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With 26 wickets from fourteen matches, Rajasthan Royals’ seamer James Faulkner has got the Purple Cap back. On Friday, against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, James Faulkner became the first bowler to take two five-wicket hauls in IPL. He also recorded the best bowling figures this season which read 4-1-16-5 against SRH as he bettered his own previous five-wicket haul against the same opponent.

James Faulkner’s magnificent bowling could not help his team register a victory, but the medium pacer was confident that his side would comeback fighting in the tournament. “I suppose it is disappointing to lose after taking a fiver, but I am sure the boys will learn from the loss and we will be better and stronger for our next game,” Faulkner told IPLT20.com.

Faulkner was exceptional with the ball. He struck two early blows in the second over of the match taking the wickets of both the SRH openers and he said that the team was pumped up after striking early. “We got to a pretty good start with the ball. Also, our fielding tonight (against SRH) was exceptional. The energy on the field was tremendous and we were charged up to perform. In T20s, you can bowl poorly and take wickets and sometimes you bowl brilliantly and end up without a wicket. I thought I bowled pretty well. The skill and the luck factor is a combined mixture that worked out well for me in this case, but disappointing that we did not get the win that we were after.”

The Purple Cap has changed heads quite often in the tournament, but at the moment it sits pretty with James Faulkner. For Faulkner though, it was all about the team benefiting at the end of it. “I do not fuss much about the Purple Cap. It is all about the team at the end of the day. You take a fiver or bowl well, at the end of the day your team should benefit. We have a big week ahead now and we have to gather our thoughts for the all important playoffs.”

From being labeled as underdogs to finding a place in the Playoffs, the Rajasthan Royals have come a long way. Their youngsters have performed well when thrown into tough situations and their key players have delivered when it has mattered the most. For Faulkner, who has represented as many as three IPL teams including RR, it has been a memorable journey with the franchise.

“We have tried to play the same brand of cricket that we have played throughout the tournament. I have been given a great opportunity with the Royals and I have been really welcomed in the RR family. I have really enjoyed playing with each and every player in the team so far, and playing under Rahul Dravid who has been brilliant. Dravid has thrown the ball at me at different situations and I am glad that I have come out with success on most occasions. I guess that is what they picked me up for in the auctions, and I am just trying to do my job to the best I can. I am looking forward to finishing on a high and as a team I am confident we can finish off the tournament playing well.”

Sandeep Sharma, who has been making waves since early last year with his performances at the under-19 level and the 2012-13 domestic season for his state side, impressed with figures of 4-1-23-3 in a winning cause for Kings XI Punjab against the Delhi Daredevils on Thursday night.

The young pacer bowled a wicket maiden in the third over of the innings to push the visitors on the back-foot. He was on a hat-trick with the wickets of Irfan Pathan and David Warner. Thrilled to realise his dream of bowling to cricketers he grew-up watching the youngster couldn’t find words to describe the feeling. He credited skipper Adam Gilchrist’s planning and advice that helped him dismiss the batsmen.

He also mentioned that continuous inputs from Praveen Kumar, the senior India pacer with an ability to swing the ball helped through the season. The thrilling seven-run win against the Delhi Daredevils has kept the King XI Punjab in the fray for a berth in the Playoffs of the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013.

While speaking to IPLT20.com after the match, Sharma talked about his bowling and the experience of bowling to the likes of Virender Sehwag and Mahela Jayawardene.

Excerpts from the interview:

On beating the Daredevils and staying in the competition

It feels good after winning the game and that we can still make it to the Playoffs. One match is remaining and we can still try and make it. And it also depends on the results of matches between other teams. But we are not thinking about it now. We are playing our cricket and focusing on our matches.

On whether they had enough runs on the board to defend

The 171 we got was a good total on this wicket. Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) batted really well against the new ball in the beginning. The wicket was helping the seamers but Gilly batted really well in the first six overs and after that Shaun Marsh and David Miller also batted well. So the total was perfect for the wicket and it wasn’t like we had less runs on the board.

On how the wicket helped pacers

There was a bit of seam in the wicket but it was important that we bowl in the good areas which all our bowlers did – PK bhai (Praveen Kumar), (Parvinder) Awana, Azhar bhai (Mahmood).

On having three slips for his bowling which is not seen too often in T20

Gilly did that. He is very experienced and arranged the field taking into account the wicket and my bowling. He told me to bowl the away swing to the left-hander from the off-stump.

On how he had planned for claiming the two wickets – Irfan Pathan and David Warner off consecutive deliveries

My focus was to bowl in the good areas and I got the wickets, it is my luck.

On claiming David Warner

He is an amazing batsman and to get his wicket was a good feeling.

On what the plan was for David Warner, the advice given to him based on strengths and weakness of the batter

Gilchrist is a very good captain and if you talk about strengths and weakness then the bowler’s mind gets a bit diverted. Gilchrist told me to just bowl on the off-stump and not that David Warner is playing. Just to bowl on the off-stump.

