O captain! My captain!

At the end of the league phase, here’s a look at how the captains, including the stand-ins, have performed in this high-stakes game. DNA gives a lowdown on who did what

Anil Kumble
Royal Challengers

Was a surprise choice as Jacques Kallis, the vice-captain was expected to take over once Pietersen left. There was an immediate difference once Jumbo took over with players showing more energy and the big guns lifting up their game. For someone considered too old and too slow for T20, he’s led the side to an unlikely place in the semifinals.

Shane Warne
Rajasthan Royals

His team was badly hit by absenteeism of stars from the first edition. To his credit he brought the best out of his players, creating stars out of little-known cricketers. He won the big moments on the field, including dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in a crucial game. Must be given credit for taking this ragtag team to the cusp of a semifinal berth.

MS Dhoni
Super Kings

Hayden and Raina have played a huge role in the team reaching the semis and have taken off all the pressure off Dhoni’s shoulders. All the while, Dhoni has stayed cool even when under pressure and has been on the ball unlike some of his more experienced India mates who have been found wanting when leading their sides in this tourney.

Adam Gilchrist
Deccan Chargers

Led from the front providing his team dream starts and has been instrumental in them reaching the semifinals. He has relished the task of leading the side and has made 410 so far in the tournament. Has promoted youngsters, namely TS Suman and Ravi Teja, and backed them to the hilt. Like Hayden, he’s proved being fit has nothing to do with age.

Virender Sehwag
Delhi Daredevils

He has captained the team in 10 games and the Daredevils won seven. It’s an impressive record for someone who has been woefully out of form, only making his first half-century in the last game of the league phase. The good thing for Delhi is that Sehwag has been able to keep his mind off his poor form and stay focussed on
leading the side.

Gautam Gambhir
Delhi Daredevils

Stood-in for an injured  Sehwag and led the team to three crucial wins. Though he started off with a loss against the Super Kings, under him, the team won three games in a row, two of them against laggards KKR and one against Mumbai. The wins were crucial in them making the semifinals. Gambhir also made 71 as skipper in a successful chase.

Yuvraj Singh
Kings XI Punjab

He may strut around like a star but would have realised by now that captaincy is not everyone’s cup of tea. Was seen fuming and glaring at his players and never looked like he was on top of the situation when things were not going his way. Came a cropper scoring just six in the must-win game against the Super Kings. To his credit he took two hat-tricks.

Sachin Tendulkar
Mumbai Indians

It’ll be difficult to find any cricketing logic to some of his decisions, including dropping  Jayasuriya for the match against the  Daredevils. Then in a crucial game against the Rajasthan Royals he opened with Yogesh Takawale and Dwayne Bravo in chase of a competitive 145, while he batted at No.5 and Jayasuriya came in at No.4, a move that flopped.

Brendon McCullum
Kolkata Knight Riders

Two wins, both dead-rubber games, at the end of the tourney would have come as a big relief for the New Zealander. Failed with the bat and suffered humiliation as the team recorded nine losses in a row. Was a mere spectator as his team dropped catches, and lost games when victory seemed imminent. Redeemed himself with 81 off just 41 balls CSK.

Kevin Pietersen
Royal Challengers

The most expensive player of the tournament didn’t do much with the bat nor could he inspire the team to greater heights, something that was expected of him. In the six games he played he won just two, including the match against laggards KKR. He was to set the second edition of the IPL on fire with his switch-shot, but even that didn’t work for him.