RC Editor

Commit 100% or perish. That’s the crux of T20 cricket, as envisaged by Coach Ray Jennings of Royal Challengers. The tough task master as he is, Jennings virtually stings like a ray – he is transparent in his ideas of the game, he comes at you straight, he will not only make you work but also work along you if you are falling a notch below his standards.

Ray believes that team unity matters the most in 20-20 cricket. According to him, unity can be brought only if the team members spend longer time together before the start of any tournament. Unfortunately, there’s a big hole on this aspect in the IPL. Which is why he wants a separate window for IPL during which no international matches should take place enabling the players to be available for the franchises and gel as a unit.

After the runners-up tag of IPL 2009, Ray wants the team to scale higher targets. No guesses what it can be! In a free style chat, Ray opens up, but makes his intentions clear for the IPL. There are three steps to success, commitment, commitment and commitment.

Read on. It’s exclusive Ray!

RC Editor

Commit 100% or perish. That’s the crux of T20 cricket, as envisaged by Coach Ray Jennings of Royal Challengers. The tough task master as he is, Jennings virtually stings like a ray – he is transparent in his ideas of the game, he comes at you straight, he will not only make you work but also work along you if you are falling a notch below his standards.

Ray believes that team unity matters the most in 20-20 cricket. According to him, unity can be brought only if the team members spend longer time together before the start of any tournament. Unfortunately, there’s a big hole on this aspect in the IPL. Which is why he wants a separate window for IPL during which no international matches should take place enabling the players to be available for the franchises and gel as a unit.

After the runners-up tag of IPL 2009, Ray wants the team to scale higher targets. No guesses what it can be! In a free style chat, Ray opens up, but makes his intentions clear for the IPL. There are three steps to success, commitment, commitment and commitment.

Read on. It’s exclusive Ray!

Let’s have a window for IPL:

With so much international cricket being played in between the IPL, it becomes difficult for any franchise to gel as a team. As a result, it is difficult to target all the players together at the start of the tournament. I think there should be some window period for the IPL for all the players to meet and gel as a unit before the start of such an important tournament. In T20 cricket, the side which plays good cricket as a unit on a particular day wins the match.

Our biggest advantage:

The biggest advantage in our side is to have many experienced matchwinners. Moreover, I think the Indian players have got better over the past season. The local guys have really put their mark in Indian domestic circuit. Hence, we have made a tremendous progress with the depth of our Indian players. Similarly, the overseas players are also in great forms. Ross Taylor has emerged as the world’s one of the best players. I think (Eoin) Morgan has been one of the guys who have come through in world cricket. He is young and not many people know about him. Our side is looking good, but I want to stress that we will put performances on the top.

Commitment first and 100%:

There is no doubt that we have had less time to gel together as a full unit. But it’s the side that performs, adjusts quicker to the conditions and are versatile adapters are the ones who are going to make the impact in this tournament. My job is to monitor and make the players understand that they need to put 100% on field. In T20, it’s a matter of 120 balls that decides who is going to win the game. That’s really what I am trying to do with the players.

Par Score:

Par score is beginning to grow because of the knowledge of how to play the game. I think the par score will be around 155 – 170. But we don’t want to set our targets very high. We want to assess the situation, and be flexible with the targets. When one sets a high target, sometimes it falls flat on you. I would think that 160 would be reasonable target to set and if things are in favour then we will push it forward.

Underdogs can actually win in T20:

20 overs cricket doesn’t favour any side. 120 balls, the smaller the portion of the game, the better the chances are for the underdogs. I don’t think in T20 the best side or the best performers on paper really matters. There was no side which was unbeatable last year and we beat every one of them. How the players put in their best and convert all the even opportunities and also the odd ones to winning moments are all that matters in this format of the game.

Unique identity of IPL:

I think the IPL sides have a blend of cultures. The side has to ensure that you have the same vision, same commitment, same tension. That’s really the identity of the franchises

Team composition is flexible:

It all depends upon the performances of the players. The Indian players have come up tremendously with their performances over the past one year. If I see that we have to take 8 Indian players in the side then I am going to do it. It all depends upon how each player treasures their opportunity and commit 100% to the cause of the team.

Morgan and Smith will be the surprise pack:

Morgan is a very different kind of a player and is a left hander, which is a very big plus for us. He hits the ball hard and is a kind of an all-round player. I think he will be very good for us. Steven Smith is also very young and is an excellent fielder. He is also not widely known to all. These two have been very good signings for us this season. I am looking forward to them having some good games for us.

Message for the fans:

Keep supporting us like you have done in the past. That support brings the best out of the boys and I am sure we will not disappoint you.