View Best Ads Let's Grow together

Sandeep Sharma, who has been making waves since early last year with his performances at the under-19 level and the 2012-13 domestic season for his state side, impressed with figures of 4-1-23-3 in a winning cause for Kings XI Punjab against the Delhi Daredevils on Thursday night.

The young pacer bowled a wicket maiden in the third over of the innings to push the visitors on the back-foot. He was on a hat-trick with the wickets of Irfan Pathan and David Warner. Thrilled to realise his dream of bowling to cricketers he grew-up watching the youngster couldn’t find words to describe the feeling. He credited skipper Adam Gilchrist’s planning and advice that helped him dismiss the batsmen.

He also mentioned that continuous inputs from Praveen Kumar, the senior India pacer with an ability to swing the ball helped through the season. The thrilling seven-run win against the Delhi Daredevils has kept the King XI Punjab in the fray for a berth in the Playoffs of the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013.

While speaking to IPLT20.com after the match, Sharma talked about his bowling and the experience of bowling to the likes of Virender Sehwag and Mahela Jayawardene.

Excerpts from the interview:

On beating the Daredevils and staying in the competition

It feels good after winning the game and that we can still make it to the Playoffs. One match is remaining and we can still try and make it. And it also depends on the results of matches between other teams. But we are not thinking about it now. We are playing our cricket and focusing on our matches.

On whether they had enough runs on the board to defend

The 171 we got was a good total on this wicket. Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) batted really well against the new ball in the beginning. The wicket was helping the seamers but Gilly batted really well in the first six overs and after that Shaun Marsh and David Miller also batted well. So the total was perfect for the wicket and it wasn’t like we had less runs on the board.

On how the wicket helped pacers

There was a bit of seam in the wicket but it was important that we bowl in the good areas which all our bowlers did – PK bhai (Praveen Kumar), (Parvinder) Awana, Azhar bhai (Mahmood).

On having three slips for his bowling which is not seen too often in T20

Gilly did that. He is very experienced and arranged the field taking into account the wicket and my bowling. He told me to bowl the away swing to the left-hander from the off-stump.

On how he had planned for claiming the two wickets – Irfan Pathan and David Warner off consecutive deliveries

My focus was to bowl in the good areas and I got the wickets, it is my luck.

On claiming David Warner

He is an amazing batsman and to get his wicket was a good feeling.

On what the plan was for David Warner, the advice given to him based on strengths and weakness of the batter

Gilchrist is a very good captain and if you talk about strengths and weakness then the bowler’s mind gets a bit diverted. Gilchrist told me to just bowl on the off-stump and not that David Warner is playing. Just to bowl on the off-stump.

On claiming Mahela Jayawardene’s wicket at a vital moment in the game

He is a legend of cricket and to take his wicket makes me happy. I took big wickets and it was always my dream to bowl to these batsmen. I have been watching Jayawardene and Sehwag since childhood. Sehwag is my favourite player, an amazing player and to bowl to him is an amazing feeling, I can’t express it.

On whether he was nervous while bowling to Sehwag

There was no nervousness. I was enjoying it. I have grown up watching them. It was my dream to play with them, bowl to them. It has come true. I was enjoying it. There was no pressure. Even if they hit me I felt I would get to learn from that experience, how to bowl at the higher level.

On what he has learnt from Praveen Kumar

PK bhai helps me a lot. Every over, sometimes every ball he comes and tells me how to bowl, in which area to bowl so that feels good and helps me a lot.

Throughout the season he has told me about swing, position of the wrist and setting the field for the batsmen. He also has a good swing and has played a lot of cricket so he has a lot of experience and I am learning those things from him. We talk a lot and that’s helps a lot.

On any new changes or additions he has made to his bowling

No, I have been doing what I have always done. I have struck to my strengths and concentrated of them.

On the difference does he find between the U-19, India’s domestic tournaments and the IPL

I have never thought that there is a difference in the batsman or the wicket I always think that a good delivery is a good delivery whether I am bowling at the U-19 level or Ranji Trophy (India’s multi-day domestic tournament). I have to be confident and do not think about what the batsman will do and believe in my strength.

‘Magic!’ was the word coach John Wright used to describe the improbable win that Kieron Pollard helped pull off through his blistering knock to take the Mumbai Indians to the top of the points table.

Chasing 179 the hosts were in a precarious position with Sachin Tendulkar retiring hurt and losing Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu in quick succession. But, fireworks from Pollard and Rohit Sharma holding up one end helped the home team turn the match on its head against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium.

Wright was full of praise for the brilliant innings by the West Indies cricketer as MI registered their seventh straight victory on their home turf. The coach also showered appreciation on Sharma and his leadership ability while speaking to IPLT20.com after the win.

Excerpts from the interview:

On Pollard and the victory

What an amazing feat of hitting. I have never seen anything like that before. It was amazing and people all over the world watched that.

