Pressure not a factor: Ramdin

Both their Group A league fixtures to date appeared to be theirs for the taking. Instead, they lost the first, against Mumbai Indians, by one wicket off the last delivery, and the second in a Super Over finish to New South Wales.

The most impressive side of the qualifying phase is suddenly saddled with the ‘chokers’ tag, but experienced stumper Denesh Ramdin disagreed that pressure had got the better of his team.

“Not really,” said Ramdin when asked if he sensed vulnerability under pressure within the ranks. “We had two close games and the guys are still confident. We still have two matches and if we have a good game against Chennai, we can get their campaign back on track.”

T&T’s next outing is here at the MA Chidambaram stadium on Sunday, against defending champions and hosts Chennai Super Kings. Having encountered one fellow Trinidadian in Kieron Pollard against the Mumbai Indians, Daren Ganga’s men will run into another on Sunday -- Dwayne Bravo.

Pollard was allowed no leeway in Bangalore, and Ramdin promised much the same against Bravo, though it is unlikely that there will be as much bad blood this time, given that Dwayne’s half-brother Darren plays for T&T.

“We have our plans but he is a good player, he plays shots all around the ground. He played well in a pressure situation for Chennai the other night,” Ramdin noted, referring to Bravo’s match-winning 46 against the Cape Cobras.