Starting this week, Gulf News will look back at the 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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00:00Very smart batting from Devdutt Panekar, the youngster. I think he's just showing why he's been the talk amongst…
00:05You know, he's one of those guys people are watching and looking out for.
00:17We're starting an IPL chat with Chirag Suri, upcoming EY opening batsman and a star who has been there and done that for a while.
00:26And I will also introduce to Shyam Krishna, a senior colleague of mine.
00:30Now the IPL, you know, just four matches down the line, we have had all kinds of, you know, all the spice that you need to spice up the tournament.
00:39I mean, you've got a match which went into Super Over. You've got some teams scoring 200.
00:45You've got a wonderful debutant, Devdutt Panekar, still in the show. Four matches into the IPL.
00:51We have kind of seen all the teams save Kolkata Knight Riders, who are starting off a little late with the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, today.
01:01Chirag, four matches down the line. How do you see things panning out?
01:05Do you see a pattern in some of the teams deciding, whoever is winning the toss, they are electing to field first? Is it for the dew factor?
01:16Absolutely. Whether it's Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, dew does come into play in these conditions.
01:21Especially with the humidity levels that are there currently. I think it will only go on during the tournament.
01:29You will see the later evenings, dew will come into a factor. This is 100%.
01:34All the teams who have won the toss have decided to field first. Because they feel with the dew, the ball comes on to the bat a bit better.
01:40Especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Where we come to Sharjah, I feel, because the ground is smaller, teams do like to chase.
01:47Because they feel that a couple of overs here and there, one good over, they can recover and come up with the run rate.
01:53So, I think that was the call that Chennai Super Kings made yesterday. That they felt that if they got 200 also, we can chase it.
02:01But what made the difference yesterday was that Acher was 4-6 at the end.
02:06If that wasn't to be, if they got 190-195, the game would have been a very different game.
02:12Because you saw, Watson and Vijay, they started off very, very calmly. They didn't come out all guns blazing or so.
02:18In four overs or so, they were 29. So, you can always cover up in Sharjah.
02:23You saw Dhoni finishing over 3-6 at the end. You got to see the Dhoni of old.
02:27I think the fans are getting to see exactly what they came for. They've had their money's worth.
02:32You've had a super over. Dhoni's come in. Sanju Samson in all-flar. All the South Indian supporters in all the Carolina.
02:41They are going crazy in UAE. I think not much you can ask for. We are getting live cricket again.
02:45So, it's very exciting, to be honest.
02:47Since you are in the business of opening, we have seen some wonderful innings from Debdutt, as we were saying.
02:54Sanju, of course, has been an old hand at the IPL. We get a feeling that he hasn't got his due so far.
03:01In the Indian team, because of the embarrassment of riches that we have.
03:05So, how do you define these two innings?
03:08Debdutt, for one, he just took those couple of overs to get his I-inning in.
03:14And then, when he got going, my God, it was such a free-flowing exhibition of stroke play.
03:20So, how do you rate these two innings?
03:23Look, definitely, you have to see that Dubai Stadium is a different ground to Sharjah Stadium.
03:29In Sharjah, you have the liberty to get going from the first ball.
03:32Like you saw Sanju Samson, he played at a slight rate of over 200.
03:35Obviously, good with Debdutt Palikaal. He is opening the batting.
03:38So, he can take that time up front.
03:41Because with the new ball, the ball does a bit in these conditions.
03:44You know, the lights, under lights and things.
03:46So, it's okay to take a couple of overs.
03:48You saw even Shane Watson did that yesterday.
03:50And you saw Fab Duplessis do that as well.
03:52So, it's okay to take a couple of overs.
03:54Very smart batting from Debdutt Palikaal, the youngster.
03:56I think he is just showing why he is being the talk amongst…
03:59You know, he is one of those guys people are watching and looking out for.
04:03He is like that guy we want to see.
04:06And we want to see him do well as well.
04:08Because Virat Kohli has spoken a lot about him, RCB.
