Jaipur: Sachin Tendulkar was the proud owner of the Orange Cap after his innings against Rajasthan on Sunday night, but his sole focus was on the team making it to the semi-finals. Here's more from his interaction with the media.
Excerpts:
On batting well today: Firstly I don’t play cricket to prove anything to anyone. I play for my enjoyment. It was good that in [the] T20 [format] too I did well. The team won, made it through to the semis. I was enjoying my batting a lot today, it was quite challenging. I had to plan for it. In the middle too I had to [be patient] and had to flag the innings and in the end when I had to go for the big shots I luckily managed to get them too and we put up a competitive total in front of them [Rajasthan Royals].
On the match turning after the dropped catch: These things keep happening in the game - sometimes you miss a catch, sometimes you miss a run out. These are part and parcel of cricket - even after this you have to play, you have to score the runs. I think on the whole I think not just the batting but our bowling too is quite strong.
On him being the torch-bearer of his team: I think in this format one day you click and the other day you don’t. It’s difficult when you are improvising so much, it’s difficult to be consistent. But I am hoping that when it is needed the most the batting will fire because they are all [...] talented cricketers and they are all world class players … so at some stage it is going to work out for us. I am hoping that it’s in those big games.
On Rajasthan applying special tactics to counter him: Well I don’t know their tactics, each team has [some], they do plan a lot. Each team does that - it is not only Rajasthan Royals. Whether it is Delhi Daredevils or Deccan Chargers or even us, all the teams plan, but it’s important to go out and execute those plans. And when all the plans fall into place, everything looks fantastic. Like today for us, everything fell into place. Although the start wasn’t the start we were looking for, eventually when we needed [it] we put up a decent total. It’s important to execute those plans.
On MI relying heavily on the domestic talent: No, I thought today [Kieron] Pollard came [through], Pollard played an important role. He scored 25 quick runs. Also [while] bowling, he got Yusuf [Pathan] out. [Lasith] Malinga has been consistent, [Dwayne] Bravo also played and Ryan McLaren [performed] against the Deccan Chargers. All the guys have done their bit. It is just that you don’t see it in a huge quantity, it’s a shorter game, it’s a shorter format. So you are not going to get to see 80-90 runs being scored by a No. 7 or a No. 8 batsman but they have been playing their roles quite brilliantly and also contributing with the ball.
On having scored just 100 runs by the 14th over: I was looking at a 160 target. When Pollard was batting, I thought in the last two overs if we could score some more runs, then there would be a possibility of getting past 165-170. But unfortunately Pollard got out at that stage. But I managed to get a couple of big overs that pushed our total to 175 which we were not thinking of - we were thinking of reaching max 170.
On how it felt to make it to the semis after the disappointment of the first two seasons despite a full squad: Let me correct you, it wasn’t despite having the best squad because the first two seasons we did not have our full squad. In the first season Malinga did not play, I did not play the first seven games, and in the second season Zaheer Khan was not available and a few other important key batsmen were not available either. And that put lot of load on our team. And this season we had, touchwood, full strength. Though in between [Ambati] Rayudu was doing very well in the first couple of games, on the third match he got injured but fortunately he’s back again in the squad. It feels nice to have a full strength squad. We are still missing Abhishek Nayar who’s injured, but it’s been quite good so far.
On having said in Delhi that Sehwag should show him some respect: I will host him well off the field, on the field he still has to show some respect [laughs]. He is a dangerous player, we all know what he is capable of. He has proved [that] every now and then. What does one talk about such a terrific player? Whatever compliments you pay it are not enough. Your browser may not support display of this image.
“No one really follows domestic cricket and most of the times, good performances go unnoticed. In IPL, a good 30 or 40 gets noticed. 40 gets noticed. When I go out in Hyderabad, people recognise me and at times I even get special treatment. As a cricketer, everyone wants to play for the country and get recognition. Whatever level I play, I want to be known as a match winner,” T Suman, told the Hindustan Times.
“Spinners are considered cannon fodder in international limited overs cricket. But in this IPL, the top three bowlers by wickets and economy are spinners ... Batsmen probably think we're cannon fodder and plays into our hands. Spinners are important because we take the pace off the ball. The white ball does not swing, reverse after a while. With the bowlers being shuffled so much, sometimes the ball isn't shined at all. Leggies talk of zooters, offies of doosras, you left-arm spinners don't talk so much...” Murali Kartik said while speaking to the Hindustan Times.
“I don't play to prove anything to anybody. The source of inspiration for me is that I am playing for enjoyment. I am playing well and it feels nice. Today, I enjoyed my batting because it was challenging initially and then I had to be patient in the middle. I had to plan the innings. When big shots were required they came in and it was very satisfying," Sachin Tendulkar was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.
