Spinners will hold key: Gilchrist

Hyderabad
Oct. 6: With the countdown for the cricketing extravaganza — the Champions League T20 — having begun, Deccan Chargers’ skipper Adam Gilchrist and coach Darren Lehmann shifted a gear in the IPL holders’ preparations on Tuesday.
Asked about the plan to fill the vacant opener’s spot left by Herschelle Gibbs (he will play for Cape Cobras in the tournament), Gilchrist said, “Well, we have a lot of players who could play a crucial role in the opener slot. We have guys such as VVS Laxman, Tirumalsetti Suman and Azhar Bilakhia who can do the job for us as they have been openers before... we will take a call on that but we have a healthy set of options with us.”
Gilly was candid in admitting that the burden of expectation will always be there but the team knew how to overcome that. “It’s (burden) always there, no two ways about it. But we also do know that we have to perform even better now and fulfill the expectations that the city of Hyderabad and the state has on us.”
Coach Lehmann pointed out that the role of spinners will be crucial in this tournament.
“We have Ojha (Pragyan) among our ranks who is the best in the business at the moment and is doing the job asked of him. He will play a crucial role as we have seen in both the editions of IPL. His role will be the key,” Lehmann said.
The discussion shifted to the role of Andrew Symonds in the side. Gilchrist said, “I don’t need to tell you what a class act he is. He has proved it to the world and is working extremely hard to be in his best shape possible going into the tournament.”
Everyone was keen to know the factors that led to the Bulls upsetting the favourites in the IPL to clinch a memorable victory. On a lighter note, Lehmann quipped, “The biggest factor was coach Darren Lehmann. Jokes apart, it’s the team. By this we mean, not just the playing XI but the entire squad with the support staff. We are a close-knit group and get along really well. Also, our management has been so supportive that we can’t ask for more and our performances this year has been a true indication of that.”