We are ready for anybody

It was as I feared against in the first of our games after we qualified for the semifinals. We looked like a side that had achieved its primary aim, and was biding its time for the next phase. In Test cricket this is called the dead rubber syndrome, and it is essential that we snap out of it. Winning is a rare habit, and once you lose it, it can be hard to get the habit back when you need it. By the time you read this, we would have played against Rajasthan Royals and hopefully, we would have rediscovered our winning ways. We had a meeting on Saturday, after the Kings XI Punjab match and it was decided that while a couple of players would be given hard-earned rest, we will not tinker too much with the playing eleven. We are keenly aware that we need to win and keep winning as we go into the semifinals, and that we will be coming up against teams that are desperate to win. Looking across the field, Deccan Chargers seem well placed to become the third team that makes the semifinals after Delhi and Chennai. Adam Gilchrist has been giving the team devastating starts, and RP Singh has rediscovered his form to use the conditions of South Africa. He has been having a couple of niggles so Hyderabad boys will be keeping an eye on that one. They have a couple of young guys with promise. Rohit Sharma has already made a mark for himself and there is young Suman who is impressive as well. Kings XI were unlucky with the rain rules at the start, then they won a few games and then they went off the boil again. Their international players have been pretty good, and I was impressed with the way Brett bowled against us last week. He has been through a rough 12 months, what with injuries and personal setbacks. However, he told me that he has been working on strength and fitness, and from what I saw in the game against us, he seems to have found his speed, and only needs to work on his rhythm. He is still capable of becoming the fastest bowler in the world, and I think a mature Brett would be a dangerous bowler to bowl alongside Mitchell Johnson. The Royal Challengers are the other side that can come into the semis. They are a top-class side and if they make the semis they will be a dangerous side because they have plenty of players with big match experience. And then there is the Houdini team of the tournament, the Rajasthan Royals. You can't count them out of a game till the presentation ceremony! They can win from any position, and Shane Warne has managed to turn everybody into his team into an escape artist. Munaf Patel was a case in point against Mumbai the other night – that was one magical last over. It is a testimony to the level of competition that a couple of semifinal berths are still up for grabs. We have no favourites as to who we would prefer to face. We are ready for anybody and know that it just depends on how well we play on the day. (Gameplan)

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