Ishant, Steyn will be crucial: Sangakkara

Last Updated: Monday, April 1, 2013, 17:22

Tags: Ishant Sharma, Dale Steyn, Cricket, T20, IPL, Twenty20, India, South Africa, Sunrisers Hyderbad

Ishant, Steyn will be crucial: Sangakkara

Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Kumar Sangakkara believes Ishant Sharma and Dale Steyn spearheading the team`s bowling attack would be crucial for the team in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Sri Lankan is confident that the team has the potential to perform well and the pace duo would deliver.

"We missed Ishant last year and I think having him and Dale Steyn spearheading new ball attack is going to be crucial," he told reporters here on Monday

Sangakkara noted that the Indian pacer did well in the recent home series against Australia while the South African had been consistently showing great performance for last four years.

"We just need that kind of presence at the top of our bowling attack. We are looking forward to make an impact with them. They can give vital breakthroughs with new ball or in the middle or in any situation," he said.

Sunrisers, the new team from Hyderabad in the sixth edition of IPL, will play its first match against Pune Warriors India here Friday. The Kalanithi Maran-owned and Chennai - based Sun TV Network owns Sunrisers, which replaced Deccan Chargers, the terminated franchise. Sunrisers retained 20 players of Deccan Chargers.

"It is not exactly the same team. We have few additions. Unfortunately Shikhar Dhawan, who is going to be our most important player, has suffered a fracture and he is out for few weeks. So we have a few new faces coming in," said Sangakkara.

"I am really excited to be back. Over the last three years even though under the old franchise we hadn`t really performed as well as we should have," the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper batsman added.

He pointed out that team was in winning situation a number of times but lost due poor fielding. He said the team will try and address it this year.

Chief coach Tom Moody believes the overseas players, Ishant and Shikhar Dhawan are important for their make-up. He, however, said the team has exciting young talent and hoped that new faces would do well.

"We have seen in five editions of IPL that there were always one or two players who surprised competition, the players who were relatively unknown to cricketing fraternity in India and also the world," Moody said.

Sangakkara, Moody, Ishant Sharma and Cameron White attended a promotional event of Makemytrip, the principal sponsor of Sunrisers.

IANS

First Published: Monday, April 1, 2013, 16:42