As a coach, Gary Kirsten has such an impeccable record that his name has become a synonym for success. Probably that is the reason that Delhi Daredevils, who finished at the bottom of the points table last IPl season, put the South African at the helm of affairs for the seventh season starting in Dubai from April 16, expecting him to bring similar success for the franchise.
Kirsten, who is happy to be back in India, however, doesn't expect it be a smooth ride as coaching a national side and an IPl one are two completely different things. "I think there are many different things. It's a completely different format to what I have been used to. You get a group of players for eight weeks as opposed to years at times. I think it's a lot quicker, it has lot more intensity. It's a new challenge for me and I am looking forward to it," Kirsten said during a media interaction after Delhi Daredevil's first practice session at the Palam cricket ground here on Wednesday.
One of the first decisions that Kirsten took and even persuaded the franchise owners to accept that was to start the season from scratch. Delhi Daredevils didn't retain a single player from their disastrous 2013 season including the likes of Virender Sehwag and David Warner and went into the IPl auction with full purse.
Many people still question the decision expect it to backfire but Kirsten feels that it was the only way forward. "At the auction we made a decision to select a new squad and not retain anyone from last year. We don't know whether that was the right decision or not but that's what we have gone for," Kirsten said.
Did Delhi Daredevils choose the right combinationIJ Kirsten feels they did. "I think we have good balance in our squad. We have tried to make sure we have good balance and we have options in all sorts of different areas. I am happy with the balance. It allows us to use different options."
But the team's spin department is a bit inexperienced with Shahbaz Nadeem and Rahul Sharma being the two specialist tweakers in the squad. Spinners played a crucial role in the recently concluded World Twenty20 in Bangladesh and considering the similarities in the conditions in Dubai and India, Daredevils might miss one top-class spinner. Kirsten, however, is content his options.
"I don't think we want three specialist spinners in the team. I think two is enough. And we have got (JP) Duminy, he is a frontline spinner these days. So I have got some options," he said.
Asked if last year's controversies and scandals would affect this edition also, Kirsten said, "Unfortunately, it a part of the game and it's certainly not a nice one. The game certainly needs to be cleaned up."
Kevin Pietersen, who was axed from the England team, is going to lead the Daredevils this season. Questioned whether Pietersen's controversial history with the English team did come to his mind when he offered captaincy to him, Kirsten said, "The feedback that I got from the management is that he has been an outstanding player and contributor to the team," said Kirsten.