On whether they were anxious when Sachin Tendulkar retired hurt and Dinesh Karthik got out

We were always up against it in a run chase. And they got those wickets immediately after Sachin retired so we didn’t look like we were going to be winning the game but then that’s what a player like Pollard can do. That’s special. In this league you see some amazing cricket and that was an amazing innings.

On Rohit Sharma’s innings in the game

He has done it with the bat right through this tournament. He has stepped into the captaincy role and he looks the part. It is very early days yet but I think he is going to be a very good leader.

On the decision of making Rohit Sharma the captain

We wanted to play two fast bowlers, they were to be overseas, so obviously (Mitchell) Johnson and (Lasith) Malinga. It was a tough decision and we got to Kolkata where we talked through with Ricky (Ponting) and he was part of that decision making process and he has done a fantastic job with his leadership off the field. He is of like our club captain. We all contribute in our various ways but Rohit has of taken to the job. He seems to be suited and the responsibility sits well with him and that shows through his performances with the bat and some of the decision making on the field. It is one of those things, in IPL things change very quickly. Flexibility is important.

On choosing Rohit Sharma to lead

It was a joint decision but I think still waters run deep and he lives in Mumbai. It is an obvious advantage to have a home captain, someone who lives in the city. I think the fans identify with it and that is important and so we have someone from Mumbai leading Mumbai Indians which I think is pretty appropriate.

On winning all seven games at home so far

It has been our bowling. We have won a lot of tosses, batted first, put pressure on the opposition and been aggressive with the ball. Monday was bit different and it took a piece of magic really to win chasing but hopefully we will learn from today’s game and be stronger in couple of day’s time. That is a big game for us because if we are interested in finishing at No. 1 or 2 we know that, that is an important match.

On Dale Steyn’s penultimate over

Our batters had the situation under control. I thought we played that pretty well. They got five runs off that over which left it down to the last over. Unbelievably we got to the last two overs with the need of a run-a-ball. We wanted to be looking at getting just six or seven runs in the last over and without a new batter having to go out there and the situation was handled beautifully.

On Dale Steyn’s bowling in the game

He is a beautiful bowler to watch. His lines are good. He has got good pace. He is a big factor for South Africa and No. 1 in the Test standings. He is a good combination with the other two bowlers in SA. He is world class.

On the next match against Rajasthan Royals and what would be the plans knowing Rahul Dravid as closely as he does

I think Rahul is very well researched and very well organised along with Paddy Upton and their group. They have been playing really intelligent cricket. I don’t think it is any accident that they are where they are. I think they have shown great flexibility during this tournament and the way they have picked their team and made various changes to their batting order, they play smart cricket. They beat us fair and square the last time we were in Rajasthan and we would like to turn the table but we know it will be a tough match. We have got a lot of respect for them.

On three teams with 20 points each, with only the run rate separating them

Run-rate is important and I think it was always going to be a factor in this tournament. It was going to come to this situation at some stage. We will try and keep it as healthy as possible.

Wicketkeeper-batsman, KB Arun Karthik has enjoyed the longest run of his IPL career in this, the sixth season. Clad in the colours of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Karthik has featured in 11 out of the 12 matches that the Virat Kohli-led side has played in their quest for a place in the Play-Offs.

The 27-year old, has been sharpening his skills behind the stumps and in front of them as well, learning new techniques to enhance his game with the coaches and senior players of the team. Honing his skills and working hard is paying off for the cricketer.

An opening batsman while playing for his state Tamil Nadu in India’s domestic circuit, he bats lower down the order when he turns out for the Bangalore franchise.

He has been taking lessons on batting in the shortest format of the game and as a lower order bat from experienced campaigners in RCB, AB de Villiers in particular. Although he hasn’t had too many chats about ‘keeping with the South African, he has been working intensively with another Protean, who has donned the gloves as a keeper, now the coach of RCB, Ray Jennings.

The youngster credits Jennings for his evolving and growing as a wicketkeeper.

In a chat with iplt20.com after training at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Karthik talked about his wicket-keeping, batting and the IPL experience with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Excerpts:

You have played 11 out of 12 matches this season, your longest run in the IPL. How does it feel to be entrusted with such responsibility?

It feels good to take up the responsibility as the wicketkeeper. I am grateful to RCB, the management, support staff and the captain. It is good to be part of the team and I am enjoying the responsibility which I have been given. I feel I am contributing to my team here.

What are the challenges while batting in T20?

I have been talking about my position to few of the senior players and what I have heard is batting at No 6, No 7 is one of the toughest positions to bat in T20. Because, only when the team is struggling, batting becomes a possibility and even then, there are very few deliveries to face and I need to score as many runs as possible in such a situation. I haven’t got much of batting this IPL but I am still learning a lot of things.

What are the suggestions and tips you have received and by whom?

I spoke to AB de Villiers about this, because he bats at No 6 or 7 for his National side in T20. He told me it is a tough position and I need to have a cool head and I need to assess the situation first, I need to see who the bowler is. Then I need to look at the percentage (in terms of deliveries) of the number of overs I get in the middle to assess, play shots and then go after bowlers to do my best. It is amazing how the small thing’s he suggests makes big sense.

