TRP ratings for the 2009 final was 8.3, down from last year’s 8.8, according to aMap. “More people watched IPL season 2 than last year but the match did not hold the interest of the viewers for as long as last year,” an aMap official said.

IPL’s season 2 has had a rocky journey. Unlike last year when ratings increased steadily, TV ratings for this year have been uneven. The opening match for IPL2 had a rating of 3.7 compared to 4.3 for last year. According to data collated by aMap, almost 7 million viewers — from 6 metro cities — tuned in as opposed to 5.6 million but Chennai Super Kings fighting it out with Mumbai Indians failed to keep audiences riveted as indicated by a drop in ratings.

Ratings of both matches on the second day (April 19, a Sunday) were higher with ratings for the match between Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab recording a rating of 3.9%, higher than last year’s 2.9%. Reach also increased from 4.6 million to 5.6 million.

Analysts attributed this to a combination of factors including elections, lack of novelty and loss of interest in the game itself. An indicator of the current lack of interest is that viewership for soaps continues to be loyal with popular shows averaging ratings between 5%-7%.

Viewers are also keen on updating themselves on news with channels enjoying a rating between 2.55%-5.93%. In fact, ratings for the afternoon match dropped distinctly on counting day — May 16 — as viewers preferred to keep tabs on the new government.

Chasing a modest 144 to win, Bangalore could muster only 139 for nine in their quota of overs.

Pragyan Ojha was Hyderabad’s most successful bowler, with figures of three for 28.

It was sheer irony that the team that finished with the proverbial wooden spoon in the inaugural edition of the tournament went on to lift the trophy in the second season.

It can also be accrued to fate that the two teams that occupied the bottom of the table in the inaugural edition contested the final this year. Both, along with Delhi Daredevils, qualify for the inaugural Champions League T20, to be held in India in October.

Hyderabad’s triumph meant that for the second year running an Australian captain lifted the coveted trophy — Adam Gilchrist following in the footsteps of the legendary Shane Warne of Rajasthan Royals.

Bangalore’s defeat also meant it was a day of ‘double despair’ for their owner, Vijay Mallya. His F1 team, Force India, had earlier in the day at the Monaco Grand Prix failed to secure their maiden points in Formula One after coming desperately close — Italian Giancarlo Fisichella finishing ninth.

Earlier, a superb spell of bowling by Anil Kumble (4-0-16-4) helped Bangalore restrict the Chargers to a paltry 143 for six.

Herschelle Gibbs scored a superlative 53 not out off 48 balls (3×4, 2×6) to keep the Hyderabad challenge alive. The South African combined aggression with caution to good effect to anchor the team’s innings to perfection after the early dismissal of Adam Gilchrist for zilch.

Hyderabad innings:

Going into the match, Bangalore batted second in all the three games they played at the Wanderers and won. Moreover, five out of six times teams chasing won at the Bullring.

No points for guessing then what Kumble’s decision upon winning the toss was.

And the captain ensured Bangalore had a perfect start, by knocking out his rival number Adam Gilchrist with a perfect wrong ‘un in what was only the third ball of the match.

The Australian, who had almost single-handedly (with a 35-ball 85) led his team past the powerful Delhi Daredevils in the semi-finals two days earlier, was beaten by Kumble’s pace, rather the lack of it, and saw his stumps shattered.

The wicket, apart from ensuring a worst possible start for Hyderabad, also ensured Matthew Hayden (Chennai Super Kings, 572 runs) will have the Orange cap atop his head at the end the tournament — Gilchrist, with 495 runs, was the only batsman who had a slight chance of getting past his countryman.

T Suman (10/11) lived dangerously for some time and then compounded Hyderabad’s woes by hitting an R Vinay Kumar delivery straight to Manish Pandey at point.

The first ball that Andrew Symonds (33/21) faced (off Jacques Kallis) was just short of length outside the off-stump and the Australian was quick to pounce on it, scoring a superb boundary between point and cover.