“We can’t all hit the ball like Robin Uthappa, but I’d like to think that we’ve done more than enough to end the flippant comments about the Royal Challengers being a Test team. Finally, a word about the bowlers on Saturday night. Dale was magnificent and is now bowling as fast as I’ve ever seen him. ... But the pick of the attack, as ever, remains the captain, and he’s also still the most enthusiastic man in the team (and the oldest!).Anil is an inspiration and it remains a source of inspiration watching him bowl,” Jacques Kallis wrote in the Times of India.
“We suffered a big loss (by 7 wickets, with almost 3 overs to spare)... Some emotions were shown, which is perfectly understandable. … It’s not a blame game (situation)... The way forward is to improve in the areas we didn’t do well against the Royal Challengers Bangalore... We should definitely have got more than 160 for nine... We ought to have bowled much better and, yes, been far better in the field, too. Having said all that, Bangalore played very well.” the Kolkata Knight Riders coach, Dav Whatmore was quoted as saying to The Telegraph.
“It won't be a surprise if the 37-year-old (Adam Gilchrist) actually inspires his side to do the unthinkable yet again. And there is more than one reason to believe so. The catch here is that Gilchrist knows how to handle his boys, be it a maverick like Symonds or a shy guy like Tirumalasetti Suman. He strikes the right chord, says the right words and sends across the right message. There is no dressing room disquiet after a loss, no one points fingers and there's no fall guy. "It's the team that lost, not individuals," he often reiterates,” wrote DNA.
“The implication that pace is good enough by itself in the IPL is ridiculous. … Surely nobody believes that anybody in the top eight or nine batsmen won’t be good enough to hit a half volley or full toss to the boundary, even if it is bowled at 155 kilometers per hour….I am probably bowling as fast as ever at the moment but that’s not really the point. What matters a lot more is that I’m landing a lot of deliveries in the right place and not bowling half volleys. Now that were at the business end of the tournament I need to keep that up and make even less errors,” wrote Dale Steyn in The Times of India.
Nagpur: On a Nagpur pitch that has remained the same for the past three games, Anil Kumble won the toss and has decided to field first.
Speaking to Mike Haysman, he said, “The pitch is different from that in Bangalore. We have been performing well, especially in our bowling.” On being asked whether they have an embarrassment of riches in the batting department, the wily Kumble smiled and said that it’s important that the boys played well. “It’s a good wicket, and our strength lies in chasing, so we hope to continue doing the same,” he said.
For the Royal Challengers Bangalore, S Sriram and Praveen Kumar have been rested while Manish Pandey and KP Appanna will be playing
Adam Gilchrist was nonchalant about the toss. “The pitch has a lot of moisture and it’s pretty much the same wicket [as on the previous three occasions]. It’s quite slow and tough for the batsmen and the outfield is slower and the ground is bigger compared to the one in Bangalore, but we hope to do well,” he said to Sunil Gavaskar. He added that their net run-rate has been on the slower side for quite some time in the tournament, but he his side were hoping to turn it around at this stage.
“We can’t always follow what the numbers say, but we need to improve on our opening partnership and we’ve identified it as a key area where we can improve, so we hope to do it today,” he said.
The Deccan Chargers have brought in Herschelle Gibbs for Dwayne Smith.
Playing XIs
Deccan Chargers
Adam Gilchrist (c & wk), Mohnish Mishra, Rohit Sharma, T Suman, Andrew Symonds, Bodapati Sumanth, Herschelle Gibbs, Harmeet Singh, Pragyan Ojha, RP Singh, Ryan Harris
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Anil Kumble (c), Jacques Kallis, Manish Pandey, Cameron White, Robin Uthappa (wk), Ross Taylor, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, R Vinay Kumar, KP Appanna, Dale Steyn
What
The Delhi Daredevils host the Kings XI Punjab, where the latter would be looking to avenge their opening loss.
When
Sunday, April 11, 4pm
Where
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
The Protagonists
Virender Sehwag – The Nawab of Najafgarh might have been lacklustre so far but, in the last match against the Kolkata Knight Riders, he showed that he is still a man who is raring to smash some leather out of the park. His composed knock along with Gautam Gambhir gave the Daredevils a fighting chance against KKR at Eden Gardens. His team would look to him as the man who can give them a good start, whether setting a target, or shooting one down.
