions against KKR (even if McCullum is unavailable). RCB was playing full strength, yet it was a convincing defeat. May be, they need the boss around them at all times. Vijay Mallaya, who was at Bahrain watching Force India gain some points in the season opener, will have to fly back to India soon to see RCB gain a few points.

CSK: Their play hardly resembled their name 'Super Kings'. I always felt that CSK's bowling would be their weak link... and it showed! MS Dhoni might be thinking why is it that death bowling is a concern in whichever team he captains! And what a sore - after all the 'Mongoose' talk, it never came out of the kit bag.

DC: The defending champions bounced back from their earlier defeat to KKR in a convincing manner. Gilchrist, Symonds, Gibbs and Vaas - the four foreign players all did their bit. They will need more contributions from their Indian players though (no one other than Ojha contributed in the win). They would be desperately hoping that Rohit Sharma regains his last year's form - with bat and ball.

MATCHES TODAY:

RR v DD: The last time when AB De Villiers was at Ahmedabad, he scored an unbeaten 102 in 59 balls. The last Test at Ahmedabad witnessed 6 centuries and 1 double century. So you know what to expect - runs, runs and more runs! Like De Villiers, even Yusuf will be enjoying the prospect of playing on such a flatbed. Both these men have scored centuries in the IPL - will we see another one today? There's only one thing I can say to the bowlers: Beware the ides of March!