Katy Perry set to open IPL 2012

Pop sensation Katy Perry is to perform at the opening of the Indian Premier League 2012, organisers said Tuesday, in a return to the country where she sealed her ill-fated marriage to comic Russell Brand.

Perry is among a host of celebrities who will take the stage in southern Chennai on April 3, a day before the money-spinning cricket league gets under way, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said.

The BCCI, which owns and organises the annual tournament, promised an "unforgettable" start to the fifth edition of the league, with Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan and leading actress Priyanka Chopra also set to appear.

Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor is also set to enthrall audiences at the opening ceremony at the YMCA College of Physical Education Nandanam.

Superstar Salman Khan will also be performing during at opening ceremony.

IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla, speaking about the opening nite, said: "With four highly successful seasons behind us, we hope to raise the standards of the competition even higher, as we look forward to celebrating DLF IPL 2012 with much fanfare, starting with Opening Nite."

"We want to thank all the supporters for their continued support as they have made the league what it is today. We are proud to boast a lineup of big names to kick start the 2012 Season in style, as fans both local and abroad get ready to cheer for their teams who will be playing at 12 venues across the country," he said.

Shukla also spoke about Katy Perry. "The verve and originality of her (Perry's) music matches that of the competition and we look forward to an inspired performance from her," Shukla said.

Ross Taylor moved to Delhi from Rajasthan

Kiwi skipper Ross Taylor has been moved to Delhi Daredevils from Rajasthan Royals for the 5th edition of the IPL for an undisclosed transfer amount.

Taylor was bought by Rajasthan Royals for $1 million for the 2011 edition of the league. Taylor was said to have recovered sooner than expected from a grade-2 calf muscle tear, which forced him to walk out of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Napier in January. He is set to make a comeback and lead the Kiwis against the presently touring South Africans in a three match Test series which starts on March 7.

Delhi Daredevils will be Taylors' 3rd team in the IPL, with him having played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first three editions of the tournament and then moving on to Rajasthan Royals as RCB did not retain him last year.

The IPL trading window will ended on Mar 19.

IPL T20 Cricket 2011 Statistics and Records

IPL T20 Cricket 2011: Team Preview

IPL T20 Cricket 2011: Highest Wicket Taker

PlayerMat.WktsBBFEcon.
L. Malinga (MI)8
175/135.93
S. Warne (RR)8
11
3/166.03
I. Abdulla (KKR)
8
10
3/245.96
D. Bollinger
5
10
3/216.05
M. Morkel (DD)
7
10
3/186.71
A. Morkel (CSK)7
10
3/298.62
R. Sharma (PW)
8
9
3/135.76
Y. Pathan (KKR)8
9
3/295.91
A. Mishra (DC)8
9
3/206.58
D. Steyn (DC)
7
9
3/166.85

IPL T20 Cricket 2011: Highest Run Scorer

PlayerMRunsAvgSR
C. Gayle (RCB)1260867.55183.13
Virat Kohli (RCB)1655746.41121.08
S. Tendulkar (MI)1655342.53113.31
S. Marsh (KXI)1450442.00146.51
M. Hussey(CSK)1449241.00118.84
P. Valthaty (KXI)1246335.61136.98
S. Raina (CSK)1643831.28134.76
M. Vijay (CSK)1643427.12128.02
V. Sehwag(DD)1142438.54176.66
J. Kallis (KKR)1542435.33112.16

Champions League T20 2011, Team Standings - Point Table

Teams
M
W
L
NR
RR
P
Group A
New South Wales
4
3
1
0
+0.63
6
Mumbai Indians
4
2
1
1
-0.28
5
Trinidad and Tobago
4
2
2
0
+0.18
4
Cape Cobras
4
1
2
1
+0.23
3
Chennai Super Kings
4
1
3
0
-0.71
2
Group B
Somerset
4
2
1
1
-0.56
5
Royal Challengers Bangalore
4
2
2
0
+0.33
4
Kolkata Knight Riders
4
2
2
0
+0.31
4
Warriors
4
2
2
0
+0.25
4
South Australia
4
1
2
1
-0.53
3

Uthappa called for one-off T20 against South Africa

Hard striking right-hand batsman Robin Uthappa has been called into the Indian team for the one-off T20i match against South Africa to be played at Johannesburg on March 30.

Uthappa last played for India in a T20 encounter against England at Kolkata last year, and was left out of the 2 match T20 series played earlier in 2012 in Australia.

The rest of the squad is same as the team picked for the Asia Cup barring Sachin Tendulkar who does not play T20 Internationals. Virender Sehwag continues to be 'rested' and Virat Kohli has been named vice captain to MS Dhoni in the shortest format as well.

Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav, who played both Tests and ODIs in Australia, have been left out and Ashok Dinda has been picked.

The match will be played to commemorate the 150 years of settlement of Indians in South Africa and is likely to be named after the South African great, Nelson Mandela.

The match will also be used as a platform to honor Jacques Kallis, perhaps the greatest South African all-rounder ever to grace the game.

"We want to make this a Jacques Kallis evening," Majola said, "in which we acknowledge his huge contribution to the Proteas and South African cricket generally as player, role model and mentor."

Indian Squad: MS Dhoni (C), Virat Kohli (VC), Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, R Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Ashok Dinda.