Kumar Sangakkara – The Kings XI Punjab may have started getting victories at a very late phase in the tournament, but behind their good performances has been this southpaw from Ceylon. Having rallied his troops in the last match, they look to travel to Delhi looking to cause another upset and increase their slim chances of getting into the semi-finals
Head to head
Despite their poor run of form in this tournament, five encounters have passed between these two teams, with three of them going in favour of the Kings XI Punjab. Their previous meeting, which was the first for both these teams, was one that was decided in the last over where Delhi clinched a thriller.
Previous Encounter
The Delhi Daredevils were defeated in their previous encounter against the Kolkata Knight Riders in a hard-fought encounter at the Eden Gardens. The Kings XI Punjab have a penchant for causing massive upsets, like they did against the Mumbai Indians in their last match, winning it with six wickets to spare
What next?
The Kings XI Punjab has suddenly become the side which all teams are hoping to not face. Two points for them might not be earthshaking, but can have some serious consequences in a table which is getting tighter and tighter. The Delhi Daredevils are currently second, but a loss here could cause them to slip down a little and could drop a few question marks on their side’s ability to cope without Dirk Nannes.
Nagpur: Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist was a happy man once more after their win against Chennai Super Kings. Here's more from his interaction with the media.
Excerpts
On the feeling after winning two games on the trot: It was better than what we were two games ago. Obviously, we’re still in the mix now and we are improving our performances. I wouldn’t say we are playing our best cricket yet, but if we can secure some wins when we are not playing at our total best, that’s a good sign. It augurs well for when we do produce our best cricket.
On the turning point of the match: I am not sure if there was one key moment in the game, in games like this [it] feels like every over that you are bowling is a big moment. But Harmeet (Singh) was terrific, [I] really thought he bowled with great control and he did not allow their batsmen any freedom to really play too aggressively against him - his changes of pace, his slower balls, then he went with a bit more pace on the ball with well positioned yorkers, [but] the whole bowling group, I thought, did a terrific job. We still can sharpen up a bit in the field a little bit, we are still putting [down] chances that could be costly chances. But we will keep working on that. So I don’t know of any one moment in the game that changed it, but it was a good collective effort with the ball.
On CSK missing a trick by not playing Muttiah Muralidaran: Murali would’ve been extremely difficult to play on that wicket, no doubt about that. But, that said, Murali in general is very difficult to play in any condition. I was a bit surprised not to see his name on the team sheet.
On three teams being on 10 points each: Viewing it from our position, nothing really changes for us tonight, we [have] got to keep winning. I wouldn’t think that 14 points is going to be quite enough so that means [in] three games we need six more points and obviously we are playing against two of the teams that are in and around that area so, as I said, nothing much changes for us. It’s fantastic to have a win and we feel good and we can keep moving forward but we [have] just got to keep winning.
On Monish Mishra’s dropped chance: The sun was in a difficult position and we all have slip-ups and make little errors in judgment whether it’s a high ball or a shot that we play, we all have little errors in judgment, and he just did not quite judge it right. But there is no doubt that the sun was an issue there for him.
On Tirumalasetti Suman’s knock: Another very mature innings by him. He was quite ill today, he played the game having quite a bit of gastro, being physically ill just prior to the game, so he wasn’t of hundred percent health. So given the conditions it’s even more creditable that he went out there and took it on and played with such maturity. It was a sign of great character of the young player so we are obviously very happy with him.
On Andrew Symonds’s innings being a little subdued: Symmo, prior to the game, two games ago he was saying that he just felt like he wanted to add a bit more to the group. He adds so much to the group, his bowling was fantastic, he’s brilliant in the field, and he’s contributed with the bat. None of us have gone on for a really big score, maybe other than Suman last week, two games ago getting a 70-odd. As long as everyone is chipping in when it’s needed and it’s time, last couple of games we have started to do that a lot better than the middle period of the tournament. [At the] start of the tournament again no one really shone up, but we did enough as a team to get by so, as I said right at the start, we had not played our best cricket. But we are doing enough to get these wins again and I feel like we are improving.
On the match against RCB in two days: We have learnt a lot in the two games that we have played here (Nagpur) about this ground. And that, I think, has been difficult for us to not have a home ground to go to. People would say that your home record is not so great, but that was two years go with a different set-up, a different group of players, a different mindset. We have made some fundamental changes since then so that has been difficult not to have that knowledge of the ground and the ability to tailor it a little bit and I think all teams tailor their ground a little bit to their strengths and it makes sense too. That’s what home and away is about. So we have gained great knowledge in the two games here and we will try and use that to our benefit on Monday.
On the chase getting too close for comfort: No, I think, again, for us we just had to get the two points and if we continue to do that in three games I think net run-rate might come in though. I don’t think net run-rate is going to be of such a crucial value to us so we have just got to win. We will see, who knows what results will come, but as we stand at the moment it’s just two points or don’t worry about turning up.
