VIRENDER SEHWAG (Delhi Daredevils):
For all his image of a gay cavalier, Virender Sehwag has a deep understanding of the game and the players under his command.
After all, he has a 100 per cent record as Test captain with India winning the one match in which he led, and it was always on the cards that under his stewardship Delhi Daredevils would achieve great things. His team too was not listed among the favourites when the IPL commenced, but somewhere along the line it became obvious that Sehwag was the inspirational force and Delhi Daredevils would qualify for the semifinals, which they did, pipping Mumbai Indians at the post.
As only to be expected, Sehwag led from the front scoring 406 runs with three half-centuries at a most impressive strike rate of 184.5. The team’s batting was top heavy but Sehwag was let down by a brittle middle and late order, and the inability of proven players like AB de Villiers, Mohammed Asif, Tillekeratne Dilshan and Shoaib Malik to perform up to their reputation was a cross he had to bear. All this left gaping holes both in the batting and bowling and he had to rely overmuch on Glenn McGrath, Yo Mahesh, Ferveez Maharoof and Amit Mishra. Sehwag clearly was an authoritative leader and the men responded to him.