After five overs, the Hyderabad innings was delicately placed at 23 for two. And, in the second ball of the sixth over, Bangalore, who had been impeccable thus far, made their first and, arguably, only faux pas.

Rahul Dravid, the world record holder for most catches in Tests, was guilty of dropping a regulation catch at slips off Vinay Kumar’s bowling.

Symonds was the beneficiary. And the Australian expressed his gratitude by smashing the last ball of that over to the extra cover fence.

Bangalore paid a small price for the blunder. The seventh over by Kallis cost them 14 runs.

Symonds smashed successive boundaries, the first past mid-off and the second past covers. And Gibbs, who had been subdued all the while, edged one between Mark Boucher and slips for his first boundary.

Roelef van der Merwe was brought into the attack in the eighth over and Symonds smashed his second ball over the midwicket fence for a maximum.

The Australian’s aggression ensured a brief renaissance in the Hyderabad innings. However, the Bangalore skipper returned to confine them once again to the Dark Ages.

Symonds failed to play the pull shot off Kumble’s wrong ‘un and the ball ricochetted his body to dislodge the stumps.

It was a bizarre dismissal. Not that it mattered much to Bangalore.

They sent the dangerman back to the pavilion and ensured Hyderabad went into the strategic time out precariously placed at 62 for three.

The first three overs after resumption yielded next to nothing. And when Rohit Sharma (24/23) hit a fine square in the second ball of the 14th over it ensured Hyderabad their first boundary in six overs.

However, the 15th over by Praveen Kumar added yet another twist to the plot, with both Gibbs and Sharma helping themselves to maximums.

The over, which ensured 20 runs, was by far the best over of the Hyderabad innings and, without doubt, the worst (and most expensive) for Bangalore.

And when Gibbs hit another boundary of Van der Merwe in the next over it completed the 50-runs partnership for the fourth wicket, providing some much-needed succour to the Hyderabad innings.

However, with Kumble around, Hyderabad couldn’t afford to relax. The Bangalore captain returned to make a double breakthrough in his final over and peg his opponents further back.

Sharma was the first to depart, caught by Pandey at long-off. And, four balls later, Venugopal Rao (0/2) hit straight to the fielder (Ross Taylor) at extra cover boundary.

Gibbs smashed Praveen Kumar over the mid-on boundary for a maximum to bring about his half century in the penultimate over.

It was a superb knock, under trying circumstances, from the South African opener, who had been erratic going into the decider (with as many as four ducks).

Vinay Kumar’s final over yielded nine but the Bangalore bowler did manage to take the wicket of Azhar Bilakhia (6/7), trapped leg before.

Bangalore innings:

The Bangalore innings began on a sedate note, the team accumulating just five runs in their first couple of overs.

However, Kallis (16/17) tried to break free in the third over, hitting a couple of boundaries off Ryan Harris.

The veteran South African all-rounder clipped RP Singh away to the midwicket boundary but the bowler had his vengeance with the very next delivery, the batsman edging the ball back to his stumps.

RP, assured of donning the Purple cap (for most wickets) at the end of the tournament, bolstered his tally to 23 wickets.

However, any hopes Hyderabad had of building on their maiden breakthrough suffered a setback when Van der Merwe smashed two maximums in Harris’s third over, the first over long-off and the second wide of long-on.

Ojha was introduced in the seventh over and the left arm spinner, who had an impressive haul of 15 dismissals going into the match, added to his tally immediately, striking a blow with his first ball.

Manish Pandey, trying to cut an away-going delivery, only succeeded in edging to Gilchrist behind the stumps.

Pandey, who won man-of-the-match awards in the last two matches, came a cropper in the decider, scoring just four off eight deliveries.

Meanwhile, Van der Merwe continued his assault, smashing Symonds over the deep square leg boundary for six and then lofting Ojha wide of mid-on for a boundary.

Ojha had the last laugh though, two balls after the one off which the boundary was scored. The left-armer slowed the ball a bit and moved it away from the right hander, beating him in the air and Gilchrist did a fine piece of work behind the stumps.

