The mainstay of Deccan Chargers’s middle-order says that the lack of fan support, thanks to no proper home venue, has affected their chances.
What is it with defending champions and the IPL? After doing the impossible in the inaugural edition of the IPL, Shane Warne’s motley crew seemed completely out of place in the second season. And now, 2007 wooden-spooners Deccan Chargers, who upset the applecart in South Africa last year, seem to be in familiar territory this time around.
When you have two Australians at the helm of affairs, you reckon the job is half done. Well, that’s exactly what’s happening with the Chargers. Skipper Adam Gilchrist and coach Darren Lehmann have served a half-baked cake that’s difficult to swallow.
At times, they have defied logic and now, after only three wins to show from nine matches, the defending champions need to find inspiration from somewhere. Theoretically, they can still make the semis.
Monday’s two-run loss at the hands of Rajasthan Royals didn’t help things either. Vice-captain Rohit Sharma struck a classy 73 off 44 balls but couldn’t to get the job done in the last over.
“Yes, the boys are disappointed, but we are not down and out. I’m on the team bus now. Can’t you hear the buzz around me?” he told DNA soon after the team landed in Bangalore.
But aren’t five straight losses a cause for concern? “No excuses for losing, but these things happen in Twenty20. We still have five games left. Even if we win four of those, we can make it (to the semis) if our run-rate is healthy,” Rohit, who is DC’s highest run-getter (258) so far, said.
The 22-year-old, considered lucky to have made the World T20 squad, did his detractors a favour by blowing up the opportunity to help his side register a resounding win over Warne & Co.
“I don’t want to prove anything to anyone. I don’t want to take unnecessary pressure on myself. Whenever we have lost, we take it as the failure of the entire team. We don’t blame or single out individuals when we lose a match,” he said.
Rohit said that the lack of a “proper home venue” was one of the biggest reasons for the team’s indifferent show. “That’s the biggest disadvantage. We played Mumbai Indians at DY Patil and not one spectator supported us. Sometimes the crowd factor plays a part. Your supporters give you that extra push in crunch matches,” said the right-hander, whose side has played its ‘home’ games in Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium and Nagpur’s VCA Stadium besides Navi Mumbai.
Statistics point out that the Deccan Chargers give away way too many in the last five overs. Ironically, Monday was different. “I know that’s an issue. But on Monday, we gave away only 31 runs and picked up six wickets in the last five overs. Isn’t that a positive? Our captain and coach have stood by us. We will fight back,” he declares.
Rohit also heaped praise on Gilchrist saying he never puts pressure on the boys. “He is a very supportive captain. He brings about a lot of positivity and tells us to forget about setbacks. We’ll come back strongly,” Rohit reiterated.
Well, Gilly can’t really point fingers after failing to deliver. With 212 runs from nine innings, the Aussie great has squandered many a good start. What’s even more baffling is his persistence to continue with VVS Laxman, who has managed just 64 runs in six innings. But always trust an Aussie to turn things around. There’s still hope. Only time will tell if the champions can find their lost touch.
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