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[caption id="attachment_43133" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Sehwag is the head coach of Kings XI Punjab. File Pic[/caption] Internet Desk: With three wins from seven games, Kings XI Punjab are in the lower half of the points table and would need to win their forthcoming games to keep themselves in the reckoning for a place in the playoffs. The Glenn Maxwell led side arrived in Mohali to play their remaining four home games and would be keen to make most of the familiar conditions. While addressing the media ahead of their first game at the venue, Virender Sehwag, KXIP’s Director - Cricket Operations, reiterated Batting Coach J Arun Kumar’s observation that all departments need to complement each other and the team needed to click as a unit to win. “The processes of the team - practice well, play good cricket ... are important. When you follow those then the results are likely to be in your favour. Also, all departments need to complement each other and come together well. Like in the last match (against Gujarat Lions in Rajkot) we batted, bowled and fielded well,” he said. As they look to build momentum, having won against Gujarat Lions in Rajkot, most of the team along with Darren Sammy, who has joined KXIP half-way through the tournament, turned out for practice at the IS Bindra Stadium on Friday ahead of their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Speaking about the team’s strengths, Sehwag said, “We bank on our batting department and the overseas batsmen we have are our key players. In a couple of matches, Hashim Amla did well for us and then Maxwell too scored runs. Even if two batsmen out of the four players succeed, then I have observed that it works well for us.” Amla has anchored the KXIP innings with panache. Speaking about the former South Africa skipper’s invaluable contribution, the Sehwag observed, “Amla is amongst the top five (or) six batsmen on the international stage. He has scored runs across formats. An experienced player like him knows how to score runs, which bowler to pick, (and) how to play in which situation.” He further added that Amla’s contribution is beyond the runs he scores on the field and he plays an important role in mentoring young players. “I will give credit to Hashim Amla for the way Manan Vohra is playing. I gave the responsibility to Hashim Amla to talk to Manan Vohara all the time - whether it was while batting, or at practice or anytime off the field. So he is talking to the youngsters and sharing his experiences with them and I can see the results. He is a very nice person, a very good human being and a very, very good player. One can say a great player!” Discussing his own advise to the young players in the KXIP squad, Sehwag said, “I tell them that they can play the way that they want to. Different people can and will give them different advise, but they have to take the advise best suited to them and adapt it to their batting.” He added that he emphasises on shaping the mindsets of the players. “When they talk to me, I mostly talk to them about mindset, about mental toughness. You can improve your skills, but mindset – toughness – is an element which takes years to improve. Take any international player for example, (he is picked) when he is 22-23 years, (but) he reaches his peak at around 28 years of age. In that duration, his mental toughness becomes better, self-belief improves and confidence improves. So that is what I am trying to tell them today so that it doesn’t take them five to seven years to understand. I hope they realise it sooner and become mentally tough and perform. I hope they will then be able to convert their talent into performance...and hope to play for India one day.” Asked what is his advice to batsmen who want to bat like him or like Maxwell, Sehwag said, “I tell them only one thing. For example, Manan Vohra can bat like Manan Vohra only, not like Virender Sehwag or Glenn Maxwell. A youngster needs to know his strengths and weakness; then it becomes easier to bat or bowl. I also wanted to become Sachin Tendulkar, but I quickly realised that I can’t be. I couldn’t perform like him or play shots like him. I figured that I have to create my own identity and so I have to play like Virender Sehwag. I tell them that you can learn from other players, but you can’t copy from them or be them. You can (only) be you.” As Director – Cricket Ops, while he shares his experience and inputs along with the seniors in the team, Sehwag has also created a team of support staff consisting of experienced players who have been an integral part of successful sides in Indian domestic cricket. Speaking about Assistant Coach Mithun Manhas and Batting Coach J Arun Kumar, Sehwag said that their contribution is invaluable especially because of their experience in domestic cricket. “Players like Mithun Manhas and J Arun Kumar have played more than 100 first-class matches, so they understand what actually batting means in domestic or international cricket. Both (Manhas and Arun Kumar) have played IPL. They talk to all the guys who are sitting out to make sure that the guys who are sitting on the bench get enough practice so that when they get a chance they can play and perform for KXIP.” “It helps me also because J Arun Kumar is the best Indian coach; he has won all the domestic tournaments for Karnataka as a coach and as a batting consultant. So that’s why I have hired them (Indian support staff),” he explained the appointments of the support staff. Speaking about the team’s goals, the journey and the dressing room atmosphere, he explained, “When we meet the first time, we talk about winning the title. There are various roads probably that lead to the title; everyone can have different ideas and opinions, but the goal can be only one - to win! And that can be done only one way, which is to perform. How can I get that from a player? I can give him the environment that keeps him happy, helps him be hundred percent ready. I can give them a conducive environment that can help them perform. However, I can’t go out there and play for them. I try to ensure that they play their natural game, play their way and perform.” “One of the most important things I tell them is shot selection is very crucial in batting. They concentrate and pay attention to which shot to play in which situation and play keeping the team’s interests in mind,” he added “I try to share my experience and knowledge as much as I can so that the team can benefit from it,” Sehwag said. Reflecting on the journey of the IPL he said, “Over the period the IPL has changed a lot. It has provided a platform to a lot of players, not only Indian, but overseas as well, to display their skills. Every player wants to eventually play for the country at the Test level. They wouldn’t want to only play T20. Everyone wants to perform here so that it paves a way for them to be part of the Indian team across formats, play Tests for the country. IPL has given players that opportunity. It has been a good platform for the players. It has been good for me as well - whether I have been part of it as a player, or a mentor or as a Director, because we also get to learn something new every time." Courtesy: IPL Media.