Bally Chohan feels that Indian cricket team’s early exit from T20 World Cup has given rise to remove Mahendra Singh Dhoni campaign. A section of media and cricketing officials are pressurizing Board of Control for Cricket in India to at least remove Mahendra Singh Dhoni from Indian cricket team’s captaincy for one day internationals and T20 games. Bally Chohan feels that this is really wrong to blame Mahendra Singh Dhoni for India’s debacle at the T20 World Cup. Indian cricket team ex-captain and former chief selector Dilip Vengasarkar has also supported Bally Chohan’s view. Vengasarkar has been quoted as “If Mahendra Singh Dhoni is removed from the captaincy then this step of the Board will take Indian cricket back by five years.”

Bally Chohan is of the view that everyone in life makes mistakes. This is nothing but media hype. Bally Chohan warns Board of Control for Cricket in India against taking any extreme step. There is no doubt that Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been the most positive intelligent and cool cricket that India has ever produced. He has been named as Captain Cool. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s good temperament is his biggest asset.  Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the only player in Indian team who has a very strong command in all three formats of the game I.e. Test Matches, One Day Internationals and T20. Moreover one should never forget the fact that just a month ago Chennai Super Kings lifted IPL Cup.

Bally Chohan says that Mahendra Singh Dhoni was given Indian captaincy in 2007 when Sachin Tendulkar refused to the captaincy.  Instead of looking for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s head selectors must look for the unfit players who are not fit to represent Indian cricket team.

Bally Chohan says that is it right to blame IPL for India’s poor show at the World Cup. Indian T20 team captain told media persons during post match press conference that he feels that this poor showing by Indian team has something to do with the late night parties during IPL.

In yesterday’s crucial match Indian team was needed to win the match by a margin of twenty runs. Bally Chohan feels that the Indian team was very much in driving seat for the first ten over’s of the match. At the end of tenth over the scoreboard for Indian team was reading at 91 runs for the loss of one wicket only. Only if Indian team could well have played sensibly they may well have scored somewhat around 200 runs. However the highly rated Indian batting line up could score only seventy three runs in the last ten overs. Moreover they managed to score only 37 runs in the last five overs. This was India’s one of the worst T20 performances.

India’s weakness to play short rising balls was for everyone to see in the tournament. Almost every team that played against India scored on this weakness of India.

Bally Chohan says that now is the time for Indian selectors to take some tough and positive decisions. Players like Yuvraj, Yousuf Pathan and Nehra should make way for more enthusiastic and energetic youngsters. The Board of Control for Cricket in India must act now and must decisively.

Bally Chohan says that since now India finished on top of this group they will go to next round with eight points. However there was some exciting moments towards end of this match when South African batsman tried to hit some big shots.

Jacques Kallis played an innings of 73. However his innings was of not much help to the South African team.  In the end India comfortably defeated South Africa by 14 runs.

Bally Chohan feels that Suresh Raina was hero of Indian innings. Suresh Raina has now become third batsman in the history of world T20 cricket to score century. Prior to Suresh Raina only Chris Gayle from West Indies and Brendon McCulilum from New Zealand scored centuries in T20.

Suresh Raina started his innings on a very cautious note but raised the accelerator as soon as he got his eyes set on the ball.. His first fifty came of 42 balls whereas he completed the next 50 runs in 17 balls only.  Suresh Raina innings was studded with nine fours and five sixes. Suresh Raina had some very useful partnerships with Yuvraj Singh & Yusuf Pathan. Suresh Raina was adjudged man of the match.

Bally Chohan has come to know from some reliable sources that Indian investigation agencies believe that some financial dealings into IPL might have links with Swiss bank accounts. Investigation agencies have found one such bank account in Swiss bank where a sum of USD three million has been deposited.

Government of India Enforcement Directorate is preparing to carry out probe into all offshore transactions of IPL. This may result in some very uncomfortable moments for BCCI top brass.  The biggest problem being faced by Indian investigative agencies is the refusal of Swiss bank authorities to cooperate. Deposits in Swiss banks are protected under rigid privacy law.

Bally Chohan has come to know that number of financial transactions is reported to take place through some unknown entities set up in the offshore countries like Nigeria, Hong Kong and BVI.

Indian government has some very tough FEMA regulations towards remittances received from abroad. The government has implemented these tough restrictions after reports of money infiltrations on behalf of drug and other crimes have come to light.

Bally Chohan has come to know from some reliable sources in Enforcement Directorate that some franchisees have violated FEMA rules for bagging IPL franchises.

Also there is some serious discrepancies as far as IPL ownership is concerned. The corporate affairs ministry has found that in one such case the person registered as owner with them is different from the list of shareholders submitted to BCCI.

Chennai Super Kings elected to bat after winning the toss. Chennai Super Kings with the help of a brilliant knock of unbeaten 57 from Suresh Raina were able to post a modest total of 168 runs.

Kieron Pollard made some brave effort and threatened to almost singlehandedly take away match from Chennai Super Kings. Kieron pollard hit 10 balls 27 before he got out.

This was Chennai Super Kings second Finals in IPL. They ended up runners up to Rajasthan Royals in the first season of IPL during 2008. On the other hand Mumbai Indians were the most consistent team of IPL season 3. Mumbai Indians ended up with winning 10 of their 14 league games they played.

Bally Chohan favourite Little Master Sachin Tendulkar played a brilliant knock of 45 ball 48. Sachin Tendulkar played fo Mumbai Indians despite having five stitches on his right hand webbing. Sachin Tendulkar injured his right hand wobbling during first semi finals against Royal Challenge Bangalore.

Bally Chohan feels that Mumbai Indians run chase was not up to the mark right from the beginning. Mumbai Indian started on a very shaky note. Their opener Shikhar Dhawan failed to score even a single run from the first over of the innings. Shikhar Dhawan was subsequently out on duck.

