Date:27/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/27/stories/2008052755901800.htm

Sport - Cricket

‘It should be an exciting match’

V. V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD: Kepler Wessels, coach of Chennai Super Kings, said he would prefer to focus on what his team has to do rather than worry about what is going wrong with Deccan Chargers which has lost all its six games at home.

Wessels, however, felt that Chargers was a very dangerous side which had a lot of match-winners in its ranks.

“It should be an exciting match as both teams will be playing really good, aggressive cricket with a lot of passion,” he said. “Overall, we have played well and are pretty satisfied with our performance in the IPL.”

The Chennai coach, while admitting that there would be pressure on his side, said, “it is always good to play a match for a semifinal slot than for nothing.

“If we bat as well as we did against Rajasthan Royals, we will have a chance here. We are looking for more firepower in bowling. It is a fact that the bowlers were punished badly on a very good pitch in the last match. However, it is important to remember that they have been bowling superbly right through,” Wessels said.

Pat for Gony, Badri

He complimented Manpreet Gony for bowling well with the new ball. “I think he is the find of the IPL and for Indian cricket.”

Wessels also picked Suresh Raina and S. Badrinath for special mention. “Badri is one guy who has been really impressive among the domestic pool of cricketers.”

On his experience as a coach, the former South Africa and Australia cricketer said he was really enjoying it. “It is taxing but not too taxing,” he said.