Gulf News looks back at this week's action of the T20 cricket showpiece now underway in the UAE. Chirag Suri, UAE’s opening batsman who was a part of IPL 2017, will be chatting with our cricket pundits.
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00:00With the two line-ups that we have, I feel that today, it will be a bit of a change for the Royals.
00:04You know, played a couple of games in Sharjah. You know, coming to Dubai Stadium, I feel that they'll have to have different strategies.
00:19We are back again for the second episode of our IPL 2020 in UAE.
00:24A player review with Chirag Suri. Our weekly dose of the IPL with Chirag. He is the UAE opening batsman.
00:31A former IPL player with the Gujarat Lions. I've got Shyam Krishna, my colleague.
00:36Hello.
00:37I think we are kind of still recovering from a dose of first Rahul Teotia. Then came the next day, it was Ishan Kishan.
00:45And after that, it was… I was a little relieved to see Sanity returned in yesterday's match when we were chasing past scores.
00:54You know, Spinners coming into play, etc. So, it's been a great week for IPL.
00:59What happened was, in the afterglow of Rahul and Ishan Kishan's innings, a few splendid innings have got a little unrecognised or overshadowed.
01:12For example, Mayank Agarwal's century. My first question is, what? Are you still recovering? Were you expecting something like this?
01:20I think, firstly, nobody can expect something like this. The way the tournament has gone so far, I think these first 10 games have been nothing short of…
01:29You can say that this is all like… We could have never imagined something like this. This is what the doctor had ordered.
01:36Cricket coming back. IPL coming back to the UAE. Finally, guys get to see some competitive cricket. I think this is exactly what the doctor ordered.
01:45I think it's been unlimited excitement. You've said it all. We've seen everything this past week.
01:52The Dubai wicket and the Abu Dhabi wicket on one side. Let's take the RR Kings XI game on one side. And the Sharjah wicket on another side.
02:01So, Sharjah, the 200 or even 220 is turning out to be the past score. So, the next game, when it comes up there…
02:10You have played enough of your cricket there to say what could be the way to win matches there.
02:15Because you cannot go on… If 216 was the highest chase, that was overall the other day. So, where do you stop?
02:23You still have got about 10 games to go in Sharjah. And then there may be hosting one or two other play-offs also.
02:28So, what ought to be the bowler's strategy? Because that day, after Cottrell got hammered, when Shami came back,
02:37a bowler with those two lovely overs that he bowls in the opening spell, he came and he was digging it in short.
02:44So, what should be the solution there?
02:47To be honest, in Sharjah, the room for error is very, very small, Gautam Sir. I think it's very, very important for the bowlers to realise…
02:55Look, we are going to go for the run. As long as we stick to a plan, I feel Yorkers is the best way out for fast bowlers.
03:02I think the boundaries in Sharjah are very short. Especially square and behind the wicket.
03:06So, if you are going short, even you are seeing top-edgers go for six in Sharjah.
03:09So, I don't feel with that kind of pace, you want to go short. Maybe Yorkers. I think that's the only way.
03:14Or just try to get the guys out. I think that's the best way. If it hits their bat, it's most probably going to go out of the stadium.
03:19I think a lot of the guys have been saying, we all hope that 2020 is pulled off like a Rahul Divatiya.
03:26Doing a Divatiya. Everybody is saying that.
03:32We want 2020 to do a Rahul Divatiya as well. Because the way the guy… He was struggling.
03:38He was finding it so hard to put bat on ball. And then, for his first 20 deliveries, over the course of the next six balls from Cotrell,
03:44the game just completely changed. He got five sixes. So, I think, in cricket, like everybody we have been hearing, you never know with cricket.
03:52I think you just got to back yourself. You got to keep believing in yourself and back your abilities.
03:56I think it was… We have seen commentators telling everybody that we hope that Divatiya should just get himself out.
04:04He should just hit wickets. Run himself out. There was all that kind of chat going on.
04:09And they said, what is he doing? And after those six balls, I think everything changed.
04:13That's how life is. You see 10 people pointing fingers at you. And then suddenly, when you do well,
04:19everybody is going on the same trumpet that, oh wow, he has done a Rahul Divatiya.
04:26We hope 2020 does a Rahul Divatiya and stuff like that. So, this is a prime example of how you become from a zero to a hero.
