Managing East Delhi Riders dressing room wasn't tough: Himmat Singh

Himmat Singh, the East Delhi Riders skipper, has said that his team has grown in strength with time and the growing acquaintance among the players has made them a better side.

“The team is confident. The more time you spend with the team, the more the team gels. You get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and you can use them according to that. We are a better side from when we started,” said Himmat after his team beat West Delhi Lions by 52 runs on Sunday night.

“Earlier, we used to discuss roles a lot, but not now. Instead of that, we focus on getting on the ground and performing.”

He credited the juniors in his team for being good listeners and respectful to the seniors. He said that their willingness to listen has helped him to gauge the players’ strengths and weaknesses.

“Managing the dressing room wasn’t tough. The juniors are all good, they listen and respect. If you get young boys like these, you can mould them the way you want. You can explain to them what  you want from them. It is not like that if you have [left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder] Ronak Waghela, you expect him to play like Ravindra Jadeja. I will always want him to play like Waghela,” said Himmat who hammered 29-ball 55, in an innings that included four sixes.

He has 279 runs in the tournament and leads a side that have won seven of their eight games and have 14 points, thereby topping the points table.

The wins have been scripted by a balanced bowling attack.

“I want my bowlers to bowl their best balls, even if they go for six. We’ll do what we want.”

Himmat said that previous experience in captaining teams has helped him in the tournament.

“The experience in captaincy is helping. I have captained [various age-group teams of] Delhi. I have been successful in tournaments as captain since the start of my career. I am giving my best to the team,” he said.

Asked if he is thinking of playing the IPL, he said, “I think of India. I think of the road [to playing India].”  

East Delhi Riders have three batsmen among the top 10 run-getters in the DPL so far. Besides Himmat at third, Anuj Rawat sits at fourth with 276 runs and Sujal Singh is at 224 at eighth spot.

Rawat and Sujal have provided the Riders with great starts and they also added unbeaten 241 for the first wicket in a game against Purani Dilli 6 during the tournament.

Likewise, they have three bowlers among the top 10 – Simarjeet Singh at third with 13 scalps, Harsh Tyagi at fourth with 11 wickets, and Mayank Rawat with seven wickets at 10th place.

Tags : Delhi Premier League, Cricket, East Delhi Riders, Himmat Singh, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Ferozeshah Kotla