Dinda is India’s no. 1 pacer
It’s always nice to start a tournament with a win especially against a good side like Mumbai on their home ground. It sounds funny when I call Mumbai an away match. It was my home for 15 long years when I played for India.
But the fact of inter- city rivalry unique to this tournament has now made Pune my home. It was very pleasing to see the W a n k h e d e a b s o l u t e l y packed and the stadium buzzing with fans. There were doubts about IPL V clicking and bringing people to the grounds this year but the cricket- loving people of this country have again lived up to it.
Pune are a young side and this win will help them gain confidence and also settle down. I would say it was a good team effort, where everyone chipped in either in batting, bowling or fielding. The intensity on the field was good and it will be important to hold on to this in the coming games.
This is just the start of the tournament, lot of permutation and combination are still in store. So there is no point in going overboard after just one win.
The win though is important in many ways. Firstly, it was our first game and a positive early p e r f o r m a n c e helps a team settle down. Secondly, it was an away game and in a long league of 16 matches in a home- and- away format it is very important to pick up points on others’ grounds.
Thirdly, when you put it across a good side like Mumbai, defending a small total, the con- fidence factor of the team is taken care of and the momentum swings your way. Now it will be our responsibility to hold on to this start in the coming games.
In a team sport it has to be combined effort but individual contributions count. Robin and Steve Smith put their best foot forw a r d w i t h the bat a n d when it came to bowling everyone, to whom I threw the ball to put their hand up.
I must make special mention of Ashok Dinda. I have been saying throughout the season that Dinda is India’s number one fast bowler at the moment and his deeds continue to prove me right. He needs to be constantly given games with the n a t i o n a l colour on. He has a big heart, is willing to work hard and has a mind to learn quickly. I am sure he will be benefitted by spending the entire IPL with someone like Alan Donald.
Our batting needs attention. Now that the bowlers have shown what they are capable of, the batters will need to come to the party. We have capable guys and I am sure once the nerves settle, the batters will also be wanting to put their hands- up. With exuberance in fielding and the bowlers fulfilling their task, if our batting gets going Pune should give lot of teams a run for their money.
— ( 360 Corporate Relations)