With their 41-year-old skipper Adam Gilchrist looking to bid IPl goodbye anytime, Kings XI Punjab have done well to zero in on a future captain. Coach Darren lehmann tells Garima Verma that David Hussey fits the bill
For Kings XI Punjab, Adam Gilchrist has been that axle which has kept the side’s Indian Premier league wheel in motion. Sometimes the speed might not have been able to match the big sides like that of Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians, but they have tried their best to steadily reach better results.
At 41, the Australian skipper would not be able to lead his forces for too long. In the last edition itself, the wicketkeeper batsman had almost called it quits, but chose to stick around for another year. But coach Darren lehmann is not a worried soul as a certain David Hussey has been looking good to take the baton whenever the time comes. “Adam (Gilchrist) is certainly the most important player of this side. He has been performing the role of captain cum coach for quite some time,” says lehmann.
“But good thing is that this side doesn’t revolve around him,” he adds, exuding confidence that the side was more than equipped to deal with life without Gilly, who has been surprising many by playing one year after another, his fitness and form as enviable as ever.
“Even at 41, Adam knows how to have fun while playing. He is as passionate as ever. He takes every training session, every match as a challenge. And, I think that is what keeps him going strong,” lehmann tells one.
“David (Hussey) sowed these (leadership) qualities in the opportunities that he got last year. We are definitely looking at him as a future leader of the side,” he adds, but conveniently sidesteps the question whether the younger of the Hussey brothers could have even helped the current struggling Australian side and proved a strong bat like his retired brother Michael in the Ashes this year.
“As a player for Australia, he can do his bit no doubt, but that is something that depends on the Australian team management. I am very happy to have him in Kings XI.”
Having been a part of 2009 champions Deccan Chargers, lehmann’s job at Kings XI hasn’t been without its challenges.
“I had a great time with Deccan, winning a title. But that team doesn’t exist now. That story is over. I am happy that Kings XI wanted me to work with them. This side has so much talent but somehow the results have never been worthy of them,” the former Australian cricketer says of his move.
“It’s exciting to have youngsters like Mandeep (Singh) and Manan (Vohra) and see them proving themselves from time to time. All we had to do was identify individual roles for all the players and help them contribute more effectively,” lehmann says, adding that now before every training session there is a meeting which clearly specifies each and every player’s role for the day and an approaching match.
A white board with scribbling on it is a prominent member of Kings’ practice session and all the players greet it and take instructions before the warm-up. And, the discipline has been showing well in their recent fixtures, fielding particularly coming in for praise. “We are not yet thinking about far away goals. We are just taking each and every match as it comes. last edition also Kings XI had almost got themselves into the knockouts. Had they won one match they might have reached there,” lehmann says.
“This is a long tournament. Teams starting well can fumble towards the end, and those who began well might throw some surprises later. So, it’s very important to maintain consistency and that is what we are aiming at.”
Before going down to Chennai Super Kings by 10 wickets in Mohali this Wednesday, Kings XI had started their IPl-6 campaign with an eight-wicket win over Pune Warriors. “The gap between the teams in the IPl is narrowing down. It is difficult to predict results now. The bowling and fielding standards of so-called weaker sides are catching up with the big-spending, big-star teams.
“This IPl would be the most interesting one as far as contest between the teams is concerned,” the coach says, suggesting all to keep an eye on the lesser ones.