04:33This is IPL for you. This is IPL. One day you are there. One day you are there.
04:37So, it is very important for these players not to be involved in the emotion of the game.
04:41Because otherwise, you will be fluctuating so much. We spoke about those guys like West Indians.
04:46They don't care about results. Today, they are doing well. Tomorrow, they are not doing too well.
04:50Their emotions are very, very similar. They are enjoying themselves either way.
04:54This is what these youngsters in the IPL. We have seen so many people do well.
04:58Even like the Paul Valthati's in the old age.
05:01Oh yes.
05:02So, you know, those guys have done so well. And then their emotions have been way up there.
05:07Popularity, the fan, the craze, all these things. And now you see a Rahul Divatiya emerge the same way.
05:14When you watched that Paul Valthati century, how old were you? You were a real cricketer, not that tender.
05:20Yeah, yeah. I think it's very important as a cricketer, you know, we analyse these things.
05:24Because you get to learn a lot. Because he was a one-season hit or a two-season hitter.
05:30And then he was forgotten. You know, what was the reason?
05:32It was obviously that the lack of consistency in his approach or fluctuation in emotion and these kind of things.
05:38Because you can't consistently go on every single year. We know that.
05:42You know, you see the Virat Kohli's at the time right now.
05:45You know, there's debate. What is the role of a Kane Williamson or a Virat Kohli in an IPL format?
05:51Are they going to be playing an anchor role? Or are they getting confused?
05:57Because the wickets are so good and they are chasing 200 runs.
06:00So, they have to go from ball number one.
06:02So, you know, yesterday you saw obviously Kane Williamson come back in the side.
06:06And I think that was a great change by Sunrisers.
06:08I think it worked in their favour.
06:10Even leaving a specialist T20 player like Mohamed Nabi.
06:14I think it worked in their favour because the runs he got were very crucial.
06:17They got them to that 160 score which was, to be honest, I still believe was a chaseable target.
06:23I felt that Delhi were a bit slow out of the box yesterday.
06:27And my man Rishabh Pant really needs to step his game up with the pressure coming from Sanju Samson and Ishaan Kishan.
06:34Ishaan Kishan is a terrific wicket-keeper as well.
06:37You will see him.
06:38I feel in the next few games, Quinton de Kock as well might be switched for Chris Lin.
06:43I am sensing that.
06:43I think that could be a good change.
06:45Because Chris Lin knows these wickets very well.
06:47So, if Chris Lin comes to the top of the order, get some quick runs for Mumbai.
06:51I think that's what is lacking.
06:53I think Chris Lin as well in the T10 and these leagues, he has done superbly well.
06:57Even last year when I was playing him, he was hitting the ball for fun.
07:00So, I feel that you should definitely bring in Chris Lin and Ishaan Kishan with the gloves.
07:05You got Kishan doing well.
07:06You got Sanju Samson.
07:07Got to see Rishabh Pant carry on.
07:10I think he is smiling.
07:11He is enjoying his cricket, which was good to see yesterday.
07:13But he has got to take some responsibility with the likes of Ajinkya Rahane and sitting out in the Delhi Capitals dugout.
07:18This is one question I would come back to, Shyam, for a while.
07:22When you are looking at wicket-keeper batsmen, you have got a problem of plenty, as Chirag pointed out.
07:27You have got Samson.
07:28You have got Ishaan Kishan, who, in fact, he has been sidelined in the Bombay squad a bit
07:34after the initial promise.
07:36So, that he served a reminder to everybody.
07:39So, now with this problem of plenty, Shyam, do you think...
07:44I mean, just a little moving out of the IPL, but I think still a relevant question.
07:49Do we still need to put that kind of pressure on KL Rahul to multitask?
07:57Or you pick and choose from one of these guys?
08:00We don't have to.
08:01When you have a specialist wicket-keeper, why would you go in for somebody who is doing a stop-gap job?
08:07Finally, maybe a T20, but still, you need a specialist to do a specialist job.
08:12Absolutely.
08:13Everything is fine till Rahul makes a crucial draw.
08:18And then you pile on him and say that that is not the way to go.
08:21So, I still think you need a specialist to do a specialist job.
08:26I know Rahul Dravid did that for a while, because that's out of sheer necessity.
