DUBAI // Just five days away from the start of their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at Sharjah, the Delhi Daredevils are sweating over the witness of their their captain and headline act Kevin Pietersen.
According to Indian newspaper The Times of India, Pietersen is nursing a fractured finger on the right hand and has been unable to take part in their full-fledged training sessions in Delhi. With his ring and little fingers heavily strapped, the US$1.5 million (Dh5.5m) buy opted for a few throw-downs.
“KP has a fractured finger,” the newspaper quoted a Daredevils source as saying. “That is why he isn’t taking an active part in the drills. A well-known doctor has been called to attend on him, but he will only meet him in the UAE. He is supposed to be treated there so he can recover faster and take part in the first match.
“But he is certainly racing against time. It could be touch and go for the first couple of matches.”
Speaking to the newspaper, Pietersen and a Daredevil official, however, sought to dispel any concerns.
“It’s just a sore hand,” the official said. “He had an injury earlier and it’s just sore from that. KP is just taking precautionary measures by not going through the extensive drills.”
“It’s a niggle, but I am wearing the gear to make sure I don’t hurt it any further while shaking hands,” Pietersen had said on his arrival in India.
The Delhi Daredevils fans will be hoping that is true and Pietersen features on their starting XI when they meet RCB on Thursday as the team is banking on the discarded English star to turn around the fortunes of a franchisee who finished at the bottom of the points table last season, winning a mere three of their 16 matches.
“KP is a different leader now,” said Eric Simons, the Daredevils’ assistant coach. “He has grown as captain since he had a tough time as the England skipper in 2009. He has been interacting a lot with youngsters and getting to know the players. He is certainly not a problem child.”
Pietersen is also looking forward to captaining the Daredevils and conceded he is a different man to the one who led England for a brief time in 2009 before being dumped unceremoniously by his cricket board.
“I think my mindset has changed a hell of a lot,” Pietersen told ESPNcricinfo. “When I was thrust into the England captaincy, it was very difficult at that stage as I hadn’t been through a load of processes and I’ve had a load of ups and downs since then.
“Only when you reach good heights and reasonably low lows, do you understand everybody and everything. When you have a family you understand families, when you have kids you understand kids.
“When I took over the England captaincy I hadn’t experienced a lot of those things.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
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