JOIN US The Delhi paceman is fortunate to share the same dressing room space as Dale Steyn, the number one fast bowler in the world, and is quick to acknowledge the South African’s inputs and help as the duo tries to resuscitate a flagging Deccan Chargers campaign in the IPL.
“It has been great to work with Dale,” Ishant said on Wednesday evening.
“He has been a very positive influence. He knows what he needs to do, but most importantly, he is happy to share his knowledge and his experience. From my perspective, that’s really good.”
Ishant would love to possess Lasith Malinga’s great yorker or Shaun Tait’s express pace. “But everyone has his strengths,” he said, philosophically.
“I would love to bowl like Malinga, sending down yorkers with the new ball, or bowl at 155 kmph like Tait. But my strength is the pace I can generate and crucially, the bounce I can procure. I rely on those facets for my success.”
The Chargers have lost their first two matches, but Ishant was upbeat ahead of Thursday’s clash against the Royal Challengers.
“There is pressure in every match, but we all have our responsibilities,” he remarked, remarkably echoing Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
“Everyone is trying to give his best. We are all trying to take responsibility and enjoy ourselves in the middle, because that is the best recipe for success.
“Cricket is a team sport, and at the end of the day, you are happy so long as the team is doing well,” he added. “If the team is not winning, it doesn’t give you too much satisfaction if you have done well individually.”
Coach Darren Lehmann said the mood in the camp was upbeat despite two defeats on the trot.
“It’s just a game of cricket,” the Aussie noted.
“We have enjoyed the cricket we have played, we have entertained the crowds. In the first game, we were perhaps 10-15 runs short, and we lost the second by only nine runs. We feel we are very close to a victory but yes, we would like to win one quickly.”