Hogg’s energy level is indeed amazing

It was an excellent victory against Hyderabad which we really needed to put ourselves ahead of the chasing pack and give us some breathing room.

The wickets are becoming drier with every game now that the weather is so hot and that isn’t a bad thing for us with our spinners bowling so well. Once again, ‘Old Man Brad’ was outstanding with Piyush Chawla and Johan Botha not far behind.

At 44 years, you might think Hoggy would be content with bowling his four overs and then standing somewhere quiet in the field (if there is such a thing in T20 cricket) but he is one of our best fielders, too. He’s amazing. Perhaps his birth certificate was mixed up with that of an older child when he was young. He is really only 24 although I believe he’s not so quick in the morning after a game!

I’m sure Morne Morkel and Pat Cummins will be given another chance when we get to Mumbai where there should be a little more bounce and carry in the wicket. The lack of pace at Eden Gardens has counted against them in the last couple of weeks but they remain a vital part of the squad and I’m quite certain that most batsmen in the IPL would rather have them in their squad than have the prospect of facing them.

Delhi is next on the radar and they are sure to be feeling the pressure of being seventh on the league table. And yet, they are only a single victory behind KKR which once again proves just how tight this tournament is. They probably feel they need to win all four remaining games to be sure of a play-off place and that makes them very dangerous. We know what it feels like to be in a series of ‘must-win’ games. In some ways, it can free you up to play without inhibition but you’d rather have a few extra points.

Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to see much of owner Shah Rukh Khan this year. He is so popular among the players and back-room staff that it’s always a boost to have him around. However, he’s currently shooting three films so it’s completely understandable.

SRK misses KKR as much as we miss him, and I’m pretty certain he’ll find a gap to support the team if we make the play-offs. In the meantime, he’s in touch with many messages of encouragement and congratulations before and after games. Best boss in cricket.

(Gameplan / Hawkeye)