Zaheer’s captaincy shows mentors making a mark

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Daredevils players this week had a strenuous training session under floodlights at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground.

A match situation was simulated where the batsmen chased a big target with the bowlers asked to counter that. Supervising the training was former India pace spearhead, Zaheer Khan, appointed skipper this season to boost a team which has not crossed the semifinal in IPL’s eight seasons.

The left-arm pacer is 37, and last played for India in a Test two years ago. He used to break down repeatedly before that, but Daredevils are counting on Zaheer as a mentor while his role as a frontline bowler will depend on fitness.

Daredevils seem to have taken a leaf out of India’s book. India recalled Ashish Nehra ahead of the World Twenty20. He was excellent, bowling at the start and finish, while skipper MS Dhoni drew on the 36-year-old’s experience to decide tactics during matches and to guide other bowlers.

Twenty20 was seen as a young man’s game initially due to the physical demands it makes but seniors have asserted themselves. Zaheer joined Daredevils midway through the last season and even won a Man-of-theMatch award for a spell of 4-1-9-2 against Chennai Super Kings. Daredevils though finished seventh, one rung from the bottom. “He is fit and eager to play. That is the best thing. He has loads of experience and it is important to share this

knowledge with the young kids. He was helping the bowlers last year but as captain, he will be more helpful,” said Daredevils CEO Hemant Dua.

IPL teams ensure that they pick players who can also mentor talent. Dhoni, as Rising Pune Supergiants skipper, can consult Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma and South Africa T20 skipper, Faf du Plessis.

Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Shikhar Dhawan can depend on Nehra, who will also be expected to mentor young Bangladesh paceman, Mustafizur Rahman.

Mumbai Indians will hope Lasith Malinga quickly recovers from the injury which sidelined the the Sri Lanka paceman in the WT20. Malinga’s influence is seen in Jasprit Bumrah’s ability to effectively bowl yorkers in the death overs.

The Suresh Raina-led Gujarat Lions can bank on Dale Steyn and Praveen Kumar while Kings XI Punjab have Mitchell Johnson.

Zaheer’s role will be even more crucial as Daredevils have three left-arm pacers in their ranks --Pawan Suyal, Chama Milind and Khaleel Ahmed.