On claiming Mahela Jayawardene’s wicket at a vital moment in the game

He is a legend of cricket and to take his wicket makes me happy. I took big wickets and it was always my dream to bowl to these batsmen. I have been watching Jayawardene and Sehwag since childhood. Sehwag is my favourite player, an amazing player and to bowl to him is an amazing feeling, I can’t express it.

On whether he was nervous while bowling to Sehwag

There was no nervousness. I was enjoying it. I have grown up watching them. It was my dream to play with them, bowl to them. It has come true. I was enjoying it. There was no pressure. Even if they hit me I felt I would get to learn from that experience, how to bowl at the higher level.

On what he has learnt from Praveen Kumar

PK bhai helps me a lot. Every over, sometimes every ball he comes and tells me how to bowl, in which area to bowl so that feels good and helps me a lot.

Throughout the season he has told me about swing, position of the wrist and setting the field for the batsmen. He also has a good swing and has played a lot of cricket so he has a lot of experience and I am learning those things from him. We talk a lot and that’s helps a lot.

On any new changes or additions he has made to his bowling

No, I have been doing what I have always done. I have struck to my strengths and concentrated of them.

On the difference does he find between the U-19, India’s domestic tournaments and the IPL

I have never thought that there is a difference in the batsman or the wicket I always think that a good delivery is a good delivery whether I am bowling at the U-19 level or Ranji Trophy (India’s multi-day domestic tournament). I have to be confident and do not think about what the batsman will do and believe in my strength.

‘Magic!’ was the word coach John Wright used to describe the improbable win that Kieron Pollard helped pull off through his blistering knock to take the Mumbai Indians to the top of the points table.

Chasing 179 the hosts were in a precarious position with Sachin Tendulkar retiring hurt and losing Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu in quick succession. But, fireworks from Pollard and Rohit Sharma holding up one end helped the home team turn the match on its head against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium.

Wright was full of praise for the brilliant innings by the West Indies cricketer as MI registered their seventh straight victory on their home turf. The coach also showered appreciation on Sharma and his leadership ability while speaking to IPLT20.com after the win.

Excerpts from the interview:

On Pollard and the victory

What an amazing feat of hitting. I have never seen anything like that before. It was amazing and people all over the world watched that.

On whether they were anxious when Sachin Tendulkar retired hurt and Dinesh Karthik got out

We were always up against it in a run chase. And they got those wickets immediately after Sachin retired so we didn’t look like we were going to be winning the game but then that’s what a player like Pollard can do. That’s special. In this league you see some amazing cricket and that was an amazing innings.

On Rohit Sharma’s innings in the game

He has done it with the bat right through this tournament. He has stepped into the captaincy role and he looks the part. It is very early days yet but I think he is going to be a very good leader.

On the decision of making Rohit Sharma the captain

We wanted to play two fast bowlers, they were to be overseas, so obviously (Mitchell) Johnson and (Lasith) Malinga. It was a tough decision and we got to Kolkata where we talked through with Ricky (Ponting) and he was part of that decision making process and he has done a fantastic job with his leadership off the field. He is of like our club captain. We all contribute in our various ways but Rohit has of taken to the job. He seems to be suited and the responsibility sits well with him and that shows through his performances with the bat and some of the decision making on the field. It is one of those things, in IPL things change very quickly. Flexibility is important.

On choosing Rohit Sharma to lead

It was a joint decision but I think still waters run deep and he lives in Mumbai. It is an obvious advantage to have a home captain, someone who lives in the city. I think the fans identify with it and that is important and so we have someone from Mumbai leading Mumbai Indians which I think is pretty appropriate.

On winning all seven games at home so far

It has been our bowling. We have won a lot of tosses, batted first, put pressure on the opposition and been aggressive with the ball. Monday was bit different and it took a piece of magic really to win chasing but hopefully we will learn from today’s game and be stronger in couple of day’s time. That is a big game for us because if we are interested in finishing at No. 1 or 2 we know that, that is an important match.

On Dale Steyn’s penultimate over

Our batters had the situation under control. I thought we played that pretty well. They got five runs off that over which left it down to the last over. Unbelievably we got to the last two overs with the need of a run-a-ball. We wanted to be looking at getting just six or seven runs in the last over and without a new batter having to go out there and the situation was handled beautifully.

On Dale Steyn’s bowling in the game

He is a beautiful bowler to watch. His lines are good. He has got good pace. He is a big factor for South Africa and No. 1 in the Test standings. He is a good combination with the other two bowlers in SA. He is world class.