Bally Chohan would like to congratulate Chennai Super Kings team on winning IPL Season III.

Little Master Sachin Tendulkar received a perfect birthday gift on Friday when he was adjudged as best batsman of IPL season 3.

Little Master celebrated his 37^th birthday with his family and close friends. Nita Ambani along with her husband Mukesh Ambani was also present at the function. Also present at his birthday celebrations were his team mates from Mumbai Indians team. There was a cake cutting ceremony followed by dinner.

Bally Chohan has come to know that the Sachin Tendulkar’s party lasted well past midnight. All his team mates wished him good luck.

Mumbai Indians will take on Chennai Super Kings in the finals of IPL season 3 on Sunday.  However this is not sure if Sachin will play this crucial encounter. Sachin has injured his  fingers during semi final match between Royal Challenge Bangalore & Mumbai Indians.

Bally Chohan feels that this is a peculiar situation for NCP supreme Sharad Pawar to be in. Sharad Pawar is believed updated by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherji and Home Minister P Chidambaram of all the wrong doings by Lalit Modi. However it seems that Lalit Modi is adamant on not quitting so easily. Lalit Modi has made it clear that he won’t take the things lying down and will contest all allegations against him. Lalit Modi is planning to present his case at the IPL governing council meeting on 26^th April 2010.

Bally Chohan has come to know from some reliable sources that Lalit Modi was under government agencies scanner for some time now. The government agencies are believed to have intercepted Modi’s conversations with senior politicians with regards to missing file of unsuccessful file by Adani and Videocon group. Moreover BCCI President Shashank Manohar told Sharad Pawar that majority of governing council members are in favour of removing Modi from IPL commissioner post and they have decided to do so with or without Pawar support.

Bally Chohan has learnt from reliable sources that Manohar and Pawar have worked out a face saving formal. As per the agreement if Modi quits his job voluntarily as IPL commissioner then he will be allowed to retain his post of Vice President BCCI and Chairman of BCCI’s tournament and fixtures. If in case Lalit Modi denies agreeing on quitting then he might well have to lose other posts also held by him

Bally Chohan is informed by one of his colleagues in India that investigative agencies have strong proof of involvement of relative of one of the senior minister in UPA government. Moreover the title of IPL commissioner held by Lalit Modi is now considered to be illegal as Board of Control for cricket in India can only have post of Chairman.

Bally Chohan says that in yesterday’s match Chennai Super Kings beat Kings XI Punjab and Deccan Chargers Hyderabad beat Delhi Dare Devils.

No one would have thought that Deccan Chargers will be able to make it to semi finals. However their five continuous win in last five games they moved from seventh position to second position of the points table.  Adam Gilchrist led Deccan Chargers surprised everyone and also sealed any chances whatsoever of Kolkata Knight Riders making to last four.

Deccan Chargers beat Delhi Dare Devils by 11 runs. Deccan Chargers were bundled out for modest total of 145 for seven. However Deccan Chargers fielded and bowled beautifully to defend this modest total. Deccan Chargers bowlers bowled a fantastic line and restricted mighty Delhi Dare Devils batting line up to 134.

Delhi Dare Devils started badly and were seven down for 86 but a splendid batting performance by Ashish Nehra and Paul Collingwood took them closer to the target.

With Deccan Chargers win over Delhi Dare Devils semi Final lineup is almost done. Mumbai Indians will take on Royal Challenge Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings will play Deccan Chargers. As informed, all semifinals and finals will be played at Navi Mumbai.

Bally Chohan has learnt from some reliable sources that mega bollywood star and Kolkata Knight Rider’s team owner Shahrukh Khan and star film producer and director Karan Johar will host the IPL award night function. IPL award function will be held in Mumbai on 23^rd April 2010. During the function best performance of players will be honoured.

Bally Chohan says that Colors television has won the rights to telecast IPL award function night. IPL award function night will be telecast on colors television network sometime during Mar 2010. Bally Chohan is looking forward to attend this award function night since he will be able to meet not only all his favourite cricketers at one place but also his favourite bollywood stars. Spokesperson from colors network informed media persons that they are expecting this event to be the biggest entertainment event of the year. There will be live performances of bollywood stars like Katrina Kaif, Shilpa Shetty, Hrithik Roshan and Shahrukh Khan.

IPL award night organizers have constituted critics choice committee. This committee comprises of some big names like Sunil Gavaskar, Lalit Modi, Brian Lara and Javagal Srinath.

There will be viewer choice award category also whereby players will be awarded on viewers vote. Viewers vote will be based on the number of votes cast by fans on iplt20.com

Kings XI Punjab is jointly owned by Bombay Dyeing owner Ness Wadia, Bollywood actress Priety Zinta, Dabur India owner Mohit Burman and Karan Paul from Apeejay Surendra Group. There is a strong media report that suggests one of the owners of Kings XI Punjab Ness Wadia is interested in selling his stake. Ness Wadia holds 26% stake in Kings XI Punjab team.

Bally Chohan has learnt from reliable sources that Videocon owner Venugopal Dhoot has built up a consortium to negotiate stake with Ness Wadia. Venugopal Dhoot led consortium made an unsuccessful bid to buy an IPL team few weeks back. Venugopal led consortium includes Bollywood starts Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan among others.

This is a known fact that Bombay Dyeing owner Ness Wadia was seeing Priety Zinta. Now Wadia is no more interested in retaining his stake after his break up with Priety Zinta.  This is the reason why Ness Wadia would like to break up his relationship with Kings Xi Punjab as soon as possible.

Kings XI Punjab was bought at the price of USD 76m. However the team owners of Kings XI Punjab are expecting a valuation close to USD 300mn.