Two bottom-placed teams in last year’s IPL, Deccan Chargers and Bangalore Royal Challengers, will contest in the final of IPL II.

By Firdose Moonda

It's been the year of the Indians. The year of the slumdogs who turned millionaires. Just ask Danny Boyle, director of the movie Slumdog Millionaire, who walked away with eight Academy Awards in February this year. Now, two more slumdogs, the two bottom-placed teams in last year's Indian Premier League (IPL) -- the Deccan Chargers and the Royal Challengers Bangalore, will contest the US $2 million IPL final. Forget Slumdog Millionaire, this is Slumdog two-millionaire.

The IPL rolled into South Africa, bringing with it not just cricket and Bollywood but Lalit Modi's millions. Some of it he's used for reasons of novelty only he will understand, like the Miss IPL competition, but for the most part, Modi's money has lit up the South African cricketing community - and not just through the fireworks.

The IPL launched an R8 million (US $1 million) scholarship programme at the start of the tournament. That involved donating R100 000 (US $12 500) to various schools around the country. The programme was extended to stadiums as well where five learners were selected at each match and presented with R15 000 (US $ 1875) for school fees. So what if Modi's champagne cost the equivalent of ten of those school fee accounts? The scholarship programme is among the largest by a sporting organisation.

After 36 days though, the tournament is about to disappear from South African lives, leaving behind only bright pink billboards which smothered the city promising to bring the heat. Just like the pyrotechnic displays, the IPL will leave with a bang. The organisers have pulled out all the stops for the grand finale - starting with the music. Akon will be at the Wanderers to perform his hit single "Smack That." Eddie Grant will have the crowd grooving to his anti-Apartheid anthem "Gimme Hope Jo'Anna." But the Bollywood glamour hasn't been forgotten about. Katrina Kaif will be in attendance and will perform Jai Ho, the theme song from Slumdog Millionaire.

While the tournament has been savoured by the South African public, the final appears to have brought the IPL and its home crowd back together. Indian fans and dignitaries have teemed into the country, so much so that South African Airways had to add two extra flights to cater for the volume of people travelling. The Southern Sun hotel group sold an additional 3000 rooms nights just for the final. The hotel chain provided 18,000 room nights over the course of the tournament, which helped it double its revenue over the six week period.

Keen battle on the cards

Then of course, there's the cricket. Adam Gilchrist's blitzkrieg against the Delhi Daredevils (85 off 35 balls) was enough to sound a warning to any opposition that the Chargers will settle for nothing less than a victory. Gilchrist is the second highest run scorer in the tournament, with 495 runs. His opening partner, Hershelle Gibbs, who was bowled for a duck in the semi finals, will have the support of the home crowd behind him. The Wanderers was also the scene of Gibbs' blistering 175 against Australia in the unforgettable match.

The Chargers don't only have a formidable opening pair, but the tournament's highest wicket-taker, RP Singh, in their ranks. Singh has taken 22 wickets at an average of 18.22. With a wily spinner, Pragyan Ojha (15 wickets at an average of 21.33) also in their attack, the Chargers appear well equipped in all disciplines of the game. Gilchrist has earlier told espnstar.com that he believed the Chargers were "getting the basics right more often" and should they continue in that vein, they will be setting off some fireworks at the final.

But they won't be underestimating their opposition. The Royal Challengers are on a five match winning streak. Under the leadership of Anil Kumble, they have blossomed. Kumble is currently fourth on the bowling rankings, with 17 wickets at an average of 19.47. Jacques Kallis' burst of twenty20 cricket form is something to behold: he has 346 runs at an average of 28.83 in the tournament so far.

The Royal Challengers secret weapon could well be young Manish Pandey. After becoming the competition's second centurion in the Royal Challengers win over the Chargers on Thursday night, he scored 48 runs off 35 balls in the semi-final against the Chennai Super Kings to set up the Challengers win. After Ray Jennings admitted the side was tired of losing, the Chargers will be wary of a Challengers side that is peaking at the right time.

Whoever wins the 2009 IPL would have completed a turnaround of tremendous proportions: from finishing among the losers last time to being at the helm of cricket's richest extravaganza. May the slumdogs reign long!

Approaching milestones

Deccan Chargers vs Bangalore Royal Challengers

- With three sixes more, the competition would witness 500 sixes. Fours (1298) and Sixes (497) have so far accounted for more than 50% of the runs scored - 50.96%.

- In case of five sixes more, Deccan Chargers (95) would be the first team to register 100 sixes in the IPL 2009.

- Herschelle Gibbs & Adam Gilchrist (473 at an average of 36.38 in 13 games) need 27 runs more to become the first opening pair to aggregate 500 runs.

- Adam Gilchrist (495) needs just five runs to complete his 500 runs in the IPL 2009.

- With two sixes more, he would become the first to register 50 sixes in the IPL.

Head to Head

IPL games at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Team Records:

Highest Score: 163 by Chennai Super Kings vs. Delhi Daredevils

Lowest Score: 123-8 by Kolkata Knight Riders  vs. Delhi Daredevils
 
Highest match aggregate: 326-9 - Kolkata (160-5), Deccan (166-4)
 
Batting Records:

Highest individual innings: 69 not out Jacques Kallis (Bangalore) vs.Mumbai Indians

Most fifties: Two by Jacques Kallis in two games

Leading run-getter: 136 (ave.136.00)in 3 games  Jacques Kallis
 
Bowling Records:

Best Bowling in an innings: 4/24 - Shadab Jakati (Chennai)  vs.Delhi Daredevils

Leading wicket-taker: 6 (ave.12.83) in 3 matches  -  Ashish Nehra (Delhi)

Hat-trick: Yuvraj Singh (Punjab) vs.Deccan Chargers

Wickets taken by spinners: 28 at 23.21 runs apiece

Wickets taken by speedsters: 41 at 31.00 runs apiece