Van der Merwe scored 32 off just 21 balls (1×4, 3×6) but lost his wicket at a time when it looked he was running away with the match.

The in-form Taylor (27/20) hit successive boundaries off Harmeet Singh, the first a fine leg glance and the second, smashed into the gap behind point, to ensure Bangalore go into the strategic time-out with their advantage intact, at 69 for three.

However, in the second over after resumption Hyderabad made yet another breakthrough, and a crucial one at that.

Dravid (9/13) tried to play an uncharacteristic (read bizarre) paddle sweep off Harmeet and saw his leg stump get knocked over.

Taylor smashed a short ball from Ojha to deep square leg boundary and followed it up with a massive six over fine leg to help Bangalore keep the pace. But Hyderabad struck back, Symonds making a double breakthrough in the 15th over, to peg their rivals back.

While a well-settled Taylor was guilty of playing a rash shot, straight to Venugopal Rao at deep square leg, Virat Kohli (7/8) was done in by yet another smart piece of work by Gilchrist behind the stumps.

And when Boucher (5/6) was snapped up by Gibbs at point off Harmeet in the next over, Bangalore had only themselves to blame for the precarious position they had got themselves into.

The next over witnessed Ojha deal another blow to Bangalore’s aspirations, enticing Praveen Kumar (2/3) to hit one high up and RP Singh took a good catch, running in from the gully area.

It was Ojha’s third wicket and swelled his tally for the tournament to 18.

The penultimate over of the Bangalore innings was by far the most dramatic.

Needing 27 to win off their last two overs, Vinay Kumar (8/8) hit a boundary over backward point and Robin Uthappa smashed the ball over the long-on boundary for a maximum.

But just as things looked up for Bangalore again, a brilliant catch by Harmeet Singh at fine leg ensured the departure of Vinay Kumar and reignited Hyderabad’s hopes.

RP Singh, the best bowler of the tournament, then bowled a superb final over (conceding only eight when 15 was required) to seal victory for Hyderabad.

Besides the three toppers of Indian Premier League, top two domestic T20 teams from South Africa, England, Australia and the domestic T20 champions from New Zealand, the West Indies and Sri Lanka will participate in the 12-team event.

“In the CL T20, I believe we have a concept that will inspire and motivate the future generations of club, state and county cricketers, while accelerating the development of the game globally,” IPL chairman and BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi said at a press conference in Johannesburg on Sunday.

“The inaugural edition did not take place last year due to unfortunate circumstances but we are fully equipped this time around to conduct an extremely successful tournament in India. I am confident that this will be a true global event the scale of which the cricketing world has not seen outside of the World Cups,” Modi added.

Victoria and New South Wales will represent Australia, while the Cobras and Eagles will represent South Africa – the other two founding member nations of the tournament along with India.

Bangalore Royal Challengers and Deccan Chargers have risen like a phoenix from the ashes of the inaugural season, where they respectively finished seventh and eighth in the tournament, and have been a revelation in South Africa.

Both Chargers and Challengers have new captains in Adam Gilchrist and Anil Kumble and they have led the team from the front.

Chargers were tagged favourites in the first IPL, but despite boasting of a formidable batting line-up, they were buried under a heap of defeats. Challengers were mocked as T20’s Test team, but the array of class in their ranks showed in South African conditions.

Both the teams have peaked at the right time. Royal Challengers are riding high with five successive wins. Chargers are pumped up, specially after Gilchrist showed vintage form in single-handedly crushing Delhi Daredevils in the first semi-final with a 35-ball 85.

For Royal Challengers, it was the mix of youth and experience that helped them beat last year’s runners-up Super Kings by six wickets in the other semi-final. Old warhorse Rahul Dravid scored a classy 44 while youngster Manish Pandey emerged as the Man of the Match with his classy 48.

The Challengers would pray that Gilchrist’s most important IPL knock is behind him and the law of averages will catch up with him in the final.

Gilchrist said they need one “big push” to lift the trophy.

