‘A lot of optimism in the Sunrisers’ camp’

“It is going to be a huge advantage to start off the campaign at home. We are all looking forward to a positive start,” says V. V. S. Laxman, the mentor of Sunrisers Hyderabad.

V. V. S. Laxman... “Our strengths are the spirit (of the team), camaraderie and bonding. We have the right combination ahead of the season opener.”

Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor V. V. S. Laxman is confident that his team, the defending champion, will continue with its good work of last season going into the 2017 edition.

“We have had some terrific performances from many players in 2016, with captain David Warner being outstanding as leader and with the bat too,” said Laxman.

“The bowling was exceptional last season and we hope the team will repeat those performances,” said the 42-year-old former India cricketer.

“This time around, the big difference in our campaign can be the new buys, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi (both from Afghanistan). We wanted to improve in certain areas this season and these players should perfectly fit into our game plan,” Laxman pointed out.

“Our strengths are the spirit (of the team), camaraderie and bonding. We have the right combination ahead of the season opener,” he said.

“The biggest challenge is to get all the players together since most of them are playing across the world. It is important to ensure the kind of team bonding we had last time,” Laxman explained.

Laxman also said that it is equally important to get the momentum going. “It is going to be a huge advantage to start off the campaign at home (SRH plays Royal Challengers Bangalore). It should be a good spectacle and we are gearing up for the formidable challenge. We are all looking forward to a positive start,” he pointed out.

Talking of other teams, Laxman said that all of them have players who are match winners.

“The team that shows greater consistency in winning pressure situations has a better chance of being champions. And, quite naturally, we hope to lead the pack,” Laxman observed.

“Overall, there is a lot of optimism in the Sunrisers’ camp. It is important to get off to a good start and we are all not just hoping for it, but will be really working hard to get going,” he added.

“Any contest depends on the kind of wicket it is played on. But being professionals who know how to handle these aspects, the Sunrisers players will be geared up to face the challenges.

“This is a fresh edition and what happened is past. The tag of defending champion is a great feeling, no doubt but I don’t think it will entail any kind of pressure. We have excellent resources. Self-belief is the key to our success. We are all looking forward to another memorable season,” Laxman remarked.