Former India pacer RP Singh revealed why his then IPL skipper Adam Gilchrist got angry at himself following the semi-final of the league's 2009 edition in South Africa.
Chasing the modest 154-run target set by Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Gilchrist led Deccan Chargers from the front in Centurion and scored an outstanding 35-ball 85 to seal his team's place in the final.
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"Gilchrist was furious with himself despite playing a match-winning knock of 85 runs in the 2009 semi-finals. He came back to the dressing room after the knock but was angry and furious," Singh, who bagged two crucial wickets in the first half, said on Star Sports’ IPL Finals show.
"I was surprised and asked him what’s the matter and why was he angry after that great knock. Gilchrist said he wanted to finish the game and needs to learn to finish games for the team!"
The left-arm seamer also recalled how Gilchrist was superstitious about Harmeet Singh, believing that the team won whenever the young medium-pacer did well.
"Adam Gilchrist was superstitious about Harmeet Singh. Harmeet was considered as the lucky mascot for Deccan Chargers. Gilchrist believed that if Harmeet plays, Deccan wins the game!"
Another key member of that Chargers line-up, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, explained how difficult it was for Gilchrist's men to turn their fortunes around after ending as wooden-spooners in IPL 2008.
"When we started the campaign in South Africa, we didn’t have enough clothes! Gilchrist then brought the team together and assured us things will fall in place once they start winning," said Ojha.
"There were team meetings about trusting each other, standing by your team-mates. Seniors like VVS supported from the bench. They isolated us from the outside pressure, and we were able to perform consistently that season."
Inspirationally, Deccan Chargers, with a very young side at their disposal, defeated a much-vaunted Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side in the final at Johannesburg by six runs and lifted the IPL trophy.
(Inputs from CricketNext)
