Lehmann backs Sangakkara to do well - TeluguPeople.com News

Hyderabad: Deccan Chargers coach Darren Lehmann did not wish to make any predictions ahead of the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League commencing from Friday. 'We're not going to make any predictions. All I want for our guys is to have fun, play at a 110 % and entertain people. 'That's what T20 is all about. If we do that, and do what our game plan is, then we'll have some good results,' he said.

Lehmann hoped that the younger players would gel well with the seniors to deliver the desired performances in the IPL. He believed that the team would miss Adam Gilchrist, who has moved over to King's XI Punjab, but at the same time insisted that Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara, one of the best wicket-keeper-batsman right now, should be equally dominant as captain and player.

'I don't see any reason why we should not be positive. There is perfect balance in the team and everyone is excited about the fresh challenge,' Lehmann said. 'The intensity of the young brigade is remarkable,' he added. The Chargers coach was not very concerned about the players' fatigue with the IPL starting within a week of the World Cup.

'We can't do anything about that. But, I am hopeful that the players will rise to the occasion. The IPL is getting bigger and bigger providing a perfect mix of international and domestic players,' he said.

Lehman, a former World Cup winning team member from Australia, added that the brand image of Deccan Chargers would not suffer due to the absence of Gilchrist and (Andrew) Symonds. 'Gilly is obviously a big, fond memory since we won under his leadership. But we have to move on. I am impressed with the players we have got right now and it is they who have to do well to regain the trophy,' he said.

'There are new faces in every franchise and some surprise packets are bound to be there. I am happy with the response to my inputs during the players' auction,' he said.

He also denied that Chargers' batting lacked solidity due to the absence of Gilchrist, V.V.S. Laxman and Symonds. 'Shikhar Dhawan is an excellent bat with rich experience. I expect some younger players to take the IPL by storm,' he added.

Referring to the fast bowling duo of Dale Steyn and Ishant Sharma, Lehmann said they were working closely. 'Our first objective is to see Ishant play well for Chargers and then gets back into the Indian team. They have already forged a little partnership so we're excited by that,' he said.

'We are not going to encourage Ishant for every game. We're really excited by him and also the presence of leggie Amit Mishra and left-armer Pragyan Ojha,' the Chargers coach said.