Journalism of Courage
Delhi Daredevils opener David Warner today lavished praise on teammate Umesh Yadav,whose miserly 18th over proved crucial in the team8217;s 15-run win over Pune Warriors,saying the pacer would be an asset for India in the upcoming Champions Trophy in England.
8220;I think Umesh has been bowling very well. His death bowling was sensational and has come back very well from an injury and that augurs well for India in the upcoming
Champions Trophy,8221; Warner said at the post-match press
conference.
The man-of-the-match made no bones about the fact that
every match from now is a virtual 8220;semi-final8221; for the
Daredevils.
8220;We know that each game from now is a 8216;semi-final8217; for
us. We have to keep on smiling,come back with a lot of
firepower,passion,determination and also hope that some of the other results go our way,8221; Warner said.
Having scored his third half-century of the tournament,
Warner wants to keep up the good work.
8220;I want to continue in this good form and help the team in winning. Basically,I am batting down the order as Mahela wanted a bit of solidity in the middle-order.
8220;Again,if the pitches are fast and bouncy like the one
in Dharamsala,I might again open the batting. Just like in
the Champions Trophy,I opened the innings as the pitches
there suited my style of batting.8221;
It8217;s now customary to ask each and every Daredevils
player about his experience of interacting with team mentor Sir Vivian Richards and Warner wasn8217;t an exception.
8220;Sir Viv,the legend of the game. I can probably relate to him as I am also a flamboyant player who likes to play his shots. He was a tough man and had that swagger. He always tells me to be yourself.
8220;He Viv told me that 8216;you are here because of what you
are. Therefore nothing should change you8217;. For international guys like us,it is important to maintain that level head and Sir Viv brought that spark,energy and passion.8221;
For someone,who sets high standards on the field,Warner wasn8217;t particularly happy with team8217;s fielding effort.
8220;We have been leaking a lot of runs but we should have
taken the catches given by Luke Wright and Yuvraj. The
fielders should have anticipated and taken those catches,8221; he said.
Warner also had encouraging words for the newly-built
Shahid Veer Narayan Singh international Stadium.
8220;Obviously these are big boundaries 85 meters on the
side and 72 metres straight. But there was a bit of dew and the spinners found it hard to grip the ball. However,having a stadium in Raipur will definitely help in promoting the game in the state,8221; he concluded.
