Vital to retain winning habit

Looking across the field, the Deccan Chargers seem well placed to join Delhi and Chennai in the semifinals. Adam Gilchrist has been giving the team devastating starts, and RP Singh has rediscovered his form. Glenn McGrath on the possible semifinalists...

We looked like a side that had achieved its primary aim, and was biding its time for the next phase. In Test cricket, this is called the dead rubber syndrome, and it is essential that we come out of it. Winning is a rare habit, and once you lose it, it can be hard to get the habit back. By the time you read this, we would have played against the Rajasthan Royals and hopefully we would have rediscovered our winning ways.

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We had a meeting on Saturday after the Kings XI match and it was decided that while a couple of players would be rested, we will not tinker too much with the eleven.

Looking across the field, the Deccan Chargers seem well placed to join Delhi and Chennai in the semifinals. Adam Gilchrist has been giving the team devastating starts, and R.P. Singh has rediscovered his form. They have a couple of young guys with promise.

Kings XI were unlucky with the rain rules at the start, then they won a few games and then they went off the boil again. Their international players have been doing well, and I was impressed with the way Brett Lee bowled against us last week. He has been through a rough 12 months, what with injuries and personal setbacks.

The Royal Challengers are the other side that can enter the semis. They have plenty of players with experience. Then there is the Houdini team of the tournament, the Rajasthan Royals. You can't count them out of a game till the presentation ceremony! They can win from any position.

It is a testimony to the level of competition that a couple of semifinal berths are still up for grabs.