IPL 8: ‘You don’t win twice playing on slow wickets’

KKR Captain Gautam Gambhir during a practice session at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday.

  Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday hit out at the critics for accusing his team of preparing slow wickets to suit its spinners, saying a side has to be consistent in all departments of the game to win the Indian Premier League (IPL) twice in three seasons.Gambhir said while the 2012 and 2014 champions rely on spinners, they have an equally strong batting line-up that justify their supremacy."People keep talking that KKR prepare slow wickets and win on them but you don't win twice by just playing on slow wickets. You have to be consistent to win big tournaments and we have done that," Gambhir said on the eve of the opener against Mumbai Indians here."Turning pitches are sporting wickets as well. We have got enough arsenal in our batting department to excel on batting friendly conditions.

"I hope the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) warning is consistent with every curator," he said on BCCI directive that there should be sporting wickets across all venues.In the last year's Champions League T20, KKR achieved a rare feat of winning 14 matches on the trot."We have played well away from home as well. I think we should stop this thing. We have shown this twice in last four years. We've won 14 matches on trot."On the Eden Gardens pitch, which is known for its slow nature, Gambhir feels it is difficult to predict how it would behave as it is a fresh wicket.

IPL 8, KKR vs MI: Holders Kolkata Knight Riders face formidable Mumbai Indians in opener

"Whenever we started we did not know how it would behave. We don't make any prediction and go by the look of the surface. No one knows how it will behave. Over the course of tournament, you will get to know. It's a fresh wicket so not sure how it would behave," he said.Gambhir said his team is not taking Mumbai Indians lightly as every side is equally balanced."I can't take any opposition lightly. We have got enough fire in our ranks. If we play to our best, we will be very tough to beat. We're pretty confident but not over confident," insisted the skipper.

Last year's top run-getter, Robin Uthappa did not practice on the eve of the match but Gambhir said there's no worry over the fitness of the explosive opener.

"It was an optional practice. Robin has played the entire season and he's been hitting the ball really well and it depends on the individual how much he wants to practice one day before the game," he said on the Karnataka batsman, who was also the top-scorer in this season's Ranji Trophy.

Gambhir said the domestic players once again will hold the key to their success this season.

"It's the domestic players who will make the difference. You will always be restricted to play four foreign players. But your majority will be the Indians and your side will depend on how your domestic players do.

"We have got somebody like Suryakumar Yadav, who has a massive and bright future, and somebody to look forward to. We have got Manish Pandey, who is among runs. Then there is Robin and Yusuf Pathan. Domestic players will always play a massive role in the tournament," he said.

There can never be a backup for Sunil Narine: Gautam Gambhir

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2015

 

Sunil Narine has been Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR), and in fact Indian Premier League's (IPL), best bowler ever since he started playing for Gautam Gambhir's side in 2012. His superb performances in KKR's colours have helped his side end up IPL champions twice in three years. Now with KKR seeking their third IPL title, Gambhir said Narine will always be his side's main weapon and that there can be no back-up for the West Indian mystery spinner.

"He's an integral part of KKR, he will always be an integral part... Even if he bowls a straight ball, he will be an asset for us and will always remain an asset. That's the confidence we have in Sunil (Narine). We never thought that we needed a back-up spinner for him," Gambhir said when asked whether they strengthened their spin line-up in the auction with suspense prevailing over the Trinidadian.

"There can never be a backup for Sunil. I always maintain even if he bowls a straight bowl it will be an advantage. That's the aura he has had over the opposition over the last three years."

Narine was reported for suspect action in last season's Champions League T20 and went on to miss the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup. He went back to the nets to rework his action and was cleared by International Cricket Council (ICC) after his bio-mechanical test in Loughborough. Board of Control for Cricket in Indian (BCCI), however, took a retest at the the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai. He got a clean chit and was given the green signal to bowl on Sunday, three days before the start of IPL.

On their 2.4 crore acquisition in KC Cariappa, another mystery spinner, who's yet to play a Ranji Trophy match, Gambhir said: "We have never picked him thinking that he will be a match-winner for us. We wanted to groom and develop him alongside Sunil for the betterment of Indian cricket. He's young as well. He'll learn a lot from Sunil. I am yet to see him in a match so I don't know whether he would be a game changer. But obviously he's different. We will see over the course of time, how he shapes up along with Kuldeep Yadav. Hopefully, they will play a big role," said Gambhir.

