Indian Premier League betting

Sportingbet Australia is thrilled to be the first bookmaker in the world to open a market on the Indian Premier League (IPL). The revolutionary Twenty20 cricket competition will kick off in April 2008 with cricket fans worldwide anxious to see what the new league will deliver. A ten year $1.026 billion television deal has already been struck which will see games aired in Asia and Australia.

The live player auctions held on the 20th of February 2008 determined the bulk of the squads for the eight Indian teams and Sportingbet Australia believe there is four clear cut front runners based on current teams with the four remaining teams showing slightly less talent.

Kolkata ($4.75)

The equal favourites secured some big names in the auction with Sourav Ganguly, Ishant Sharma, Chris Gayle, Shoaib Akhtar and Ricky Ponting heading the list. Talented cricketers with slightly lesser recognition who will also represent Kolkata are David Hussey, Brendon McCullum and Ajit Agarkar. It’s hard to identify a single weakness in the squad with bowling, batting, fielding and leadership all taken care of. They even have former Australian coach John Buchanan to man manage the franchise.

Hyderabad ($4.75)

Another favourite here at Sportingbet Australia is the boys representing the city of Hyderabad. Their profile players include Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, V.V.S Laxman, Shahid Afridi, Herschelle Gibbs, R.P. Singh and Chaminda Vaas. Whilst their bowling list isn’t the best they surely possess the most explosive batting in the competition with Symonds, Gilchrist, Afridi and even Gibbs capable of hitting the ball frequently into the stands. Symonds, Gibbs and Gilchrist will also be handy additions in the field where an explosive run out or athletic catch can make all the difference between a win and a loss.

Chennai Super Kings ($5)

The Super Kings from Chennai also cleaned up at the auction, securing the highest paid player and Indian batsmen/wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni along with Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Jacob Oram, Muttiah Muralitharan, Makhaya Ntini and Stephen Fleming. The squad is also filled out with more talented Indians in Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel and Joginder Sharma. Filled with gifted left handed batsmen the Super Kings should have no problem posting scores in excess of 200 with Muralitharan and Ntini more than capable at taking wickets and producing dot balls.

Mohali ($5)

Mohali also had a successful auction and have put together a well balanced team. The Tom Moody coached side will have Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Brett Lee, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Simon Katich and Ramnaresh Sarwan. It’s hard to identify a significant weakness in Mohali and with Sportingbet Australia favourite Kumar Sangakkara on board, the sky is the limit.

Bangalore Royal Challengers ($7)

The Royal Challengers of Bangalore recruited Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Anil Kumble, Cameron White, Mark Boucher, Nathan Bracken, Dale Steyn, Zaheer Khan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Bangalore’s best batters in Dravid and Kallis excel at the longer form of the game but they will have to bat uncharacteristically if they hope to succed in the Twenty20 format. The team will have to rely on Cameron White and Mark Boucher to clear the boundary frequently if they hope to win the entire competition but they do have a talented strike force with Bracken, Khan, Steyn and Kallis all capable of taking wickets and restricting runs. The Royal Challengers also have over a million dollars remaining in their salary cap so they have room to buy another available batsmen should they chose to do so.

Mumbai ($8.50)

Mumbai had an interesting auction period. They secured some high profile players but Sportingbet Australia questions the youth and energy of a side featuring Sachin Tendulkar (age 34), Sanath Jayasuriya (age 38) and the recently retired Shaun Pollock (age 34). Twenty20 isn’t the most demanding cricket so the old legs will probably stand up for these cricketers but Mumbai also spent a large chunk of their salary cap ($1.65 million) on India’s Harbhajan Singh and Robin Uthappa. However, Lasith Malinga was a good buy for $350 000 so if they are able to secure a couple of valuable free agents they will have a more than competitive team.

Delhi DareDevils ($11)

Delhi DareDevils also seem to have drafted some big names but the strength of their squad is not comparable to some of their competitors. Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Asif, Daniel Vettori and Glen McGrath head the list of names but the rest of the squad appear mediocre. The precision bowling of Vettori and McGrath should provide headaches for opposition but its hard to see many runs coming outside of Sehwag and possibly Gautam Gambhir and AB de Villiers.

Jaipur ($13)

Jaipur were the long arm, short pocket team of the IPL, reluctant to spend even half their salary cap. They did however secure international retirees in Shane Warne and Justin Langer, as well as Graeme Smith, Mohammed Kaif, Munaf Patel and Yusuf Pathan. With only eight players signed so far expect Jaipur to frivolously search the market for bargain basement players in Asia and Australia.
With several months to go before the first six is hit in the IPL expect the market to fluctuate, particularly as teams fill in the rest of their rosters. Teams with salary cap room such as Jaipur, Bangalore and Mumbai would do well to get on the ‘dog and bone’ to Ashley Noffke, Brad Hodge, James Hopes, Daniel Marsh, Doug Bollinger, Luke Ronchi and a host of other Australian cricketers dominating domestically. Pakistan international Mohammed Yousuf is also available after his reserve price was not met at the auction.

For all punting related to the IPL stayed tuned to Sportingbet Australia or call our sports betting department on 1800 238 001.

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