‘Proud moment for Yusuf’

Ahmedabad: Shane Warne is as inspirational in front of the mic as he is with the ball or while directing field placements. Warne's ability to talk up his side's chances in front of the media has got to be amongst the best in the business. Here's more of that.

Excerpts

On Yusuf Pathan’s innings

When Yusuf played in Mumbai [against MI] I said I hadn’t seen anything like that. I have said it was one of the best innings I have ever seen, having played for 20 years and seen the Laras and Tendulkars and all that sort of stuff - but the way Yusuf is batting is phenomenal. He has been very good with our team and today as management group and as captain-coach I made a decision to appoint Yusuf as vice-captain this morning before the game. It is a proud moment for Yusuf today and I thought he played with amazing responsibility. He showed why he is the vice-captain of the Rajasthan Royals – it’s because we respect the way he plays, not just the way he bats, we all love that. [It’s about] what he brings to the group, what he contributes to the group. He and Munaf Patel have been fantastic and [I’m] very proud of Yusuf today, it’s fantastic to watch.

On the three consecutive wins

As I just said to Harsha [Bhogle] it wasn’t so much what I said in particular to anyone, it was the group although I am the captain-coach it was the group that turned it around. I suppose as captain-coach I had to lead from the front and start those sorts of things. Then it’s up to the group to know how important it is to play in the IPL. We have all got talent in every franchise, but at the end of the day it’s a choice … it’s up to you whether you want to put in [effort] or not. We have trained hard, we have prepared really well and I think everyone is in a good space, we have a really good vibe going on in our camp at the moment and it was just a matter of [time that it all came together. We have a great bunch of] talented guys, young guys. The first few games may [have left us a] little bit overawed, maybe a bit of inexperience [showed]. But experiencing that has made [the team] even more hungry and I think it’s one of the things about the IPL, it’s great to have all these big names, the superstars and all that sort of stuff. We believe we have got some superstars but we are unassuming and just quietly go about our business. When we pick and select the teams, it is all about doing your role and its not just ‘let’s get three or four biggest Indian names and then try and see where they fit’. It’s about who is going to bat in your middle-order, who is your match winner who can hit sixes, when is the right time to send Yusuf in? It’s got to be set up at the top, like today I thought [Michael] Lumb and Naman Ojha got us a perfect start today. Lumby played beautifully, it’s nice to see him back so next game it might be somebody else. And like we saw [in the] last game, it was different people contributing all the time - we don’t rely on just one player. Some franchises rely on one player, [over here] everyone just does his job in bits and pieces and when it’s not your day, you are still contributing something to the team. I think that is one of the beauties [of our set up]. We believe we have got the best spirit and best culture in the IPL, you have seen our dressing rooms. We are all together - you can see that with our fielding and in our intensity. It’s just a matter of going out and playing. And I think if we keep playing like we are we will do okay.

On the tournament being a close one

If you look at all the IPLs – 1, 2 and 3, everyone thought Delhi [Daredevils would clinch it] Suddenly we come up and win [IPL 2008], but within us we thought we had a good squad and we thought we could go all the way - but no one else gave us a chance. I think this year, depending on the conditions, all the franchises are close - on any given day anyone can beat anyone. I don’t think there is one really weak. That’s what I thought. We out planned Deccan today - all the plans we spoke about were perfectly [executed]. We did it well and [the plans] all came off and that is all we can do - prepare the players, plan right and execute [the plans] and I thought we did that very, very well.

On Ravindra Jadeja’s ban appeal

We are not sure. There was a meeting yesterday and obviously we have been playing and preparing today, so I don’t know. When the IPL makes that decision hopefully we will find out.

On the home advantage

Yeah as I said at the toss, we have lost one game in two IPLs at home - we know the conditions very well. It doesn’t matter if we bat first or bowl first, a lot of teams come here and look at the wicket and go ‘We have got to bat first’. It’s not, ‘We believe we can win with our bowling, we can restrict and we can chase’, like we did today. We won with four and a half overs to spare. But [home] is a fortress and we know the conditions well and when the opposition come here, we don’t want to make them feel welcome. They will all be hospitable, do all the right things. But when they are on our turf, it’s our turf, it’s the way we play.

On Aaron Finch’s inclusion

Look when you pick your squad, every franchise has some players - like we had Graeme Smith and Michael Lumb - they are our two at the top. Graeme Smith gets injured, so we replace him. In case Michael Lumb comes up Sunday and pulls his hamstring before the game, we have got a replacement opener and that’s how we sort of pick our squad you know – you’ve got a replacement for the overseas [players]. We have got [Johan] Botha here if something happens to me. We have got Morne Morkel for [Shaun] Tait. You have got like for like and I think it’s important to get those sort of players. Adam Voges has done well when he comes in, but from my side I think it is really important to back your players a 100 percent and show them support. Even when we knew they were 3-0 down, we kept supporting them, we made them feel important. Everyone is the same and we are really proud of the way we are playing. The results will look after themselves if we play with passion, with intensity – [if] we execute our plans then we will be okay. Aaron Finch - as I said to him, enjoy the experience of the IPL and just be ready to go when it’s your opportunity. [You] might not get one but [you must] be ready when your chance comes.

Well done Yusuf – well done guys. In between [the tournament] if I get an LBW, you should write about it also.