Season 11 kicks off

 “Infernos, naam hi kaafi hai” . I would never have bought into that nonsense till I had a chance to play for the Ferns. However the opening weekend of Season 11 seemed to be just that . 

With the auction trashed and teams rebalanced with two new captains, Aashish and Vicky everyone was keen on the start of the new season. However unlike past seasons, the PCL has been beleaguered by injuries and non availability of players this time around and that was putting a dampener on plans for both teams. 

We have also started thinking a little too much about individuals on teams rather than the teams as a whole. Needless to say while brilliant individual performances are always eye catching and noteworthy, ultimately team spirit and camaraderie triumph . We have all been witness to the passion and excitement a game with a point to be earned brings rather than our mixed practice games where every rule in the book is flouted and everyone wonders why they wasted their weekend morning. 

Coming to the action itself Game 1 was a punt taken by the Infernos. With HK absent and Aashish ever willing to get a proper game in two teams lined up for a full game. Infernos were missing most of their batting core with Hari, KG, Chaitanya and the ultimate all round brawn of Sameer. 

Infernos thanks to Samir, Dhruv and Arjun put up a score of 113 which proved to be a stretch for the Vikings. Dhruv was under the pump with calls on his MVP status but what he showcased with ball and bat was a complete performance true to form and class . 

The Sunday game almost did not happen . Vikings was full strength and the Infenros had KG back but the bowling was still limited . There was a huge deliberation around whether we play an official game and finally the democratic process gave in. 14 over game on.

The Vikings were probably complacent after a few early wickets and let things move along. The Infernos seemed galvanised to make a point and prove that this is a team sport and everyone matters. Kiran played a sublime innings, Arjun played another long innings by his standards, Dhruv continued doing MVP stuff and Vikram in a new position in the batting order provided the icing on the cake. 117 in 14 overs was good but we all know that becomes a mere statistic when someone gets going. 

After 4 overs of the Infernos chase, it felt like it was going to be one way traffic in the favour of the Vikings but that’s when the collective spirit of the Infernos shone. Dhruv bowled a fantastic over yorking HK and taking a brilliant caught and bowled and the other bowlers and fielders rallied around. Soon it was the butcher Kishore vs Infernos . Needing 30 odd runs and one wicket remaining Kishore with a few things on his mind played a knock only he can construct. Blocking what was not in his arc he made the bowlers toil and then started smashing whatever he felt needed to get butchered. 

It finally came down to 12 needed of 3 overs and what a match up it was . Vikram who had an outstanding game against Kishore. In a moment of karma having a last laugh , Kishore too edges one to the Bajpai corner and it misses the boundary by the narrowest of margins to be declared out with Satya doing the honours. 

2-0 to the Infernos. My game 2 MoM is Kiran for sticking around and being the glue for the Infernos.