On the next match against Rajasthan Royals and what would be the plans knowing Rahul Dravid as closely as he does

I think Rahul is very well researched and very well organised along with Paddy Upton and their group. They have been playing really intelligent cricket. I don’t think it is any accident that they are where they are. I think they have shown great flexibility during this tournament and the way they have picked their team and made various changes to their batting order, they play smart cricket. They beat us fair and square the last time we were in Rajasthan and we would like to turn the table but we know it will be a tough match. We have got a lot of respect for them.

On three teams with 20 points each, with only the run rate separating them

Run-rate is important and I think it was always going to be a factor in this tournament. It was going to come to this situation at some stage. We will try and keep it as healthy as possible.

Wicketkeeper-batsman, KB Arun Karthik has enjoyed the longest run of his IPL career in this, the sixth season. Clad in the colours of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Karthik has featured in 11 out of the 12 matches that the Virat Kohli-led side has played in their quest for a place in the Play-Offs.

The 27-year old, has been sharpening his skills behind the stumps and in front of them as well, learning new techniques to enhance his game with the coaches and senior players of the team. Honing his skills and working hard is paying off for the cricketer.

An opening batsman while playing for his state Tamil Nadu in India’s domestic circuit, he bats lower down the order when he turns out for the Bangalore franchise.

He has been taking lessons on batting in the shortest format of the game and as a lower order bat from experienced campaigners in RCB, AB de Villiers in particular. Although he hasn’t had too many chats about ‘keeping with the South African, he has been working intensively with another Protean, who has donned the gloves as a keeper, now the coach of RCB, Ray Jennings.

The youngster credits Jennings for his evolving and growing as a wicketkeeper.

In a chat with iplt20.com after training at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Karthik talked about his wicket-keeping, batting and the IPL experience with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Excerpts:

You have played 11 out of 12 matches this season, your longest run in the IPL. How does it feel to be entrusted with such responsibility?

It feels good to take up the responsibility as the wicketkeeper. I am grateful to RCB, the management, support staff and the captain. It is good to be part of the team and I am enjoying the responsibility which I have been given. I feel I am contributing to my team here.

What are the challenges while batting in T20?

I have been talking about my position to few of the senior players and what I have heard is batting at No 6, No 7 is one of the toughest positions to bat in T20. Because, only when the team is struggling, batting becomes a possibility and even then, there are very few deliveries to face and I need to score as many runs as possible in such a situation. I haven’t got much of batting this IPL but I am still learning a lot of things.

What are the suggestions and tips you have received and by whom?

I spoke to AB de Villiers about this, because he bats at No 6 or 7 for his National side in T20. He told me it is a tough position and I need to have a cool head and I need to assess the situation first, I need to see who the bowler is. Then I need to look at the percentage (in terms of deliveries) of the number of overs I get in the middle to assess, play shots and then go after bowlers to do my best. It is amazing how the small thing’s he suggests makes big sense.

Have you also discussed wicket-keeping with de Villiers? What were his inputs?

I haven’t had much discussion on wicket-keeping with him. Our coach Ray Jennings is a wicketkeeper so he has done a tremendous job working on me and transforming me as a wicketkeeper.

Can you elaborate more about that?

My coach doesn’t allow me to keep with two hands, which we have been normally brought up to do. He has totally reversed my style to take every catch single-handed. So taking a catch with two hands becomes much easier and your hands move really quick after taking catches with one hand and we have been working on movements too.

What are the challenges ‘keeping to the likes of M Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori?

Initially it was a little tough for me. Last year Murali Sir joined us and during the practice games I was struggling a little to pick his deliveries. I have batted against him in CSK but it is totally different to keep wickets to him. While batting you just react to the delivery and while keeping you follow the ball. So in that sense, picking him was a little difficult, but over a period of time, watching him in the nets, following him in the nets, through lots of drills and talking to him about his variations I think helped and I got better.

RCB has an impressive batting line-up and batters who innovate. What have you learnt from them and what are your innovations?

I have developed as a batsman from the first season of the IPL. During the first edition I was an amateur and I didn’t know what IPL was all about and now I think I have improved on a few shots. I have worked on it in the Ranji Trophy and other games. I have been working with coaches back home in Chennai too.

What is it like playing under Virat Kohli?

Frankly speaking anything you see of Virat on TV, he comes off as this aggressive person, aggressive player, aggressive captain, but in reality he is not aggressive. He is actually a calm captain. During the strategic time-outs he is calm and spells out what he expects from players and keeps things simple, which is a requirement for a good captain. He is a learning captain and over a period of time he will be an amazing asset for the country.

Although we have seen some brilliant knocks from AB de Villiers the RCB lower-order is yet to contribute substantially this season. How have you been working on it?

We struggled a bit in the initial part this season. But actually if you see we are not getting much opportunity to bat. The top-order is so strong so we are not getting to bat. You can’t say we are fragile actually. We have not been getting many chances to bat as such. When we do get chances I think we will do well.