"The strategy to pick little known players like KC Cariappa and Kuldeep Yadav was to groom them alongside senior pros like Narine and Brad Hogg. They were never for back-up. Yes, we want different spinners, and we have based out the entire team on that because if you see most of the wickets in India turn and start gripping especially in the later half of the tournament. That's the strategy.

"At the same time it would be nice to have spinners who can always complement Sunil. (For) someone like Cariappa, Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav to have Sunil and Brad Hogg around them, will always help. It will help develop Indian cricket. People and commentators talk a lot about the franchises- how it's about walking the talk and we have done that. We don't want people to talk about us, we would rather show it for the better of Indian cricket. I think we have done that pretty well over the last few years and we'll continue to do that. It's about developing off the field as well," he concluded.

IPL 8: ‘I don't think anyone is mentally tired’

 Rohit Sharma said the IPL schedule was released well in advance and everyone knew we had to compete soon after spending four months in Australia, so all of them are prepared mentally

Star India batsman Rohit Sharma said while the national cricket team members are disappointed at not being able to retain the World Cup, a new challenge awaits them in the form of the upcoming Indian Premier League.

India lost to eventual champions Australia by 95 runs in the semifinals of cricket's showpiece event at Sydney and IPL franchise Mumbai Indians' captain Rohit said the focus was now solely on winning the eighth season of the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament.

"It was disappointing not to bring the World Cup back, but once we got back to India we knew a new challenge was lying in front of us, which was the IPL. Now we are thinking about how to win the championship," said Rohit at a media conference ahead of the IPL, starting on April 8.

The Indian opener, who has two one-day double hundreds to his credit, said although the Indian team had stayed for around four months in Australia, everyone was now prepared mentally and physically for two months of IPL.

"I am perfectly ready. IPL schedule was released well in advance. So everyone knew we had to compete soon after spending four months in Australia, so all of us are prepared mentally. I don't think anyone is mentally tired because ultimately, as players, we want to do well in every tournament we play. It is an opportunity, another big platform for all of us to perform," said Rohit.

Mumbai Indians, champions in 2013, are all set to take on the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game of the T20 tournament at the Eden Gardens and he was gung-ho about the chances of his team. "They (KKR) have got the bowling line up and are defending champions. We have to be at our best. Obviously being the first game pressure will be on both sides to perform. They play well in Kolkata and understand the conditions really well. We got the squad, the batting line up to overcome that situation,” Rohit said.

"We have roped in a lot of young Indian talent in the players' auction. It looks a very well balanced squad. We have had a very good preparation ahead of this IPL season. We hope that all youngsters deliver during the tournament," he said.

Rohit was also happy that Mumbai's first game was in Kolkata, where they had beaten Chennai Super Kings in the 2013 final. "We have had very good memories of Kolkata. We won the championship there. We understand the conditions there very well. Am sure the guys can exploit the conditions well. It will be an important opening game for us. It will be important to get the first win of the tournament and build that momentum and continue from there," he said.

Team's head coach and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting said the team has had a good preparation for the IPL. "We have a great challenge ahead. We are heading to play Kolkata, the reigning champions, for the first game of the IPL on their home ground. So far this week's been great. Our preparation has been great. I really love the attitude of our players," said Ponting, who played in one IPL season without much success.

 "We have two training days in Kolkata to make sure that they are up to speed with the conditions and the way we want to play our cricket as a team. In IPL, when you are getting most of your players into the squad reasonably late, that is a great challenge for the coaches to make sure they are physically rested and mentally prepared for the contest at the same time,” Ponting said.

"You have to make sure their skills are ready to go as well. We have had a really big training week where we have particularly worked hard and when we get to Kolkata, we know we have got two more sessions over there to prepare for the first game. The attitude that the boys have shown over the last few days, I have no doubt they will be prepared for the start of the first match," he added.

Ponting said that his new innings in cricket as a coach has been exciting. "The last week's been terrific. Obviously I have known that I will be the coach of Mumbai Indians for a few months now. I had the time to plan and think about how I wanted to coach the team. I took over when the squad was pretty much established; 15-16 players were retained from last season. It was a lot of fun to be involved in the players' auction. There also we have a very good squad. We have picked a lot of young Indian talents into our group," he said.

