'We have to execute what we have planned'

MUMBAI: The onus is on the Delhi Daredevils players to execute the elaborate plans chalked out by the team's think-tank during their IPL semi-final tie here on Friday against table toppers Rajasthan Royals, captain Virender Sehwag said on Thursday.
    
"Our planning is complete for the match and now we have to execute those plans. Both sides are equally matched," the flamboyant India opening batsman told a media conference ahead of the tie at the Wankhede Stadium.
     
Sehwag felt that with the stadium track helping the bowlers in the first half of previous ties, winning the toss would induce the captains to put the other side in.
     
"I have seen in previous matches that the ball does a bit in the first half of the match and in the second half batting is easier. Both teams have good bowlers and shot selection is important," Sehwag said.
     
The Delhi swashbuckler felt that regaining momentum once lost in this format was difficult. "It's difficult to regain the momentum if we lose it in this format," he said.
     
About his batsmen's prospects in facing the tournament's most successful bowler (21 wickets) Sohail Tanvir, Sehwag said the key was to play each ball on its merit. "We will play Tanvir on the merit of the ball (he delivers)," he said.
     
Sehwag denied that his middle order was brittle and pointed out how wicket keeper Dinesh Kaarthick (56 not out) and Manoj Tiwary (36 run out) had bailed the team out in their previous must-win tie against Mumbai Indians.

 
Chasing Mumbai Indians' 176, Delhi were struggling at 89 for four in the eleventh over when Tiwary and Kaarthick stitched the vital stand of 41 runs in less than five overs to set Delhi Daredevils on the path to a crucial win in the do-or-die encounter at the Ferozshah Kotla.
     
"Dinesh and Manoj won the match for us. They may not have got hundreds and 50s earlier, but were getting 20s and 30s," he added.
     
Sehwag said that his team had enough experience in the ranks to handle the pressure of a knock-out match which, he said, was different to the "normal tie".
     
"We have experienced international players like (Glenn) McGrath, Farvez Maharoof, Shoaib Malik, myself, Dinesh Kaarthick and others. They know how to handle the pressure of a semi final which is different from the pressure which exists in a normal tie," he said.
     
On Younis Khan, who has recently joined the rival ranks, Sehwag said that the experienced Pakistan player cannot be dismissed lightly in this format as he was capable of hitting a hundred in twenty overs.
     
"Younis Khan is a world class player who's capable of getting a 100 in 20 overs," he explained.
 
Team adviser Dennis Lillee felt that the team's three matches were more or less "finals" and the experience would stand the squad in good stead.
      
"To me it's important that we played three finals to get here. If that's not good preparation for us nothing else is," he said referring to some crucial matches the team won after losing four in-a-row that put them under severe pressure.
      
Delhi won by 12 runs on May 15 against Deccan Chargers at home, lost to King's XI, Punjab on May 17 at home by D/L method, won by five wickets against Royal Challengers on May 19 at Bangalore, split two points equally when rain washed out the tie against Knight Riders on May 22 at the Ferozshah Kotla before beating Mumbai Indians by five wickets two days later at the same venue.
      
The Australian pace great singled out V Yo Mahesh from his team as the young pacer who had impressed him the most.       

"This is a format where bowlers are taken to the cleaners often. Yo Mahesh has done very well for us. He's been bowling very well. Surrounded by veterans (including fellow-Aussie McGrath) he's one pace bowler who's probably stood out for us", Lillee said.
      
The pace guru said that in Twenty20 format it's advisable to concentrate on keeping down the runs.
      
"In this format of cricket it's important to find out areas on which to bowl which will prevent you as a bowler from being hit and not try too hard in taking wickets. We have a very good bowling combination who back up each other," he elaborated.