08:30We couldn't lose out on a good batsman like that.
08:32But here, in the case where we have equally good batsmen and much better wicket-keepers, why not?
08:39So, I would look at Rahul as a wicket-keeping option.
08:43Also, Shyam sir, that Rahul Dravid, he also wanted to keep, because he was trying to have his place in the one-day side.
08:49You have to see that as well.
08:51He wanted to have that extra thing, because it was a time where the one-day side was getting competitive.
08:58And for Rahul Dravid to make the side, he had to do that.
09:00So, I think, if KL Rahul is not in that position, and we can look at a wicket-keeper, like you said, a specialist,
09:07I think, why wait for him to make a mistake and then jump on him?
09:11Do it before.
09:12We have the options right now.
09:13In the past, we have not had the options.
09:15We clearly have the options right now.
09:17So, I think, you weigh it up.
09:19And there is a lot of talent coming through.
09:21You should give them an opportunity.
09:24Over these two weeks, we have been talking about all the batsmen and their exploits.
09:28Now, as the tournament is into its second week, I think, the role of the spinners is also kind of getting defined.
09:36I mean, you had the other day, Kolkata Knight Riders, they kind of followed a very much, what I feel was Eden Gardens template for them.
09:45I mean, play three spinners, bring in that Varun Chakravarti.
09:49How did you find him?
09:49I mean, he was a bit of an enigma.
09:52When Kings XI Punjab picked him up for a prohibitive sum, he came in for a bit of criticism.
10:00I think he didn't get a match there.
10:02Here also, he had come in as a kind of gamble.
10:05It worked.
10:07He picked up Warner's wicket.
10:09Then, yesterday also, we saw.
10:11So, as the tournament progresses, I mean, which are the spinners who have kind of impressed you?
10:18You don't have to talk about Rashid Khan.
10:19We know a lot about him.
10:21But about others, what's your take on that?
10:24The usual suspects are there.
10:26You know, the likes of Yuzhinder Chahal.
10:28He's been doing really well with the ball.
10:30I think a couple of balls, Paul Ard has got under him.
10:34But you can't take away the way he's been bowling, I think, throughout the tournament.
10:38You know, getting guys bowled through the gate and things like that.
10:40So, he's definitely done well.
10:42I think, see, the likes of Varun Chakravarti and these mystery spinners, you like to call them.
10:48You know, the fact that they have this sort of a mystery to them.
10:51It's very difficult to line them up from the first delivery.
10:54Because nobody really knows, you know, much about them.
10:56They haven't played much against each other.
10:58So, it's always difficult to line them up initially, I think.
11:02Especially in the first few games.
11:03But as you see these spinners go, you know, we've had Ajanta Mendes and they were really good initially.
11:09But to last and to be consistent, I think, only I think Rashid Khan has really been able to do that.
11:14We still haven't seen some of the mystery spinners, you know, be consistently performing season after season after season.
11:20Maybe it's about work, I think.
11:21Maybe it's just about strategy.
11:23Maybe it's just naturally so talented.
11:25It could be a mix of many things.
11:27But I'll definitely like to see some more spinners coming through.
11:31I think I would have thought that Dubai Stadium, because of the size of the ground, that the spinners would be a bit more effective.
11:36Because they could toss the ball up more.
11:39But, you know, the way Shan Kishan and Pollard have batted, they've made every boundary look small.
11:43They've been clearing the field with ease.
11:45So, we really don't know.
11:46Is this a spinners' tournament?
11:48Is this not?
11:48Because, you know, UAE, in the past, I've spoken to guys like Shreyas Iyer and the buddies of mine.
11:54And I said, boss, these are usually slow-turning wickets.
11:57Because this is what we get in the UAE.
11:59Whether we've seen series in the past, you know, Dubai Stadium, Shahjah, the ball does turn, grips, so spinners come into play.
12:05But I feel with the way these guys are batting currently and the wickets that are being prepared, I think they are batting really good wickets.
12:13So, I think the spinners will take some time.
12:16I think maybe as the pitchers get a bit tired, as the tournament goes, you'll see a bit of tiredness in the wickets.
12:21So, they'll slow down a little bit.
12:22So, I think the spinners will start to come in on their own after that.
12:27I think, yesterday, Natarajan, you know, for example, superb at the depth.