"My job as coach of MI is to make sure they have got everything exactly the way the captain wants it. I have got to get players organised and make sure that their skills are good and more importantly they are in a positive frame of mind,” a pensive Ponting said.

"Although I was not a very good T20 player, the best thing is that I understand the game pretty well. I have been around for a long time. The fact is I was here in IPL 6 (2013 season), started the tournament, but did not play really well. So that was when I actually went into a bit of coaching role when I stepped down from playing and that turned out to be pretty well," Ponting said.

"And for the last two years, I have been commentating on T20 back in Australia. So I have stayed really close to the game, am understanding the way the game is played, understanding more and more the tactical side of the game," he explained.

Ponting also said that looking at the game from outside gives a new perspective. "When you take a step back from playing, you analyse the game a lot closer, considering a lot of tactical sides of the game. That's the sort of stuff I have been working to bring in to Mumbai Indians this year. I have been responsible for the tactical side of things, the planning side of things and as I said, making sure the planning is as best as it can be and we have our players 100 per cent prepared for anything that might pop up during a game," he said.

"As far as Rohit's captaincy is concerned, he has been spot on. Back in 2013, when we won the title, I stood down and he took over and the way he controlled the side on the ground was fantastic. He looks ahead, understands the game really well. And more importantly, communicates with the players really well on the field,” he said.

"The players are very clear in what he wants from them before they take the field. I am trying to make sure I make it easy for him as far as possible. Make sure that he gets all the tactics he needs. All the match-ups he needs. And then when it is match time, he can go out there and captain the team the way he wants," said Ponting.

He was confident that former New Zealand pace ace Shane Bond could work wonders with the younger MI bowling lot, as he had done so well with the Kiwi pace attack.

"Having Shane around in our group is terrific. Where he has been, what he has done has had a great impact suddenly on the New Zealand fast bowlers. Since he has been in that job, the improvement in Trent Boult and Tim Southee and guys like that has been remarkable. We are hoping that he can have the similar impact on some of the younger guys here,” Ponting added.

"Some of our senior guys like Lasith Malinga know their game, how they need to prepare for a game. Shane has been here only for a couple of days. He is enjoying really well. He has already taken full control of our bowling group,” the former Australian captain said.

"It is all about spin bowlers which I think is really important. Will have a bit of assistance with that since he is a fast bowling coach but he will be looking after the entire group and am sure he will do a great job," said Ponting.

Asked whether MI's pace spearhead Malinga's current form was a cause for concern, skipper Rohit said the Sri Lankan sling-arm bowler was an experienced campaigner. "I don't think it is a concern. He is an experienced campaigner and a dangerous bowler. He has proven it again and again over the years, especially for MI.”

"When we won the 2013 championship, he played an integral part. He was the key wicket-taker for us in that season. For someone like Malinga, it is just a matter of one game. I am sure he knows his body well,” Rohit said.

"His work ethics are pretty good. I'm sure he's raring to go. He just had a game last night. He got four overs under his belt (in practice game last night) and is looking forward to the coming season. It's just a matter of one game for him," said Rohit.

IPL 8: Fit again Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Ishant Sharma is eager to prove his worth

 Frequent injury breakdowns have hampered Ishant Sharma’s career progress since his debut in 2007, but he said even though he is working hard on his fitness there are certain things that are just unavoidable in a sportsperson's life.

Raring to go in the IPL, a fit-again Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Ishant Sharma feels T20 is easier for fast bowlers than ODIs with the problematic four-fielder rule not being there in cricket's shortest format.

The lanky pacer, who missed the World Cup in Australia due to a knee problem, is eager to prove his worth in the eighth season of the cash-rich league and believes the shorter-format will certainly help him regain his match-fitness.

"I am fit and raring to go. T20 is still easy for a fast bowler than ODIs. At least in T20 cricket, there is an extra fielder outside the circle to give you protection unlike in ODI cricket which has the four-fielder rule in progress. So at least in T20 cricket, we can do the containing act with the added fielder,” Ishant said.

"And I believe that bowlers are making their presence felt in limited-overs cricket. We saw Mitchell Starc getting the player of the tournament award in World Cup. So bowlers are surely getting their due in limited-overs cricket," Ishant told PTI in an interview.

