New Delhi: In what has been one of the most open Indian Premier Leagues (IPL) so far, one team which has only gone from strength to strength are the Delhi Daredevils, and a lot of it has do with the form of their captain Virender Sehwag. After 10 matches, he is second on the top-scorer's list with 445 runs, with an astonishing strike rate of 163.60.
After a disastrous tour to Australia, Sehwag is batting the way he knows best. While admitting in a tele-phone chat with Gulf News that he is having his best run in the IPL so far, the Delhi dasher feels the job is not quite over in a long-drawn tournament like this. Following are excerpts:
GULF NEWS: Sunil Gavaskar has written that you have realised the importance of staying at the wicket, finally.
VIRENDER SEHWAG: Yes, I am punishing the loose balls in the earlier part of my innings. May I request you to go through my strike rate in IPL, you will get a clear picture if you do that.
Five consecutive 50s is a record in the IPL. Your comments...
I cannot deny that, I'm hitting the ball well. And I hope it continues for the remaining part of the season.
There is a tough competition for grabbing the orange cap among the top-scorers of the IPL this season.
Yes, I have already got it once but I am just not playing for that cap. I am only concentrating for my team's victory, nothing else.
With the form Delhi Daredevils are in, will they reach the finals this time?
We are not thinking that way at all. Anything can happen in a game of 240 balls. As things stand, we are doing well and are taking each match at a time. Like we have a match tomorrow versus Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) here in Delhi and will try to beat them here as well.
Are you missing Kevin Pietersen? (Kevin Pietersen has returned to join the England squad for a series against the West Indies)
Of course, we will miss him. He is a such delightful player and every captain will like to have him in his team. I even value his words in those team meetings. We have to confess that he really contributed with his bat during his stay with us.
What are your thoughts on David Warner, who will be replacing Pietersen?
He [Warner] has served Daredevils well in the past. Hope he will also show us his extraordinary talent with the bat in the matches to come.
Will you still persist with Ross Taylor, who is not in his usual form?
He is too good a cricketer to fail for long. I am sure he will showcase his talent also in the second half of the tournament.
What about Mornie Morkel's contribution towards your team?
He is a very hard trier and that's the reason the purple cap is shining on his head as the highest wicket taker. Mind you, he finished with the purple cap last year also — a big recognition in a tournament dominated by batsmen.
Still, you could not win the title in 2011?
Yes, we lost badly. We are really playing much better cricket this time, be it with bat or ball. Every member of our team is much more committed this time and that's the reason people are watching much better all-round performances from us.
Any secrets behind it?
I must give credit to Srinivasan Bombaydala, who has invested big money to make this team. We did not do well in the first four years. Yet, he did not give up and instead concentrated on making a very well-balanced side. We are all happy with the progress so far.
IPL recordn 2008 406 runs2009 554 2010 356 2011 424 2012 445 (Till date)Total: 1,829Highest score: 119
