SUMMARY
It was a challenging year for the IPL. From a cricketing point of view, it grew, writes Harsha Bhogle

I am overjoyed by the resurgence of Robin Uthappa; not as much for the talent he possesses but for what he has overcome, for the decisions he took in life and the effort he was willing to commit to his decision. Most times most people know what to do; if they don’t, an informed opinion isn’t too far away. But it is the commitment to doing what it takes that is worthy of admiration. With Uthappa the runs were merely a by-product, a consequence of training and working hard when the result was far away and unknown. That is what produces applause and brings a smile.

I like the new-look Uthappa because his batting is tighter, more stylish than it was (and he was always stylish) and in an almost contrarian way, he has found freedom through going back to technique. By becoming tighter, by playing closer to his body I suspect he is playing shots that give him greater value and greater longevity. With Uthappa, it was never a question of class or timing, it was about being in long enough to cause lasting damage. He has chiseled his game and is looking so much better for it.

But now, the challenges begin. Can he continue to play within the new boundaries he has set for himself? Or will he rebel against his own discipline and seek newer territories for his boundless talent? Just as investors follow certain scrips, cricket watchers must follow Uthappa to see where he goes. I wish him well, he is a fine young man who has endured, and frittered away, much. He has now found peace and stability; those are boundaries for some, pathways for others.

If Uthappa’s was the dramatic resurgence at the IPL, it was a new look Wriddhiman Saha who caught everyone’s eye. You knew Saha was smooth and classy behind the stumps, that in front of them he was more than just capable, also that he was a brilliant fielder when the gloves were worn by someone else. But could he hit the ball with such intensity? Very few, dare I say nobody, could say they saw this coming. We never know, do we, who really resides within a person!

This is excellent news for Indian cricket. And it can be even better if Saha catalyses an Uthappa like resurgence in Dinesh Karthik. I suspect that a year from now, MS Dhoni would be looking at his career through a more critical lens and India will benefit from having a healthy competition between Saha and Karthik for the latter is a possessor of rare gifts too.

And what of Manish Pandey? He has promised much, often scoring big when the occasion was big enough, earning

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cricket> Indian Premier League / by Harsha Bhogle / June 04th, 2014