Actor Venkatesh is an ardent fan of cricket, who always supports the local team Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premiere League (IPL). In fact, he attends almost all of the matches in person to cheer for the team.
It comes as no surprise then that he is planning to go to Visakhapatnam on Wednesday to witness the home team facing the Delhi Capitals in the playoff match. “We are lucky to have reached the playoffs and I am confident that our team will reach the finals,” says an upbeat Venkatesh, who feels that even though Delhi is a strong team, this match may be different because it’s a playoff game.
“Delhi has made it to the playoff after a few seasons but this is the fourth consecutive year for Sunrisers Hyderabad. All the players know that this match is different from the league match, so they put in more efforts and I am sure the younger ones can take up the challenge,” he says.
With both David Warner and Jonny Bairstow leaving the team at a crucial time, would there be any impact on the team? “No doubt both the batsmen have done a fantastic job and we will miss them, but T20 cricket is anybody’s game. Manish Pandey has slowly picked up and if Saha comes into form, then we can give a good fight,” he adds.
But the actor knows that playing against Delhi is no easy task. “This season, they have done a very good job and also got Sourav Ganguly as their advisor. But if we can take quick wickets in the beginning and restrict them to 160 runs, then we have a game on our hand. Rashid Khan and Bhuvi are our key bowlers,” states Venkatesh.
Given that the match will be played at Visakhapatnam, it may well turn into an advantage for the home team. “Yes, home advantage is always there and I am sure our team will get more cheers in Vizag,” says the actor.
A keen observer and critic too, Venkatesh points out the opponent’s weakness. “They panicked in a few matches and collapsed in the last minute. Sometimes, even stronger teams make mistakes. But we never know what can happen in a T20 game. Let’s just hope for a good match,” adds the actor.
