The IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - VII

There are many greats who have written many perspectives on leadership. One of the oldest is that of defining roles clearly to team members and leading by example. And that is what Warne did last night.

On paper, it was an unequal contest. And me, being a Daredevils supporter, was hoping that they would not get carried away. The one thing that has been worrying me is how Gambhir and Sehwag have been going after the ball without take a few minutes to settle their nerves.

Gambhir stuck his bat out at one, and Warne picked the resulting edge out of thin air. He may be past his prime and overweight, but he is a man who has played the game hard at the highest level, and that can occasionally make the mind transcend the mortal frame.

When the skipper leads by example, the team that looks up to him and adores him will follow suit. Asnodkar took a beauty to get rid of Sehwag. He had to run back, but covered ground so well that he ended up making the catch look easy.

I know everyone says that this is the way Sehwag plays. And in all probability, he will play exactly like this in the next match and get a big one. But it might soothe a few supporters' nerves if he just tempers things a little bit.

Dilshan left, trying a big hit and Warne made a total schoolboy out of Karthik. De Villiers and Vettori played intelligent and aggressive cricket. Manhas, for the second time running, played a lovely cameo, but in the end, the Royals were happy that they had choked the Daredevils to 143.

Chasing the Daredevils target was always going to be a bit of a toughie, considering the Delhi team's potent bowling attack and the fragility of the Royals' batting.

Quiney is a far better player than his continuing horror story in the IPL suggests. He went early. And for a brief while, I thought Asnodkar would pick the right balls to hit. He did, but he also chose the wrong single to take. Paul Valthaty seemed to be on edge and left to a good, old-fashioned leg break from Mishra who bowled superbly.

It seemed as if Warne had told Smith to just play through the innings. And in the end, it proved to be a bit of a calming influence on Yusuf Pathan, who between grim nods and muttered advice from Smith, played a blinder that took the Royals home.

This loss will not hurt the Daredevils. But what the win will do for the Royals might be interesting to watch. Because this is exactly what happened last year. After a series of losses, they suddenly started winning.

IPL 2 may not have classic Indian crowds and big rashes of sixes, but it definitely has its own flavour.

PS: A few days ago, a girl asked me the meaning of the repetitive title to these posts. I also assured her that I was no longer athletic. Which confused her even further. So I abruptly ended the conversation by asking her to find out what 'Omtex' was.