No one better than the captain of the defending champions would know what it takes to win Ranji Trophy. Delhi captain Aakash Chopra tells DNA how he would approach in the 2008-09 seasonThis Ranji Trophy season is a special one for Delhi. We are the defending champions and that has brought along a whole lot of pressure. Everyone’s looking at us differently, hoping that we recreate last season’s magic.
The fact that none of us from the squad has ever been in a team that’s defending the title has definitely had an impact on the mood of the camp.
As a unit, we are ready for the challenge. The pressure is surely playing on everyone’s mind, but I am certain that once we get on the field, the thoughts of past glory will diminish. The only thing that will matter is good cricket. Even a couple of bad sessions can lead to a doomed season. It’s with this knowledge that we enter the upcoming season.
Being the captain I have to take the onus on my shoulders. I have always contributed to the team’s decisions as a senior player. However, I have never been criticised or appreciated for the same. This time around, when the team does well, I will be credited, and when it suffers, I will be expected to face the brunt. It is a fair deal and I am game for it.
We are floating a balanced team with a strong batting line-up that is complimented by a decent bowling attack. Unlike earlier years, we have a good spin attack propelled by Chetanya Nanda.
Ashish Nehra’s return has added punch to the pace bracket as well. If there’s one area of concern for the team, that is losing players for international duty. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are already in the India squad. With the announcement of the ODI team, we are expecting Virat Kohli too to leave the season half way. However, there are no excuses in a sport, and we will go all out for the hunt.
There is no fixed formula to win matches, so we are open to variations. What helped us in the last season were key performances at crucial junctures. Whenever the team was in a difficult spot, somebody stuck their neck out and took responsibility. That’s what made the difference and that’s what we’ll be aiming for this season too.
It needs to perform as a team to win a match or a series. Another aspect of playing a team game is enjoying each other’s successes. We There are players in the squad who are great buddies off the field. That adds a personal connect within the team, where one is always wishing good for others.
—As told to Gayatri Parameswaran