On him getting starts but not carrying on: [Laughs] I can’t get out of here without a question about my form or results! I guess.... just one of those tonights that a tiny little edge that can happen but obviously I would love to be getting that big score. Have made plenty of starts, plenty of 20s and 30s but I am not going to be worried about that. There is no use worrying, I will just come back have a practice tomorrow and front up again for another go and, as I say, 30 in Twenty20 can sometimes be fantastic if it’s off 10 balls and it’s at the right situation and other times it is not good enough so, yeah, I would love to be contributing a bit more and I will keep striving for that.
Bengaluru: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Sourav Ganguly was an angry man after a forgettable day on the field for his team against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Here's more from his interaction with the media.
Excerpts:
On getting a good start yet not capitalising on it: Yes, we did, 100 in 11 overs and from there to get to 160, it’s pretty ordinary actually. I thought we played good cricket for the first 10 overs and for the next 30 we were just absolutely rubbish.
On where they went wrong: We were rubbish, boss, that’s just one line. For the next 30 overs we were just absolutely rubbish.
On where they go from here: We [have] got to play better cricket. [If] we play cricket like this [then] we don’t deserve to be in the semi-finals. There are better teams who are playing better cricket than us. We have to get there first, let’s win cricket matches and play better and score runs.
On the poor performances by the youngsters: Yes, absolutely, absolutely. Some of these guys need to look at themselves and they play good cricket, they want to play good cricket and they were just pathetic.
On the positives from this match: Not really much. The first 10 overs we were good after that, as I said, we were very, very, ordinary.
On Ishant Sharma and his poor form: You [have] got to ask him that question.
On the fielding: Well, I don’t mind losing, but we were pathetic on the field, let’s be honest and I can talk, I can lift them up but they have to lift themselves up as well - I can’t go and field for them, I can’t go and bowl for them. Probably when I was playing for India I had some serious talent to look after and that probably helped and hopefully these guys will come into their own.
On the problem of selecting the four overseas players and choosing Ajantha Mendis ahead of Shane Bond: See we have…every team has this issue. Chennai leaves out a Muralidaran, we can only play four. It is not a national side where you just pick your best 11. Mendis did the job for us last game, we thought people like Ross Taylor and Cameron White haven’t played him before, thought we had the quicks to take the help of these conditions, where it was seaming around a bit. But the seamers didn’t bowl well and that didn’t allow Mendis to put the pressure on them.
On losing their momentum after this game: There is no, nothing called momentum in this game. Bangalore had lost four out of five, they came back and smashed us today. We pick ourselves up and play again in two days’ time.
On whether dew was a factor: There was no dew.
On what they are going to do to retrieve their situation: Just go and play and win. Hopefully we [can] pick ourselves up.
On the next match against CSK: We will have to, there is no other option. They are professionals, hopefully they do it. The entire world is watching, the selectors are watching, the captains are watching. If they play like this, good god help their careers.
Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bangalore paceman R Vinay Kumar was thrilled to have played a part in his team's win against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.
Here's more from his interaction with the media.
Excerpts:
On the win: Actually for us it was a do-or-die match. For Kolkata Knight Riders we had planning, Anil (Kumble, captain) spoke to all the bowlers, he gave a good game plan and he said see, last three-four matches, bowlers have given 180 runs. This match just go out there and give your best, because it is a crucial match for us. We had a plan and we just went there executed it.
On not finishing his quota of overs (3-0-23-3): Yeah that’s right, sometimes one kind of a strategy can come from the captain. You have to adjust to that. Its fine, ultimately the team won.
On what was going through his mind while bowling the last over: Actually the last match they needed nine runs again, it didn’t go my way. After that I had planned with the video analyst, coach, captain. They said whatever mistake I did, you should have bowled that length, you should have bowled up to batsmen and I had a plan.
On what Kumble told the team: Yeah, before the game he spoke to us (all the bowlers). In the last four-five games we have been consistently giving [away] 180 runs. It was a worry for the captain.
On getting the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar earlier in the tournament and Sourav Ganguly today: It’s a great motivation, but for me the plan has been to bowl in certain areas. I don't think much of the opponents while bowling to them. I just stuck to my strengths.
On there being pressure as the next two games are away: Not really, after the today’s win we are confident and going in with a winning mindset.
On the pitch: Well the wicket was looking good. We went in with Sridharan Sriram to give us a solid start.
On coming into bowl in the 12th over: There was a certain plan in place. Jacques Kallis was bowling well and we wanted him to finish his overs. Sriram also bowled a couple of overs but that was part of the plan. The team's think-tank had already decided when to bring me into the attack. And we executed the same thing.
