The ICC World Cup is long over and the IPL 4 has begun in full swing! iSporter Joanne Dsouza wishes bring to you her thoughts on Deccan Chargers, her favorite team and wishes them all the luck. She shares her perspective on the journey the team has had all through the IPL, the team composition and their strengths and weaknesses. Find out more.
The Deccan Chargers have had a roller-coaster ride in the IPL - From finishing last in the first season to winning the second edition. But the mercurial team couldn't withstand the heat brought on by the Chennai Super Kings in the semi-finals of IPL 3. A fourth place finish, ruling out participation in the Champions League as well, obviously didn't go down well with the promoters. As a result of which what we have is a completely refurbished team. A team which, though, nicely balanced on paper, seems to lack a certain panache, or, you know, charge!
When I look back at the erstwhile Deccan Chargers team, the first thing I recollect is the crackling top-order batting line-up -the benevolent captain Gilchrist, the explosive Symonds, and the stylish Laxman. All three will surely be missed as the franchise lost them in a fiercely fought war, commonly referred to as the IPL Auctions. (As an aside though, may I add that I'm looking forward to Symonds' stint at Mumbai Indians- it holds the promise of fireworks not just in the batting department! I hope there's not too much monkeying around *wink*). Another set-back in the batting department is the unavailability of Kevin Pietersen, who recently underwent surgery and is unlikely to play.
However, they do have stellar names on paper- the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, J P Duminy, Cameron White bring in excitement and experience to the batting line-up. Shikhar Dhawan has shown flashes of brilliance in his stints with Delhi & Mumbai. (Lets ignore the uninspiring duck in the finals against the Chennai Super Kings, shall we?) Michael Lumb, didn't exactly play any unforgettable innings while with the Rajasthan Royals, but his overall T20 record proves he can be an asset. Dwarka Ravi Teja is another promising candidate. With an impressive domestic record, he will be one player to watch out for. Let's hope the all show up at the run fest!
On the bowling front, Dale Steyn is the one who truly and completely lives upto the name Charger. In a format that favours batsmen; precise bowling can make all the difference. Steyn, with his lethal bowling is definitely a key weapon in the Deccan arsenal. Ishant Sharma will be expected to play a crucial role in fortifying the pace attack. (Hey Ishant, here's a tip- the selectors are watching, show'em why they made a mistake in ignoring you for the World Cup!) Amit Mishra & Pragyan Ojha, both with test experience, will be key in the spin department. A special mention has to be made here for Daniel Christian. While veterans like Ganguly and Jayasuriya were being cast aside without so much as a second glance, the rookie from New SouthWales was picked up for an obscene amount that was 18 times his base price of USD 50000. A fast bowler, he can also add depth to the batting. It'll be interesting to see how the Chargers carve out his role.
Another interesting food for thought is the role of the captain. Kumar Sangakkara had a bad run with the Kings XI Punjab last year. And though, he has done an admirable job of leading his national side, he stepped down from captaincy after their loss in the World Cup final. He will need to rally together an assorted bunch of talented players to become a formidable team. All in all, a team with just the right mix of singular elements, the Deccan Chargers will have to find a way to fire up early, and prove their money's worth!
Here's wishing then all the luck as they kick-start their innings at IPL 4.
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