IT TAKES a lot to overshadow Shane Warne, a world record, a 47-ball century and a week of near-capacity crowds, but two of Indian cricket’s bad boys managed to do it on Friday night in Mohali. The game was a nonevent, with King’s XI Punjab trouncing the dismal Mumbai Indians. After playing his part in a 66-run triumph, Sri Sreesanth, whose previous antics have included beamers to Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood and alleged mocking of Andrew Symonds, went up to Harbhajan Singh, who had captained the Indians while Sachin Tendulkar nurses a groin injury.

“Hard luck,” said Sreesanth with a grin. Wrong move. A dropped catch from Sreesanth had infuriated Harbhajan during the recent series against South Africa, and his words of commiseration lit one of the shortest fuses in the game. A resounding slap left Sreesanth’s eye swollen and reduced him to a teary-eyed mess.

The Indian Premier League’s (IPL) high and mighty quickly closed ranks for damage control. The Punjab team lodged a complaint against Harbhajan and the off-spinner was late yesterday suspended pending an inquiry into the incident, ruling him out of today’s match with Deccan Chargers in Mumbai. The national board, the BCCI, said in a press release yesterday: “Based on prima facie video evidence as seen and reviewed by the match adjudicator and referee Mr Farokh Engineer from the tapes provided by Sony & TWI, a decision has been reached to suspend with immediate effect Mr Harbhajan Singh of the Mumbai Indians pending the inquiry into the incident.”

The national board had already swung into action before yesterday’s suspension. One faction has been gunning for Harbhajan ever since he was reckoned to be a subversive influence in a team coached by Greg Chappell. And although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) bailed the off-spinner out after the race row in Australia, several officials were left disgusted by a record of misdemeanour that goes back nearly a decade. “The BCCI has taken serious note of the incident that took place between Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth at Mohali after the IPL match,” said Niranjan Shah, the board secretary. “The BCCI condemns the behaviour of Harbhajan as a contracted player of the board and he is called upon to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. He has been asked for a clarification by Monday evening.”

The ICC Code of Conduct recommends a ban of five Tests or 10 one-day internationals in cases of physical assault of another player, umpire, referee, official or spectator. Harbhajan, who could face sanctions from his team as well, faces the wrath of officials who have been waiting for a chance to throw the book at him.

It was an embarrassing end to a week that saw Brendon McCullum smash a record unbeaten 158 in the tournament opener and Andrew Symonds pillage a 47-ball century in a game that he then proceeded to lose by conceding a four and two sixes to Warne in the final over.

But for a tournament that professes to be all about providing a platform for Indian talent, the real gains came from the performances of Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and several others. Michael Hussey’s dazzling 50-ball century was the highlight of the Chennai Super Kings’ first win, but equally eye-catching was the superb support he got from Raina and Subramaniam Badrinath, who batted with power and poise as the team stormed to a total of 240.

After inspiring his Rajasthan Royals to a first win last Monday, Warne spoke of Jadeja and Dinesh Salunkhe as superstars in the making. Jadeja stroked 36 not out in a game-winning partnership with Shane Watson, cutting Brett Lee for two fours on the way. Salunkhe, a leg-spinner whom Warne has taken under his wing, had Mahela Jayawardene stumped by yards. For such young men, the IPL means a lot more than celebrity owners, laser shows, cheerleaders and slappers.

MATTHEW HAYDEN and Mahendra Singh Dhoni starred as Chennai Super Kings handed Kolkata Knight Riders their first defeat yesterday and went to the top of the Indian Premier League.

Dhoni, the most expensive player in the league, sealed a nine-wicket win with a six, while Australia opener Hayden clubbed an unbeaten 70 off 49 balls in Chepauk, Chennai. The hosts reached their target with 18 balls to spare and now have three wins from as many matches.

The foundations for Chennai’s victory came from impressive bowling, notably by New Zealand allrounder Jacob Oram, who took three wickets. He removed his big-hitting compatriot Brendon McCullum for 24 and Ricky Ponting in successive deliveries as Kolkata struggled to gain momentum in their innings.

Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan conceded just 12 runs from a miserly four overs as Kolkata were restricted to 147 for nine.

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