04:11He has done really well in the domestic side, Mushtaq.
04:13Highest-run scorer.
04:14So, there is a lot of positive signs coming through with, you know, obviously, Debdutt.
04:19And it's good to see him do well at the biggest stage.
04:21You know, against quality opposition, quality bowling attacks.
04:24Very promising for Indian cricket.
04:26Where we come to talk about Sanju Samson, I would agree with you.
04:29You know, he hasn't got his dues.
04:30But you see, yesterday, all the cricketers were tweeting.
04:33Sachin, Gautam Gambhir.
04:34They said, we don't have a better wicket-keeper batsman.
04:37We don't have a better young batsman than Sanju Samson.
04:39You know, Gautam Gambhir went on to say that as well about Sanju Samson.
04:42So, it's obviously very exciting, you know, going around with the composure.
04:47And the way he just goes about his business, I think.
04:49I was remembering the game I played against, you know, India under-19 at Charger Stadium.
04:54And this was in 2014.
04:56And, you know, I was just remembering Sanju just hitting the ball exactly how he was hitting it yesterday.
05:01So, he just comes and threw.
05:03And it landed over the roof of Charger Station yesterday as well.
05:07We saw those big blows.
05:09You know, luckily, we got him out.
05:10I think I caught him, actually, in Long On.
05:12And it had to be that day as well.
05:15He was batting at around 150 strike rate in a 50-over game.
05:18You know, making batting look easy.
05:19And I felt that he just started from where he left off.
05:22He knew the conditions.
05:24He knows Charger is a good wicket to bat.
05:25Targeted straights.
05:26Straight boundaries are small.
05:28And I think he just went and enjoyed himself.
05:30He took charge over the spinners.
05:32With the dew coming in.
05:34Jadeja, Piyush Chawla, bowling too quick.
05:37The quicker you bowl, the further it goes, boss.
05:39You saw Nigiri.
05:41You saw the likes of all these guys go the distance.
05:45The smarter bowlers.
05:46The guys who will bowl into the wicket.
05:48Cutters, lot of variation.
05:50They are the ones who will do very well in this tournament.
05:52You do not pitch the ball up in a Charger stadium.
05:55Half-wits are going for six, you know.
05:57You are not even going to get the middle of the bat.
05:58And the bat is so good these days.
06:00Half-wits are going for six.
06:01So, bowlers will adapt.
06:02They will have to change these strategies.
06:04Dhoni knows that their first game was in Abu Dhabi.
06:07Abu Dhabi and Charger, two completely different…
06:10Diametrically opposite.
06:12Yeah.
06:13So, this is not like, we are in UAE and you are going to get relatively similar wickets.
06:17I don't think so.
06:18Charger is a superb batting wicket.
06:21Small outfield.
06:22So, we will see higher scores.
06:23Dubai, on the other hand, is a bit slower.
06:25So, I feel, guys will take their time, especially initially.
06:28Build a platform.
06:29And then, hit the back-end.
06:31You know, Stoinis did that for Delhi Capitals the other day as well, when we saw.
06:35You know, they were struggling at 150 for 5 or something like that, Delhi.
06:39And then, there was a couple of partnerships.
06:41And Stoinis, back-end.
06:43They just gave him pace.
06:44And then, he took them away.
06:46So, I feel, bowlers have to take pace off.
06:49And batsmen have to hold their shapes and look straight.
06:51I will come to Shyam.
06:52I mean, Shyam was particularly impressed by Devdutt, who comes from his part of the country.
06:58And the thing is, Shyam, one thing about him shows that eventually, for this raw talent,
07:05you have to look at those uncapped players who are doing well in the domestic cricket.
07:11So, your thoughts, Shyam, on Devdutt.
07:13What did you find special about that kid?
07:15What struck me was the fearlessness.
07:17Because I have not seen Devdutt bat before.
07:20But I have been reading that he has been doing well in the domestic circuit.
07:24And he played a very good hand in Karnataka Ranji Trophy fortunes.
07:30But what is remarkable was the fearlessness.
