Q. What is currently annoying the players more — Covid-19 or the pressing heat of the UAE?
A. Well, it is really very hot, especially during the day. Weather is dry and the sun is very harsh. However, during the evenings, heat does not bother much.
Q. How was your experience, from the quarantine to the nets?
A. This is an unprecedented and very difficult situation. Nobody is used to this routine. You have to follow the whole protocol, you cannot go out of the hotel room — just to the ground. Masks are worn, trackers are put on to maintain social distancing. Even after following the whole protocol, whenever we are on the ground, our all effort is focused on the game.
Q. How do you see the infantry of Delhi Capitals? Do you feel the team is ready for the challenge?
A. Yes, this time the team is absolutely balanced. We have also done a dozen practice sessions here in here in Dubai, the players who did not get a chance to play amid the pandemic, all of them are apparently back in the rhythm. Some new faces have also come into the team, giving the team a lot of experience. Ajinkya Rahane, R. Ashwin, Stoinis, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi — the team is in fine equilibrium.
Q. The team has got a deadly arsenal of the left-handers, are they in good touch?
A. Absolutely, I and Ricky Ponting were surprised that the players, despite playing after a long time, are in good touch, you see the way they were hitting the ball in the nets, it is surprising. Shikhar Dhawan, who played very well last year, is also ready. Rishab Pant is in a good rhythm. We have got a lot of efficacious options.
Q. What are your views regarding the role of Rishabh Pant in the team? After the retirement of M.S. Dhoni, people have myriad expectations from him…
A. His role is fixed, he has to finish. The number at which he will play is not finalised yet but we are expecting him to play at least ten to twelve overs and score efficiently. Rishabh Pant is a promising player with tremendous capability. He also won important matches for the team last year.
Q. Considering the conditions, spinners will play a crucial part in the game this year. How prepared is the battery of the spinners for the IPL?
A. Yes, the role of spinners has always been considered important, we have a quality spinner like Amit Mishra who is in a good rhythm; he also performed well last time. Moreover, we have Ashwin, Lamichhane and Sandeep too. It would be difficult for us to decide who will play and who won’t because all of them are looking in good form.
Q. What do you think about Sandeep? He has played many T20 leagues.
A. He plays league matches all over the world and he has a lot of ability. He is young and inspiring. However, right now he is not in the UAE, he is playing CPL. He will join us soon.
Q. Recently, Ashwin and Ponting were all over the news over mankading. What do you think of it?
A. Yes, all of us know about the discussion. However, to cut it short, Ashwin has got numerous variations and he keeps on press- ing and challenging the batsman. It is not easy to hit him. He makes
it difficult for the batsman to play the shots. He is very talented and is in a good form and we are hop- ing that he would scalp many wickets using his tactics and the variation.
Q. Do you think Ricky Ponting would be looking at Ashwin as a trump-card?
A. Yes, Ashwin has a lot of experience, he can bowl in the power play, he can bowl in the middle and he can bowl in the death. And we are very excited that Ashwin is in our team. His inclusion in the squad has given us an upper hand.
Q. And there is Akshar Patel in your team who is a very good left-arm spinner. Do you feel that this time you have the best spin attack?
A. Yes, of course, if we talk about the experience, then we have all the spinners who are experienced. Everyone has an experience of at least four years. Ashwin, Akshar Patel, and Amit Mishra have been playing IPL for a long time, and have also played for India, and they know about their role in the team. We have an experienced spin attack.