Greetings from Deccan Chargers, your IPL team from Hyderabad! I take immense pleasure to update Chargers fans on your team and some of its players. Deccan Chargers is proud that the international and domestic players have been performing par excellence in the various cricketing tournaments round the globe playing for their respective countries, counties, clubs, etc.
Deccan Chargers Skipper Kumar Sangakkara, the suave, intense, very balanced and ruthless cricketer gentleman is a great motivator and inspires his team to succeed. Sanga, the wicket-keeper batsman lets his performance speak. He was awarded the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year 2011 and also won the ICC People's Choice Award. He played his 100th Test Match, Sri Lanka vs Australia in Sri Lanka, Sep 16 – 20, 2011 and scored 79 runs. Kumar Sangakkara delivered an exceptional speech in his prestigious 2011 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture, touching on the history, culture and opportunities for Sri Lankan cricket.
Rusty Theron gave South Africa a fitting victory with his 31 not out and a winning six in the last ball on Oct 16th, 2011 in the second T20 International against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium.
A gusty half-century by JP Duminy, took South Africa to 146 for seven in their allotted 20 overs against Australia in their first T20 match at Cape Town on October 13th, 2011.
Dale Steyn bowled high-quality out swingers during the recent CLT20 2011 for his team Cape Cobras. Daniel Christian, the all rounder was also seen in action playing for his team, South Australia and JP Duminy, the classy batsman for his team, the Cape Cobras at the CLT20 2011.
We were happy to have the superb, star batsman Kevin Pietersen in Hyderabad, to play for his side England in the ODI India vs. England on Oct 14th, 2011. KP has the record of reaching 1000 ODI runs in just 21 matches and he has scored more runs in his first 25 Test matches than anyone else, except for the legendary Don Bradman. His 175 runs in the Oval Test against India in August 2011 and his 202 at Lord’s Test against India in July 2011 speak volumes of his batting abilities.
Our Indian stars, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha and Shikhar Dhawan were selected to join Team India in the ODIs and Tests at West Indies and England immediately after their stint with the Deccan Chargers during IPL 2011.
Amit was consistent in taking wickets for Team India and showed his batting skills by scoring 43 & 84 runs during the Oval Test Innings in August 2011.
It is a joy to see Ishant Sharma hungry for wickets. In the last 13 months he has taken 57 of his 123 wickets. His 100th wicket in his 32nd Test, West Indies v India, 2nd Test, Bridgetown on the 3rd day is indeed memorable. He said in an interview following this achievement "I learnt during this IPL that jo aap ho aapko vahi karna hai (you should stick to your strengths). I learnt how to recover from tiredness. You travel a lot during the IPL and I learnt more about my body and the importance of training."
Ishant’s bowling attack during the Test series in England, especially the five overs for four runs and three wickets before lunch in the 1st Test at Lords on the 4th day is up there among the best spells of fast bowling in recent years followed by figures of 19-5-64-1 on the 2nd day of the 4th Test at Oval was a delight to watch.
Another power player from our team, Shikhar Dhawan who talks with his bat, was named Captain of the Emerging Players Tournament immediately after the IPL 2011. The squad includes a number of players on the fringes of the India team, who have impressed through the domestic season and in the IPL. The tournament was played in Australia in the month of August 2011.
In the recently held Rajasthan v Rest of India, Irani Cup 2011-12, Jaipur, 1st day, Dhawan scored 177 off 165 balls, an innings that contained 32 fours and one six followed by another fabulous century off 119 deliveries, in the second session. Rest of India held the Irani Cup with a massive first-innings lead and then, instead of enforcing the follow-on, chose to bat again and thrash Rajasthan further with Shikhar Dhawan scoring 155 on the 4th day. He was named the Player-of-the-Match. Way to go Shikhar!

Our local boy Pragyan Ojha who came into the limelight with his performance as a Charger in the inaugural edition of IPL, was selected to represent Team India. And Pragyan is one of the best spin bowlers India has produced. In the Rajasthan v Rest of India, Irani Cup 2011-12, Jaipur Pragyan was the highest wicket taker with 9 wickets for his team Rest of India. He also played brilliantly for his County team Surrey in the County Championship Division Two English Domestic Season this September. Ojha took 23 wickets in four Championship matches, with figures of 6 for 8 against Northamptonshire to go alongside 6 for 42 against Derbyshire. I am very happy to see Pragyan perform with utmost dedication and a great desire to win.
I am very proud of our domestic players from Hyderabad, especially Ravi Teja. He is the Captain of the Hyderabad Cricket Association XI. This August 2011, Ravi lead his team to a 128 runs victory by scoring 107 runs in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament Group D against Tamil Nadu Cricket Association XI. And also wins against Gujarat Cricket Association XI and Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association XI in the same tournament. Ravi was also the Captain of Hyderabad Ranji Trophy Cricket Team when it played the tournaments last year. He is the Captain of Deccan Chronicle Cricket Club Team and has lead the team to some exciting wins in the HCA League matches held recently.
Our other young guns from Hyderabad Ashish Reddy and Akash Bhandari are showing great promise in the domestic tournaments.
In the presently ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (South Zone) Inter-State Twenty20 Cricket Tournament, the power play by Ravi Teja who scored an unbeaten 81 in 55 balls and his partnership of 93 in 57 balls with Arjun Yadav contributing 40 runs for the third wicket and Pragyan Ojha picking two crucial wickets ensured Hyderabad its first win against Andhra. And Bharath Chipli’s 38 not out took his team Karnataka to an 8 wicket (with 19 balls remaining) victory over Tamil Nadu.
I am excited that Deccan Chargers has provided a wonderful platform to these young, talented and upcoming cricketers and trust they play for Team India soon.

Yours,
E.Venkatram Reddy