07:33It is his debut.
07:34It is his big stage.
07:36He is playing against some of the best in the business.
07:40And he showed the composure and fearlessness to just get into it and get the job done.
07:47He just went for it.
07:48And to me, that is the best thing.
07:50Because the sheer confidence he showed, that would do him well.
07:55Shyam, another thing.
07:56You see, we have seen all three venues now.
07:59Now, as Chirag was also discussing, I mean, the wickets at Abu Dhabi and Dubai and the one in Sharjah,
08:07they were kind of like chalk and cheese.
08:10So, now, after having seen four games,
08:13the fact that people were saying that it would turn out to be a spinous tournament,
08:17yes, the wickets may get a little tired as the tournament wears on.
08:20But do you also see a scope for the paces?
08:23I mean, if you are a genuine quickie.
08:25Like today, I am looking forward to seeing Bolt and Cummins, you know,
08:29come all guns blazing in Abu Dhabi.
08:32What do you say about it?
08:33I think Rob Pace still has a place in T20.
08:40Yes.
08:41But not to the extent you see in other formats of the game.
08:45But why I say that…
08:47See, yesterday, I was listening to the commentary of KP.
08:50That is, Kevin Peterson was pretty thrilled.
08:53I mean, was chuffed at the fact that Geoffrey Archer was boarding at full pace.
08:58In the post-match session, when the interview, when KP asked the same question to Geoffrey Archer,
09:04Archer's response was,
09:07we need to take the pace of the ball.
09:08We don't want to give them the pace to work with the pace.
09:11I mean, which is exactly what Chirag says now.
09:13Because the faster you board, the faster it goes.
09:17You get it.
09:19Yeah.
09:19But having said that, I go back to my…
09:22I will again re-emphasize the fact that Pace has still got a place.
09:28I will point out a couple of instances from yesterday,
09:31like when Geoffrey Archer was stepping in at 145.
09:34You could see that Watson, Fab Duplessis and Dhoni were hurrying.
09:39See, these are slightly older batsmen.
09:40So, their reflexes are not as good as when they were younger.
09:45So, he got them to hurry through.
09:47He actually…
09:49Even Fab missed a couple of shots.
09:51So, there is a place for Rob Pace.
09:54But it has to be used judiciously.
09:57Chirag, just coming back to you.
09:59You see, these four days, there had been a share of controversy with that…
10:03It's that one-run shot thing which I am talking about for the Kings XI Punjab daily game.
10:09Now, obviously, quite miffed.
10:11The Kings XI management had been talking about, again, a modification of the rules.
10:16I mean, the cricket rules get modified far too quickly, I would say.
10:21But they are saying that for the run-out thing,
10:23also bring it under the purview of the third umpire.
10:27So, what's your take on that?
10:29Look, sir.
10:29You know, Kings XI Punjab, obviously, were on the wrong end of the decision.
10:33Tomorrow, if this had gone their way, they wouldn't have said anything.
10:36But let me tell you, cricket is a very good leveller.
10:39And there will be a time where Kings XI Punjab will…
10:42Things will go towards their favour.
10:44And then, they won't say anything.
10:46And then, they will be okay.
10:47And then, Priti Sinha will be happy.
10:48Because they will be on the right end of the decision.
10:54Yesterday, we saw Dhoni not take the review.
10:57And Jadeja was bowling.
10:59And it was hitting.
11:00It was three reds.
11:01And if he took the review, it was out.
11:03Steve Smith was gone.
11:04But Dhoni…
11:06We said…
11:07Obviously, Mr. Shyam also pointed out.
11:10These guys are getting a bit older now.
11:12So, maybe their reactions, reflexes…
11:14Especially with an archer.
11:16We saw Rabada do well as well.
11:19So, these guys will hurry the batsmen.
11:20You know, we saw Andrew Nortje as well.
11:23He was bowling quick as well.
11:24I think these guys…
11:26Yeah.
11:26These guys will hurry the batsmen, no doubt.
