Delhi Daredevils coach Gary Kirsten talks about roles of Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan and Mohammed Shami

File Photo: Gary Kirsten and Zaheer Khan at a India training session

Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh will both play integral roles for Delhi Daredevils in the 2015 IPL season, said coach Gary Kirsten. The two India legends have been out of international action for a while, but were swooped up by Daredevils for a combined price of 20 crores – a massive investment which needs some returns for last season’s bottom-placed team.

On Zaheer Khan’s inclusion, who played his last competitive match an year ago, Kirsten said, “Experience is the one word why he was taken. He would be working in a space with some good youngsters around. I want him to play a kind of mentoring role within the team.

“He has great experience and good ideas of T20 bowling. I am expecting that he will be fit for the first match.”

Zaheer, like Yuvraj, said that he was very happy to be re-united with former India coach Kirsten and that he was ready for IPL action. In India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, Zaheer Khan had been the bowling spearhead, Yuvraj Singh the batting hero, and Gary Kirsten the coach.

“I am enjoying playing cricket again. I have been away from cricket for a while now, so just looking forward to get back. Taking one step at a time and IPL is definitely the first step”, said the 36-year-old Zaheer.

Hope IPL paves way for India comeback: Yuvraj Singh

About the record 16 crores splashed on 33-year-old Yuvraj Singh, Kirsten pointed out that he was the one who insisted on having the southpaw in his team.

“I had a great experience working with Yuvraj in the Indian team. He is fit as he has ever been. For me, I really wanted him in this team as he is from this part of the world.

Yuvraj said at a team event in Delhi, “It’s been a couple of hard years for me since I have come back from my treatment. I am in good shape, I have worked very hard and I have had a good domestic season. I am confident of doing well and hope that things get better from here and I make it back into the team,”

“Gary is a very good coach and we have spent a lot of time together, so I hope that we are able to replicate our success.”

Shami will have to alter length on Indian pitches: Kirsten

Mohammed Shami has been India’s star with the ball in recent times, and there is concern about how he shall be used in the high-intensity IPL, given that the 25-year-old is carrying a lot of fatigue from a long period of international commitments.

Kirsten agreed that Shami will have to be used with care, but also reminded that the Bengal pacer will have to modify his length on Indian pitches to reap successes similar to the World Cup.

“I was excited with Shami’s bowling in the World Cup, knowing that he was in my team. He looks to take wickets, puts the ball up, looks to swing and that’s very important.

We will keep it fairly to ourselves as to how we use him.”

Spirit of our #dilliboy, @ImZaheer pic.twitter.com/4vG0mjLma6

— Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) April 1, 2015