Will play with the confidence of defending champions: VVS Laxman

Team Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman is very optimistic about his franchise continuing their good run in the Indian Premier League 2017. They are the defending champions and the former cricketer feels that the team will play with the same confidence as they did last year. In an exclusive conversation with Abbas Haider for CricTracker, VVS Laxman spoke at length about the preparations of the SRH team for the IPL 10.

He noted that the team has a lot of impact players and match winners. This makes them a very strong unit not only on paper but on the field as well. He also added that the new additions to the franchise are also proven match winners and that has only made the team stronger.

“The team is totally prepared and they will play with the confidence of the defending champions. The good thing is that the team has impact players and match winners. The new players have added more options for the side and they are also very strong players,” quoted Laxman.

He further remarked that the support staff and the management have an equally important role in the team.  The tags like underdogs or defending champions do not bother the team much and they play to their potential and not to the tags.

“I believe that the team management and the support staff work equally harder but ultimately it is the players who make the most useful contribution for the team. The tags like underdogs and the defending champions are not given by the teams but the people. The team only focuses on putting forth better performances and the pressure do not affect them,” said VVS Laxman.

Speaking further on the same note, he stressed on the fact that for a team to flourish there needs to be a relaxed environment. He cited that the team think tank takes care of this task. “I, Tom Moody and (Muttiah) Muralitharan try to create good atmosphere and relaxed atmosphere. In format like T20, only relaxed atmosphere can bring the best out of the players. T20 is such a format where no team starts as favorites. We have a good team and we will play to our potential,” iterated the former cricketer.

When asked if Rashid Khan is the X-factor for the team, Laxman responded with a positive. He said that not only Rashid but all new recruits are equally capable. “Rashid Khan is an impact player and a match winner. All new recruits are good players. We hope all players give their best whenever they get their chances,” conceded the SRH mentor.