Deccan Chargers coach Darren Lehmann said it was frustrating to be at the receiving end in majority of the IPL-IV matches. “But we have not been far off from playing pretty good cricket. We lost six games, which actually we should have won. We have lost by ten runs, missed here and there and dropped a couple of catches. We have lost the big moments. We have a good batch of overseas players and some good local kids.’’
Excerpts from the media interaction before the Mumbai Indians – Deccan Chargers match at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
Is it Kumar Sangakkar’s last match this IPL?
“No, he will play the next match against Pune and then he will go to Sri Lanka for the tour of England.”
On Dan Christian’s form
“He’s done okay, he would develop next year in these conditions. He’s played some important knocks for us, missed out a couple of times and plays as the fifth bowler. If the overseas players and all other players improve by 15 per cent, we would win a lot more games.”
Juan ‘Rusty’ Theron not played
“We have the best fast bowler (Dale Steyn) in the world. It’s pretty hard for Theron to knock off Styen. He will probably play two of the last three games. It all depends on the match-ups.”
On Ishant Sharma
“If he is not in the Indian team, then I am a poor selector. He’s been unbelievable this year. He had issues, earlier on in the tournament, with no-balls. We sorted that out and he’s bowling a beautiful length and at good pace. He trains as hard as anyone. His preparation is second to none. He’s been the real find for us this year. To have him and Styen to start the bowling has been great for us.”
Is the Chargers’ bowling unit better than the batting unit?
“I don’t think they have clicked together. When they have, we have won games comfortably. Our game plans have been good, we have never been thumped in a game, except in the last game against Pune. Their bowling was not great and we should not have got out for 138.”
Not clicking on the home ground at Hyderabad: That’s a jinx, is it not?
“I think we have not put together 20 overs on the field or with the bat. Probably it’s quite interesting that we just had flat wickets when we had the best fast bowlers. We might have thought that we would have got better tracks. We did not play well enough at home.”
Teams have been bowled out in a 20 over game
“It happens when a team is chasing a big score. That’s the nature of the game Twenty20. Anyone can beat anyone on a day. That’s the best thing about the IPL this year. No one has gone into a game thinking they are going to win.”
Expanded league
“The guys found it enjoyable actually. How do you guys find it? Ten teams is always tough, but I have enjoyed this fun. I have enjoyed every IPL. It’s four now, it’s getting better and bigger.”
How much have you grown as a coach?
“You do have highs and lows. I am pretty relaxed as a coach. There has been frustrating times. You just talk to the players, do the best and try to get the best out of them.”
Can coaches plan for a Twenty20 game?
“One can actually have game plans. Our game plan has been proven over the last few years. Even this year, we had plans and some results have been close and some gone away. It’s just a question of implementing the plans. You cannot over coach in a Twenty20 game. There has to be flair and you have to see the flair come up.”
On Munaf Patel
“He’s bowled very well in the World Cup. India has a very good squad and that’s what makes a successful team for a long period of time. I think he’s more consistent with his length and line, more so than anything else. Bowling is not rocket science, you don’t have to try too much except executing your plans against the batters. I think he’s done that more than anything else. I think he and Ishant are the two bowlers who will take Indian bowling a long way.”
Four overseas players rule in IPL
“We were always happy with it. For me it’s a question of getting the right match ups. Sanga has had some brilliant periods, they all have had. Probably they have not been consistent. They are professional cricketers like the local boys. They know they have not been consistent and know that’s what we have to do.”
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