HYDEARABAD: Adam Gilchrist, captain of Deccan Chargers, admits it is really disappointing to see his team at the bottom of the table in the DLF-Indian Premier League.

“No doubt, it is frustrating. I am not used to losing so many games on the trot since it never happened during my stint with my national team. The people here would have wanted us to be on top of the ladder. And, that would have added value to the investors in the monetary sense also,” Gilchrist told The Hindu, reviewing Deccan’s performance thus far.

On the reaction of the officials of the franchisee, Gilchrist said they obviously had a bigger picture in mind.

“But they are a very understanding lot and have always supported us,” he added.

“We are aware that lack of consistency was one of the key reasons for our failure. I don’t want to blame any one department (bowling or batting) for the position we are in. But we are determined to set things right. We are looking at the IPL with a long-term perspective and not as a one-off edition,” he said.

Referring to the success stories of Aussies like Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh and Luke Pomersbach, Gilchrist said that he viewed it as a significant contribution of the IPL.

“This shows that there is plenty of talent in Australia. Lesser known players have produced some great performances. Hence, the IPL is not just about development of young domestic talent from India but also from all over the world. The standard of the game is going to improve in a big way because of this tournament,” he said.

Gilchrist picked fast bowler Manpreet Gony of Chennai Super Kings as one of the best bowling talents he had seen in the IPL. “But again, it is difficult to judge a cricketer on a long-term perspective by his performance in the Twenty20 format,” he said.

“However, having seen Rohit Sharma a lot, not just for his cricket skills but his personality, character and how he handles himself, I think he has all the attributes to be successful at the highest level. But only if he remains dedicated and is prepared to make lot of sacrifices.”

Gilchrist doesn’t think that age should be a barrier for playing in T20. “If you have the skill and the desire to succeed, complemented by physical fitness, you can do well,” he said.
Source: hindu.com