After a disastrous inaugural IPL, 09 champs Deccan Chargers are having the last laugh
After a disastrous inaugural IPL, 09 champs Deccan Chargers are having the last laugh
Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Symonds all had a lot to prove to the Deccan Chargers' fans for the disappointments of 2008.
On paper, they were the best team in the IPL when the first auction was held for the inaugural Twenty20 tournament.
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Apart form these three stalwarts, the line-up had Shahid Afridi, Scott Styris, VVS Laxman. They were supposed to just walk onto the ground and annihilate all opponents.
It was however too good a team to be written off in a hurry and Gilchrist & Co made amends for the first season's disappointments.
Yesterday, the Chargers' superstars repaid the faith by inscribing their team's name on the DLF Trophy as the winners of the second IPL.
Chargers pipped Bangalore Royal Challengers by six runs in a nerve-wracking final at a packed Wanderers Stadium.
"After what we went through last year, it was a tremendous effort to turn things around this time," said skipper Gilchrist, who was also named the man of the tournament for his excellent leadership, wicketkeeping and brilliant batting.
"The losing streak gave us a hollow feeling. It was strange for me after being part of an Australian team which was so used to winning. It's been a great learning experience."
Learning
"I tried to embrace it and learn what went wrong. I suggested some changes to the owners and they showed great faith in me and agreed.
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The first was getting Darren Lehmann as coach. He's got a wonderful cricketing mind. Then, we got Mike Young, who did a wonderful job with Australia and fitness guru Steve Smith," said the Chargers skipper.
"My first line to the team this year was, 'guys we are all knit together' and my catch cry to them was 'The very next ball is the most important thing in your life at that moment'."
Challengers must have fancied their chances when they restricted Chargers to 143 for six in 20 overs. But, to get those runs was a bigger challenge than it appeared.
It was a sluggish wicket and the ball was not coming on to the bat nicely. Chargers read the conditions quickly and reworked their game plan. The aim now was to graft their way to a reasonable total.
The star of the day was Gibbs, who raised his hand to take up the challenge and played an uncharacteristic, but invaluable, match-winning knock of 53 not out off 48 balls.
He held the innings together by batting through.
Gilchrist saluted his hero of the day: "Gibbs was like a rock and laid the foundation.
He's an instinctive strokemaker and to buckle down like he did was a brave effort. It shows how he's matured and it's symbolic of where his life is going," said Gilchrist.
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