Talking about the much-criticised four-fielder rule in ODIs, he said, "Yes, the four-fielder rule is a problem, you ask any bowler. But there are certain things which are beyond your control so one has to abide by the rules that are being implemented by the international body and respect them,” he said.

"It's important to rise above the challenges and do the most within the rules. Bowl according to the field and that helps the captain put forth his strategy," Ishant pointed out.

Frequent injury breakdowns have hampered the 26-year-old's career progress since his debut in 2007, but Ishant said even though he is working hard on his fitness there are certain things that are just unavoidable in a sportsperson's life. "Injuries are unavoidable and out of our control. I am doing everything that needs to be done in my capacity as a player to maintain and improve on my fitness. Be it training, practice, discipline in life and every little thing that needs to be taken care of but certain things are just not in our hands,” he added.

"Obviously you feel disappointed when you are unable to control certain things and you miss out on important events but that's the way it is. I just try and forget that part and move on. By thinking about it too much, we unnecessarily put pressure on ourselves and it only hampers our progress," said the Delhi-born player.

"Cricket and sports is tough. If you perform well in a match your career spirals and the moment you perform badly in a game, your career plummets, so it's not easy. So even if you say that consistency is key, in cricket you cannot be consistent. Failures are a part of a cricketer's life and when you discuss all these problems with big players then it helps," added Ishant.

Having been part of the Sunrisers squad since 2013, Ishant has certainly grown with the David Warner-led side and talked about the experience of sharing the dressing room with South Africa's ace fast bowler Dale Steyn.

"I have learnt a lot from Dale Steyn. We have been playing together for close to five years and have picked a lot from him. I have followed how he prepares for a game, how he physically and mentally handles things before and in a game. How well he handles pressure and all such things. I do observe and follow from other good players in the side," he said.

Previously known as the Deccan Chargers, the Sunrisers Hyderabad made a remarkable debut in the sixth IPL edition. The team finished fourth in standings with an admirable 20 points and Ishant is confident of the unit once again making to the top-four.

"Since the last two years, we have represented Sunrisers Hyderabad, we have done good and played well as a unit to make it count. We have backed each other in tough situations and played like a family. The bonding between the players has been good and everybody has chipped in when it matters. So our aim would be to get into the top four and we are confident of it," he said.

Owned by Sun TV Network, Sunrisers' think tank includes Tom Moody (Head Coach), Muttiah Muralitharan (bowling Coach), VVS Laxman (mentor) and Ishant stresses on the role of support staff in modern-day cricket.

"Support staff always plays a big part in modern day cricket. The fielding coach helps to get your act together on the field. The bowling coach always gives you the right input. In IPL T20 there is little time to train between matches and there the importance of the trainer increases. A little niggle can be helped overcome by the support staff and hence their importance," he signed off.

Ranji performance can open IPL doors for young players, says Rahul Dravid

 Ahmedabad: Former India cricket captain Rahul Dravid on Saturday said that the young players should take Ranji Trophy seriously as it can become their ticket to the Indian Premier League.
"When we pick players, we look a lot at their Ranji Trophy performance as well. Of course there are specific T20 skills that we are looking for but we also want to see hunger, we also want to see consistency and we also want to see somebody who can deliver under pressure," Dravid said.

"My advice to young players is they also (should) take the Ranji Trophy very very seriously, because I think, without playing consistently successful domestic cricket, it is very very unlikely that you will be able to succeed coming to the IPL," he told reporters here when asked about the upcoming players giving importance to the IPL over domestic cricket.

Dravid is the mentor of the Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals.

The 42-year-old former batting great defended Indian team's performance in the World Cup but said it has to improve in some areas in the Test format.

"I think they are playing very well. When you come up against Australia -- who I think is the better team than India. There is no harm in admitting that," said Dravid when asked whether Indian team needed another 'wall' in the World Cup semi-final match against Australia.

"In the Australian conditions, Australia was the better team. Not (only) in that match, but right through Australia played better cricket, so there is a lesson to be learnt," added Dravid.

"It (the Indian team) is a young team and lot of these players will be playing in the next World Cup, so I think there is a lot of potential going ahead and I am quite excited...But yes, in Test cricket I think there are couple of areas where they need to work," he said.

MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli share respect: Ravi Shastri

Most thought India could go all the way. It was a 300-plus team with the bat. Bowlers left nothing standing on the table. Fielders looked good enough to get 10 run-outs.

