Back to Delhi Franchise. How was the experience so far?
It’s been excellent. I am enjoying my time with the franchise. The attention to detail and the way the players are defended are just superb. Times are not easy but we have all been well taken care of. The management is always mindful of the needs of the players and gives us the freedom and space to express ourselves. It sounds ludicrous but the truth is that it is one big family.
Obviously, Touch is back after the first game. You are batting like the David Warner of old. After what happened last year at Sunrisers Hyderabad, must be very important to you?
You always want to contribute and make a difference for the team. That’s how I’ve always been as a player. I will do everything I can for my team and try to make a difference in the team’s objective. What happened is now in the past and of course it is very important for me to show myself and everyone what I am capable of. I am enjoying my batting in these conditions. The wickets are green compared to what we have seen in the past and as a result it is challenging to bat up front. But that’s what you like and want to give as an artist.
Has the presence of coach Ricky Ponting helped you in any way?
I’ve always had a great partnership with Ricky. He is the legend of the game. His understanding of the game is second to none and that is what you learn from him as a player. With him you can say that it is kind of extra relaxing and I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with him.
Your opening partner Prithvi Shaw is also batting brilliantly. Has this made your job easier?
He is an exciting player. He has all the shots in the book and doesn’t hold back. It’s like going back to my (Sunrisers) Hyderabad days when Shikhar (Dhawan) and I used to open together. Some days Shikhar will be the attackers and other days I will. Here it is. When I see the earth going well, we make our plans accordingly. Like I said, it’s ultimately about the team and how we can serve the team. That’s our job as opening players for the Capitals.
How is Rishabh Pant shaping up as a captain?
Looks like you two are getting on well. We have formed a real good bond. He is a very talented young man. It’s really fun to be with him and he has a great sense of humour. It is important to remember that he has a lot going for him as a wicketkeeper. He has to set the field, make changes and he is one of our best batsmen. It’s not easy in a fast-paced game. So, as a senior player, my job is to help him in whatever way I can. My role is to support him, make suggestions and then it is up to him to do what he thinks is best for the team.
How is Delhi Capitals tackling the dew problem?
You have never seen so much dew. This makes it very difficult for the bowlers, especially the spinners, to catch the ball. But it’s like that and you can’t complain. So, we are doing special exercises to deal with dew and planning how to deal with it. This is a real challenge. One of the lessons for me from this season of IPL is that there is always something new to learn in our game and that is one such thing.
Many high catches are being missed this season. Even international cricketers are finding it difficult.
this is true. In stadiums the lights are very bright and sometimes it happens that when the balls get too high you lose them. It’s all about practice and you have to be really good at following the ball until the last micro second. Even if you lose the ball for a fraction of a second, you can still miss the chance. This is where you need to practice more and more to get better and get used to the art.
Your social media feed is really entertaining.
We love doing these things to entertain our fans. If you can put a smile on people’s faces, you should always do so. The kind of love we get here in India is unparalleled. Me and my family will always like to give back in whatever way we can. This is what drives us to do more and try new things.
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