“It’s a two-horse race in the final. Everyone has contributed so far. The playing members and the non-playing members – and the support staff have been great. All we need is a big push Sunday,” he said after Friday’s first semi-final.

Chargers started the tournament with a bang by winning four successive matches but lost their way in the middle before again picking themselves up.

They lost their last league match to Royal Challengers, but the very next day churned out a powerful performance to beat table toppers Delhi Daredevils by six wickets Friday.

Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Symonds and Rohit Sharma have all played crucial roles with the willow. Pacer Rudra Pratap Singh and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha have been the nemisis of the batsmen. Ryan Harris, Symonds and Sharma have also chipped in with the ball. In Sharma’s case, this has been with telling effect as he claimed one of the three hat-tricks of the tournament.

Challengers finished seventh in the inaugural season, but under a new leader in Kumble, who took over the captaincy from Kevin Pietersen midway through the tournament, the team dug deep into its reservoir of strength to finish at third place after the group matches.

Challengers showed promise when they thrashed defending champions Rajasthan Royals in their first match, but then slumped to four successive defeats. IPL’s biggest catch Pietersen was out of form and failed to inspire the team.

It was only in Pietersen’s last match against Kolkata Knight Riders that Challengers arrested the slide. Kumble’s captaincy has infused fresh life and they have won seven of their nine matches under him, five of these on the trot.

For Challengers, New Zealander Ross Taylor has been explosive while Jacques Kallis has contributed both with the bat and the ball, while Mark Boucher has provided the finishing touches.

Kallis, Praveen Kumar and Kumble have shone in the bowling department. South African all-rounder Roelf van der Merwe has been the team’s find in the last couple of matches.

“We will approch it (the final) as just another match like we have done in the last five matches. One more win will be nice,” Kumble said after Saturday’s semi-final that saw Challengers through.

“I think Twenty20 cricket applies more pressure on the players. It is at par with Test cricket simply because in T20s it is a real battle of wits – as a batsman it is against the bowler and if you are a bowler then it is against the batsman,” Gilchrist said.

“…it is like a game where whoever blinks first could end up paying the ultimate price. There is just no time to make a mistake. In a Test match, if you make a mistake you get time and the opportunity to resurrect. I think that is the beauty of the game. It can be played in different formats but the basic constituents of the game remain the same,” he added.

The retired Australian wicket-keeper-batsman led his team into the Indian Premier League finals with a breathtaking 35-ball 85 in the semis against Delhi Daredevils on Friday night.

Gilchrist said with 15 years of international experience he should have finished off the game for Deccan with a hundred.

“It is surely disappointing to get out before the break. I should have seen the side home. You think after 15 years of international cricket you would have learnt something for sure, apparently not,” he said.

Deccan had not beaten Delhi before last night in the IPL and Gilchrist said it was quite a relief to finally outsmart the team, which led the standings during the league stage.

“We had not beaten Delhi Daredevils in the tournament so far. So, it is good to get the monkey off your back. Obviously it was disappointing to lose last night,” he said.

Asked what he told his players before the semifinal, Gilchrist said, “I told them what happens in the tournament is the most important thing in their life. And when they field, it is their next delivery that is the most important moment of their lives because whatever you are doing at that moment is important.”

“We came in as the underdogs and here we are in the final. All I can think as of now is that we will enjoy tonight our win.”

Gilchrist said he was happy that the players were responding to what he was telling them.

“We have encouraged each of our players to work hard and they have done that – they have responded.

“It is pretty basic stuff but the way we were last in the table we had to really get back to the basics and try to build our foundation. The players have responded well and they now believe that they can compete at this level,” he said.

On Matthew Hayden’s recent comments that retirement has helped him do well in IPL, Gilchrist said he wouldn’t advice any youngster to give up international cricket for T20.

“I have enjoyed my days as international cricketer. I wouldn’t suggest the young guys to retire and play IPL but I would say that there is room for IPL if you have got the passion and love for the game,” he said.