Page 43 - The Indian EYE 032522

SpORTS MARCH 25, 2022 | The Indian Eye 43

Sri Lankan former cricket player Mahela Jayawardene interacts with Indian former cricketer Rishabh Pant during a practice session
Ajit Agarkar
are placed alongside Chennai Super Ponting (Head Coach), Shane Watson simple this season, “It’s amazing to be Premier League (IPL) season.
Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal (Assistant Coach) Pravin Amre (As- back in the Delhi camp. I am looking Royals Sports Group-owned
Challengers Bangalore and Punjab sistant Coach), Ajit Agarkar (Assis- forward to a fantastic season as a unit. franchise Rajasthan Royals have had
Kings in Group B. tant Coach) and James Hopes (Bowl- It’s been good to interact with some a couple of below-par seasons in the
ing Coach). of the players during our first training IPL, but with a new-look and balanced
engLanD PaCer marK WooD The West Indian added that he session as well. I am looking to keep squad, the team from Rajasthan has
ruLeD out is looking forward to working with things simple and follow my process given itself a strong base to build on,
England pacer Mark Wood who head coach Ricky Ponting, “As a child this season.” in the next couple of months. “We
was supposed to represent newly I watched Ricky Ponting bat a lot. We sangaKKara LooKIng know we had quite a bit of work to do
know the type of leader he was when
in the off-season with regards to our
bought franchise Lucknow Super Gi- he captained the Australian team and team. I think we managed to identify
ants in IPL this season has a right el- I think he is the same type of leader forWarD to WorK WIth rr the key areas which needed our atten-
bow injury, according to reports. The as a coach as well. He is really good Rajasthan Royals’ Director of tion and having had a proper process
32-year-old pacer has been ruled out and, hopefully, I can learn a thing or Cricket and Head Coach, Kumar San- when it comes to selecting players at
of the remainder ongoing Test series two from him.” gakkara, one of the key catalysts in the the auction, we managed to kind of hit
against West Indies. Wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat off-field transformation of the fran- the markers that we set for ourselves. I
Mark Wood started struggling chise, is hoping for an exciting Indian
with the injury on the third day of said that he is looking to keep things think the franchise has done an amaz-
ing job to put this exciting and strong
the first Test in Antigua. The scans squad together,” said Sangakkara in
have confirmed a problem and he an official statement.
will return home next week. A big Commenting on the make-up of
blow for Lucknow Super Giants as his squad, Sangakkara added, “We’ve
new entrants had paid Rs 7.50 crore got the two best spinners in the IPL
for Wood at the IPL auction while in terms of off-spin and leg-spin in
England will decide later if a replace- Chahal and Ashwin. We have Boult,
ment will be called up for the third Prasidh, Saini, Coulter-Nile, McCoy,
Test, which takes place in Grenada which makes up for a very exciting
from March 24.
pace unit supported by of course the
Pant Is exCIteD to have me retentions of Yashasvi, Samson and
Buttler. We have secured depth in
In DeLhI CaPItaLs: PoWeLL every department, with Neesham,
Delhi Capitals’ batter Rovman Mitchell and van der Dussen being ex-
Powell and wicketkeeper-batter KS citing cricketers.”
Bharat attended their first practice Explaining the additions of his
session with the Delhi franchise ahead compatriot Lasith Malinga and Paddy
of the Indian Premier League 2022 Upton to the Royals’ coaching staff,
season in Mumbai on Wednesday. the former Sri Lankan captain said,
Speaking about joining the Delhi “My job really is to add value to the
Capitals, Powell said, “It’s been very franchise through myself or through
good to be in the Delhi Capitals camp. people that I would recommend. It’s
I have heard a lot of good things about first about what value that person
this franchise. The players have wel- brings and how constantly they can
comed me with open arms. I had a help us improve. It’s pretty obvious for
chat with Rishabh during the T20 everyone to see the standards of both
series in Kolkata as well. He told me Lasith and Paddy. They’ve had stellar
that he is excited to have me in the careers with their respective teams in
Delhi Capitals team.” The DC coach- India’s skipper Rohit Sharma during a training session their jobs and can prove to be vital el-
ing staff currently comprises Ricky ements in our quest for the title.”

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