Defending champions Deccan Chargers issued a stern warning to their rivals as they announced their plans to go all out in IPL-3 as well.
Speaking at a promotional event in a city pub on Thursday night, Chargers skipper Adam Gilchrist, sporting a horn-hat said: “Aggressive approach works. That’s how cricket is played these days — it’s attack, attack, attack.”
Coach Darren Lehmann seconded the opinion. “We will continue with the brand of cricket we have been playing. We have a great team spirit, hopefully we will come out on top,” he said.
However, both kept their feet on the ground. “We understand that last year has gone by and everyone starts on an even keel now,” Gilchrist said, adding “you are only as good as your last innings, and my last one was a second-ball duck... I’ve got to start again.”
Lehmann felt “no pressure” of being defending champions. “We don’t want to think about the past but concentrate on the future.”
He also picked out fast bowler Kemar Roach and Australian U-19 World Cup winning captain Mitchell Marsh as the players to look out for. “Marsh is a strong young lad. He is six-foot-five and bowls quick,” Lehmann said.
Gilly felt new-comers Rahul Sharma and Monish Mishra could prove a handful for the opponents. Individuals apart, Gilly attributed the Chargers’ success in IPL-2 to a great team effort. “I was part of the group that made it happen. It was not because of any individual effort, all the players were involved in the win.
Asked to pick a team for a possible bitter rivalry, Symonds said: “Maybe Mumbai Indians are a team that could be one of our bitter rivals down the track.” It may not be out of place to mention that Harbhajan Singh — prime accused in the ‘Monkeygate’ controversy involving Symonds in 2008 — and his staunch supporter Sachin Tendulkar, play for Mumbai Indians.
But there were no such emotions for VVS Laxman, who has always been a figurative thorn in the Australian flesh on the field. “I have enjoyed playing against the Australians. Gilchrist has been the most enterprising cricketers, a sportive guy who would share a drink with you after the game. I’ve played with Brett Lee and Symonds right from my U-19 days,” Laxman said.
“It’s great to play alongside these guys for the Deccan Chargers, for whom we all want to do well,” the Indian middle-order batsman added. Gilchrist supplemented Laxman’s view on team bonding when asked about his erstwhile long-time opening partner Matthew Hayden, who turns up for Chennai Super Kings. “I am comfortable with opening partners — I’ve had a few in the two IPLs as well the Champions League last year. But Haydos is an opponent and an enemy, there’s no time for him,” he said.
Well, sports and politics do not mix and Gilly is the best example of that. He has turned down an offer from the Australian Labour Party to contest the elections. “I promise I will not be in politics,” he revealed.
“I do a bit of commentary for an Australian television network and hope my relationship with the Deccan Chargers will go a long way,” he added.
Gilchrist also struck an emotional chord with the Hyderabadis when he began with “Namaskaaram. Baagunnara?, in anglicised Telugu.
He concluded with a “Shukriya,” after thanking the fans for their support over the past two years. “You all stuck with us (after the disappointing first season). Sorry, we could not visit Hyderabad after winning IPL-2 in South Africa last year. This time if we do win the title, we’ll definitely come to the city to meet you,” Gilchrist said to thunderous applause.