Close finishes the flavour this season

A cursory glance at the results confirms the cut-throat competition among the sides.

An absorbing and close race for the play-off spots going into the final-round matches was a major highlight of the IPL-8, which, according to several teams, has emerged as one of the most keenly-fought editions of the annual T20 extravaganza.

Teams have asserted that narrow finishes have a bearing on their fate as far as making it into the last four is concerned. Even a well-balanced side like Chennai Super Kings had to face the heat of the competitiveness and wait anxiously before qualifying for the play-offs.

“There is a fine line between each of the teams and that’s just down to individual form, having key players in form at the right time and winning key moments. We have seen games all the way through which have been won or lost on one shot or one bye or one bad play. So it is very tight and I think the fans have to be enjoying it,” said CSK coach Stephen Fleming.

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has pointed out how his team struggled due to a no result and a loss in a rain-affected encounter.

Similarly, Kolkata Knight Riders has experienced some tense times and may be inclined to blame it on the abandoned match against Rajasthan Royals at Kolkata.

However, RR is lucky to have made the grade to the last four despite sharing points in two matches.

Criteria for closeness

A cursory glance at the results confirms the cut-throat competition among the sides. If one considers a victory by one wicket or by less than 10 runs or in the last over as parameters to ascertain the closeness of matches, then, altogether 22 contests (till upto 55 matches, excluding two no results, concluded till Saturday) fall in this category. That means 40 per cent of the matches have dished out edge-of-the-seat thrillers.

According to the Delhi Daredevils coach Gary Kirsten, had his team won some of the tight duels, it would have made it to the play-offs.

If some surveys are making claims about a big jump in IPL’s television viewership, it is not difficult to guess what has triggered the interest among the cricket fans this season.