I’m not a superstitious person, so I’m not going to hide from the fact that Royal Challengers Bangalore is going through a good phase.
It’s pleasing to see that in addition to RCB being top of the league standings, Virat and Vinay also hold the Orange and Purple caps respectively which is a testimony to our good allround cricket. We know only too well that it would be foolhardy to dwell on the present when there’s still so much left to play for in the tournament. All our hard work is paying off, but we need to continue pulling our weight together and avoid dropping our guard if we are to secure our first objective of an early playoff spot.
The match against Pune Warriors on Tuesday marks the last of three consecutive home games for us before we head on the road for six straight away games. For this reason in particular, it’s crucial for us to take maximum points.
Warriors visit us after a tough loss against Punjab. But they know they will get no sympathy from us.
Richards effect
Meanwhile, I’m happy to see that the IPL has been enriched by the arrival of the legendary Sir Viv Richards who has joined Delhi Daredevils in an advisory role. I don’t think it was a coincidence that in the first game Daredevils played post his appointment, they have produced their best batting display of the tournament so far.
I’m sure his words would have inspired the Delhi players as a motivational speech from him is guaranteed to get the best out of any player.
The idea of motivating and encouraging players, especially the ones who are raw, is something I believe in very strongly. During our net sessions, I get approached by not only the young batsmen in the RCB squad but also those who bowl at me and I do my best to help them out.
Being a seasoned international player, I try to pass on a few tips and lessons from my own experiences in whatever way I believe it can help a young player and it’s something I would like to do.
Bollywood calling?
Away from cricket, my commercial with Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra has quite expectedly got fans asking me the inevitable — would I be interested in acting in a Bollywood flick? My answer is, I haven’t received any offers and in any case, for now I’m enjoying my cricket way too much to be thinking about anything else. Who knows what the future holds! — Professional Management Group