12:31Sandy, superb at the depth.
12:32You know, they've just stuck to simple plans.
12:35They've gone in and tried to hit a Yorker.
12:36Just keep things simple.
12:37You know, when people have given length balls, I think the best of the best have gone out of the park, you know.
12:42So, you've got to learn from these things.
12:45And the faster the teams learn and adapt, I think the easier it's going to be for them.
12:50And we've got to see that in the last few games.
12:54Shyam, it's still early days.
12:55We see Rajasthan Royals with two wins from two games.
13:00They're at the top of the table.
13:01Now, then they're followed by Delhi, now, who have lost a game.
13:06Now, Royals, of course, the run did that day, thanks to Mr. Tevatiya.
13:12That has helped them to be where they are.
13:14So, what's your take?
13:16How do you see the next week panning out?
13:18Will it be any different?
13:19What are your expectations?
13:21You're already seeing a little bit of change, if yesterday's game is any indication.
13:25Yesterday, we found a power score of 160 was good enough to defend.
13:29But provided you defend well.
13:31When they had early wickets, it was almost like a textbook game for a headband.
13:37But Sharjah, we will continue to see this same kind of high-scoring game.
13:42But I'm beginning to get the feeling that, especially Dubai, the pitch is slowing down.
13:48And yesterday, Rabada was saying, the pitch they played was two-paced.
13:52So, when a pitch is two-paced, the scoring becomes difficult.
13:56Which is why Delhi ran into trouble there.
13:59At no point, they could accelerate.
14:01Rishabh Pant struggled all along.
14:02So, we might see the scores of that in the coming weeks.
14:08Especially in Dubai.
14:09But Rabada may be going the same way.
14:14And also, Sharjah.
14:15Sharjah, we will continue to see lots of runs.
14:18Chirag, I think the viewers would like to get a final word from you about today's game.
14:24A bit of an intriguing game.
14:25Kolkata Nitraters, they have travelled.
14:27They will be travelling to Dubai.
14:29Or as we speak, they are possibly travelling.
14:31They are the first game in the Dubai Stadium.
14:34With Royals.
14:34Royals are on a high.
14:36What's your take on this game?
14:37Look, I feel, with the two line-ups that we have, I feel that today, it will be a bit of a change for the Royals.
14:44You know, played a couple of games in Sharjah.
14:46You know, coming to Dubai Stadium.
14:48I feel that they will have to have different strategies.
14:51Maybe some of the batsmen will have to take some time to get set and things like that.
14:55KKR is also a very balanced team.
14:58And they are starting to get things together now with their line-ups and everything.
15:03So, I don't want to take any calls.
15:05But I feel that, I think these conditions better suit to a KKR line-up than a Rajasthan line-up.
15:12So, I think I would go with the KKR today.
15:13You know, stop the Rajasthan win streak.
15:17Chirag and Knox for a while.
15:18Yeah.
15:20They have absolutely come to the party, I think.
15:22Rajasthan Royals, what a great start they have had to the tournament.
15:25Their top players are stepping up.
15:27You know, I was speaking to a couple of the guys.
15:28And they said, you know, when you are living in this bio-bubble sort of a situation,
15:33it's very important to be…
15:35You know, you have to gel with your own team.
15:37Because, to be honest, you are not interacting with many people outside.
15:40You know, it's not like the usual IPL where you are interacting with thousands of people outside.
15:45We have seen in the past, teams like Rajasthan Royals, they don't have like, you know, star players.
15:51You know, they don't have like those Virat Kohli's or Rohit Sharma's.
15:56See, they have got the big four.
15:58I mean, now there are reports of Stokes joining the squad.
16:02Yeah, yeah.
16:03But at the same time, you know, with those Indian stars, you know, the hybrids…
16:08Indian stars.
16:09Yeah, those Indian stars are definitely like the superstars, you know, like we know.
16:13So, I feel that this team always gels well.
16:15And in a bio-bubble situation, for the next two months, they are going to be together.
16:19So, I feel the team that gels well off the field as well is going to be very, very crucial.
16:24So, this is why you will see the likes of, you know, the Delhi Capitals, Punjab, Rajasthan Royals.
16:29I think these teams, I feel that they are going to be going into the top four.
16:34It's their time.
16:34It's their time.
16:36Exactly.
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