 Let's pause. Isn't this the same team which had lost in Tests and triseries? Which had been on tour for almost half the year. Which was without its Test captain in first and last gambit. Which hardly had anyone with 50 Tests. Which wasn't long in years. Which had scars of England. Which had blank pages for history. Which...never mind.

These were not two teams. One which lost everything. From one which won everything.

Their yardstick was different. They wanted to see the Australians in the eye. Not for once take a backward step.

Improve in skills. Get better in mind. Bond stronger every next day. They ended up ticking all these boxes. And that's why the team which took the field in Sydney had your support.

                               You trusted them to defend the title. They trusted themselves.

                               In my view, this tour to Australia was an unqualified success.
           
                              I'm not biased; I would've said the same behind a microphone.

If India was bad, they wouldn't have 400-plus in each of the four Tests. They would have looked to shut the shop in Adelaide rather than go for that 360-plus target. They would have buckled after hours in sun against a relentless team. In four back-to-back Tests inside a month. There are more instances of finding an all-white penguin in Antarctica than winning visitors in Australia. There is hardly a precedent; very few are around to tell the tale. It's cricket's Star-Trek: To go where no-one has gone before. The holy grail.

While you remember a Kohli for his four hundreds; Rahane for his silken touch; Vijay for his patience or K. Rahul for his steel, stats would never reflect the roots these young saplings of today have taken to become the banyan trees of tomorrow. They had seen seniors leave. They were asked to walk through the fire of four foreign tours in 2014. They are still on their feet. They are good enough to be around the next decade.

  You don't pick favourites in your family. Nor would I among these fresh yet tough kids. They were all under a banner. So was I. We wanted to turn the corner after England tour. We wanted to be sure the wheels hadn't come off. To have millions rooting for you after those long months in Sydney was a vindication.

Personally, I was in the dressing room after two decades.

Yes the game has changed. But it still is a sport which men of flesh and blood play. Players still worry on their show. They still get the jet lag; they still are exhausted; everyday nets still don't look an invitation to party. You fret how the world has viewed you today; how media has opined; what kind of fans would turn up at the hotel lobby after a first-ball duck; what's the official engagement in every other city. Between airport to airport, hotel to hotel, ground to ground, nets to nets is the sameness which could engulf most but the toughest.

One still needs to be smart to fill up his free time.

I see some serious ambition in these young men. Money they have had aplenty. It's the respect which moves them. They have areas to improve. All of us do. Some would've issues with off-stump; some with playing across the line; some with pull or some who plays too much in the air. Bowlers always want quality, discipline, fitness, new tricks by their side. These boys believe they could improve. And they would. These are strong shoulders India could rely on.

Further, there is clarity in leadership. This is vital.

Kohli starts his reign in Tests. Dhoni the Fox heads the ODI pack. One is not that new. The other is not that old. Ideas can be bounced around. Workload shared. Checklists compared.

Both share respect. None of them would look over their shoulder. None eyes other's fruits. No contrary commands. No overlapping. The top six is the same in both formats. This is fluidity, stability. A Swiss watch with hundreds of inter-connected cogs and flywheels, working to perfection.

Father Time is never out of step. A good few years of harmony ahead.

These are sensible heads. They don't grumble when moved up and down the order. No theatrics. Each standing for the other. Loudest at mate's success. I was witness to it for a good length of time. It fills me up with hope. It's a nice stew in the pot to take care of your appetite.

BCCI to release only 30,000 tickets for IPL Opening Ceremony

 Kolkata: The BCCI has decided to release only 30,000 tickets for sale including Hospitality Box tickets for the glittering IPL Opening Ceremony scheduled to be held on April 7 at the Salt Lake Stadium.

"Only 30,000 tickets have been released for the opening ceremony. This however also includes BCCI complimentary and hospitality area tickets," IPL governing council member and CAB joint secretary Subir Ganguly said.

The opening ceremony will have a rich Bollywood flavour and the starcast includes Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Farhan Akhtar among others.

The galleries that would be opposite to the stage would be closed making it a reduced 30,000 capacity.

Tickets are being sold online and also across counters in different malls of the city. Tickets are priced at Rs 200, Rs 300, Rs 400, Rs 500, Rs 600 and Rs 1500.