11:28But when you bowl with that kind of pace…
11:31Obviously, it's very difficult to be very, you can say, accurate.
11:36So, if you get it wrong at that pace…
11:38You know, like we did yesterday.
11:39My friend, you are going to go very far in this place.
11:42Because the faster the ball is coming on the bat, it's easier.
11:46As he took pace off, you saw Archer.
11:48You know, he could only get a single.
11:50The other guy also missed the ball.
11:51And they got wickets.
11:52So, I feel they have to learn quickly.
11:54And the teams have to learn quickly.
11:56I think they will really do well.
11:58Especially, these are just the first few games we have seen.
12:00I think teams that will learn, they will start getting better results as we go on.
12:04Before we wrap up, I think it will not be fair if we don't talk a bit about Mayank Agarwal's effort also.
12:11I mean, a guy who had been an out-and-out test-opener.
12:15The way he…
12:15You know, he just believed in taking the match deep.
12:19I mean, that's what he did.
12:21And towards the later half of the innings, what counter-attack he did.
12:25So, your thoughts on that?
12:27I mean, should it be the right approach?
12:29I mean, a opener doesn't mean you have to go bang-bang.
12:32No, I think you can definitely take time.
12:34Dubai, you know, they are chasing 160-odd.
12:35You know, a couple of overs here and there.
12:37You know, you can…
12:38Eight runs and overs, not much.
12:39You know, you can…
12:40Teams are realizing that they can chase, you know, five overs, 50-60 runs at the end.
12:44And which is what they did.
12:45You know, unfortunate that last two balls, they needed one run.
12:49I felt, it was a bit tired.
12:51And you know, the thinking was not quite clear.
12:54Because from that position, you don't leave a game, my friend.
12:57You don't give it to anybody else.
12:58Kings Island, Punjab, you let it slip out of your own…
13:01You know, you can talk about a decision going here and there and not in your favour.
13:05But that game was there for the taking.
13:07Especially after recovering from what they were at.
13:10The way Mayank Agarwal batted to get them there.
13:12He's just thrown it away, you know.
13:14We are not talking about Mayank Agarwal today, you know, because of the situation.
13:19But I felt that they really should have finished the game, you know.
13:22And Mayank Agarwal, you know, again, you would have started talking about him.
13:26You would have been a hero in the situation.
13:27And I felt there, definitely a good effort.
13:31You know, as an opener, he took his first 30-40 balls.
13:34He was playing runner-ball, in fact.
13:36So, you know, I was watching TV with my family.
13:38I was like, you know, what is he doing?
13:39Because on the other hand, losing wickets, I guess he couldn't do much.
13:43And you know, like you said, he wanted to take the game deep and give himself a chance.
13:47Which is exactly what he did.
13:48And you know, tell it to him that he could execute.
13:51And they finished off with 50-odd balls.
13:54But it doesn't quite come off every single time.
13:57And when it doesn't come off, when you have 40-40 balls, it's very difficult to chase 160-plus scores.
14:02So, you have to wait.
14:04It came off, it looks very good.
14:05But if it doesn't, you know, you are there 30 balls, 30 runs, you come out.
14:08We could be saying that, oh, Mayank Agarwal, what kind of innings have you played?
14:12So, it's tough to say, I mean.
14:14But tell it to him that he could deliver.
14:16It's still early days.
14:17It's just about, you know, one-one match each.
14:21The players from England and Australia have come.
14:23But they are very much, they were in the thick of action.
14:26As we saw with Steve Smith yesterday.
14:28I mean, there was no rust, nothing.
14:30He got into the action right from the word go.
14:33So, here's looking forward to some more, you know, absorbing action as the tournament wears on.
14:39And next week, same time, we hope to catch up with you again.
14:43Thank you for your time.
14:44Thank you for your time, Shyam.
14:46Pleasure. Pleasure.
14:47Thank you, sir.
14:48Thank you, Shyam.
14:49Thank you, Vin.
14:50Cheers.
14:53Cheers.