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A formidable team: Sehwag

Special Correspondent

Missed out on Ishant due to lack of funds

— Photo: R.V. Moorthy

HAPPY BUNCH: Some of the Delhi Daredevils team members pose at a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: Delhi Daredevils would miss Ishant Sharma in the Indian Premier League but skipper Virender Sehwag was pragmatic when he said it was not a huge setback for his team.

“Obviously we would have loved having him in our side but then it was not possible due to certain reasons,” said Sehwag at a simple function here on Saturday to announce the association of Hero Honda as the team sponsor. Kingfisher will be the associate sponsor and sports shoe major Adidas the apparel sponsor.

The Delhi team’s technical advisor, former Test fast bowler T.S. Sekar, explained, “the name of Ishant came towards the end and we didn’t have the required money to buy him.”

Sehwag observed that he was satisfied with the bowling strength of the Delhi team. “Ishant has joined Kolkata (Knight Riders) and I wish him well,” said Sehwag.

“We wanted to have Ishant. He is a very promising player and is in good form. But then the budget did not permit it,” Sehwag said.

Sehwag denied his team was hunting for stars. “We were not at all looking for super stars only. We needed a balanced side and that is what we have got. I have known these players and I am glad to say that they have come together to make Delhi a formidable team,” Sehwag noted.

“We have fast bowlers like Glenn McGrath and Mohammed Asif. We have a quality spinner like Daniel Vettori. You can count me and Shoaib Malik as bowlers too.”

When asked why did Ashish Nehra, who was picked by Mumbai, did not find a place in the Delhi team, Sehwag was candid.

“He wanted to play for a team that offered more money. I had a talk with him but we couldn’t really afford him.”

The Delhi Daredevils captain asserted his team was easily the best fielding combination in the tournament.

“Ours has to be the best fielding side. It is a 40-day high quality tournament. The fitness level of the cricketers should be very high. They have to remain equally fit when they return to play international cricket.”

Exciting concept

Gautam Gambhir welcomed the idea of playing in the IPL. “IPL is a good idea. It is exciting and I am looking forward to playing for Delhi. I hope my good form of the tri-series continues in the IPL. I am doing well in the one-dayers and hope to do well in the Twenty20 also. I am sure people will enjoy the IPL,” said Gambhir.

The Delhi team has eight foreign players — Glenn McGrath, Daniel Vettori, Shoaib Malik, A.B. de Villiers, Mohammad Asif, Farveez Maharoof, T. Dilshan and Brett Geeves.

The players who were introduced on Saturday were Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Manoj Tiwary, Shikhar Dhawan, Mithun Manhas, Rajat Bhatia, Pradeep Sangwan, Mayank Tehlan, Yomahesh and Amit Mishra.

Delhi plays its first match against Rajasthan Royals at the Ferozeshah Kotla on April 19.

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