Have you also discussed wicket-keeping with de Villiers? What were his inputs?

I haven’t had much discussion on wicket-keeping with him. Our coach Ray Jennings is a wicketkeeper so he has done a tremendous job working on me and transforming me as a wicketkeeper.

Can you elaborate more about that?

My coach doesn’t allow me to keep with two hands, which we have been normally brought up to do. He has totally reversed my style to take every catch single-handed. So taking a catch with two hands becomes much easier and your hands move really quick after taking catches with one hand and we have been working on movements too.

What are the challenges ‘keeping to the likes of M Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori?

Initially it was a little tough for me. Last year Murali Sir joined us and during the practice games I was struggling a little to pick his deliveries. I have batted against him in CSK but it is totally different to keep wickets to him. While batting you just react to the delivery and while keeping you follow the ball. So in that sense, picking him was a little difficult, but over a period of time, watching him in the nets, following him in the nets, through lots of drills and talking to him about his variations I think helped and I got better.

RCB has an impressive batting line-up and batters who innovate. What have you learnt from them and what are your innovations?

I have developed as a batsman from the first season of the IPL. During the first edition I was an amateur and I didn’t know what IPL was all about and now I think I have improved on a few shots. I have worked on it in the Ranji Trophy and other games. I have been working with coaches back home in Chennai too.

What is it like playing under Virat Kohli?

Frankly speaking anything you see of Virat on TV, he comes off as this aggressive person, aggressive player, aggressive captain, but in reality he is not aggressive. He is actually a calm captain. During the strategic time-outs he is calm and spells out what he expects from players and keeps things simple, which is a requirement for a good captain. He is a learning captain and over a period of time he will be an amazing asset for the country.

Although we have seen some brilliant knocks from AB de Villiers the RCB lower-order is yet to contribute substantially this season. How have you been working on it?

We struggled a bit in the initial part this season. But actually if you see we are not getting much opportunity to bat. The top-order is so strong so we are not getting to bat. You can’t say we are fragile actually. We have not been getting many chances to bat as such. When we do get chances I think we will do well.

All talks of the Hyderabad pitch being low and slow were put to rest by the Men in Yellow. Chennai Super Kings posted a mammoth 223 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, the highest total at this venue, this year so far.

It was raining runs as the SRH bowlers were left with no answers to the dominance of the CSK batsmen. The result, the home team had to suffer a 77-run defeat as they retained their fifth spot in the points table.

Sunrisers’ opener Parthiv Patel who was coming off a string of low scores in the tournament, finally got some runs on the board scoring a quick-fire 44, though it was not enough to get his team going. In a chat with IPLT20.com, Parthiv spoke of his role in the team and the reason why the Sunrisers Hyderabad have got a lot of people surprised with their good showing in the IPL.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

A disappointing loss for the team, but you would personally take a lot of positives from the game?

Oh yes, definitely. Personally it was good to get some runs today (against the Chennai Super Kings). I was always getting starts and scoring in twenties and getting out. It was good to get an opportunity to get more runs than my previous knocks. It was important the way I started my innings. I got off to a good start and managed to score runs at a brisk pace. Hopefully I can continue this form.

All players have designated roles in the team, what is yours?

My job in the team is to bat through the fifteen overs, try to rotate strike consistently and allow the batsman at the other end to score freely. But Wednesday was a different story. We had to chase a 200 plus score and I had to go for my shots.

SRH boasts of being a good bowling unit. What do you think went wrong for the team?

I think it was just an off day for us. We have bowled well in the tournament so far and have been consistent with our bowling performances. We have to forget about Wednesday’s game and just focus on the next game.

Do you think 224 was gettable on this wicket?

You always go into the game with a positive mindset that the target to be chased is always gettable. We had to go for the chase from ball one, and if we had got a good start, you never know the result could have been different. The wicket was really good to bat on, it was a different wicket that we played on and I feel it was the best wicket to bat.

Is batting still a problem for the Sunrisers?

I think it is not an area of concern. We just have to make sure that one from our top order batsmen sticks around till the fifteenth over. If we are able to do that, we can get to scores of 160 or 170 which is a good score on any kind of wicket.

A word on Suresh Raina’s innings.

I think it was a phenomenal innings by Suresh Raina and also by Michael Hussey. We all know how good they are and it was their day and they made the most of it.

No.5 in the points table at the moment, the competition is stiff and you have to pull up your socks?

We still have a few games left and we have to look to win them. We cannot think about the run-rate, because it is something that is not in our hands. And if we go and win the games left, I am sure we can make it to the Play-Offs.

Why has the team’s good run this IPL taken everybody by surprise?

I think the reason why all have got surprised is that no one was expecting us to do so well. As a team we were always confident of a good show even before the tournament started. We might not have big names in the side, but we knew we have quality players and if we play to our potential we can beat the best sides in the competition.