'Ordinary' Ojha writes Deccan's success script

Pragyan Ojha was not the reason Deccan Chargers ended up bottom of the heap last season - that was because their superstars had gone missing - but he is a crucial factor in their topping the table in the current tournament. He is the highest wicket-taker (six wickets) among spinners in the competition, has the best economy rate (5.16), and the second-best strike rate (12.0). His success is, in fact, a window to the change in the team's fortunes.

If, last season, Deccan Chargers were a star-studded team where every big name played at Superman, this year they have thrown off their capes, returned to earth and resumed life as Clark Kent. They are, so to speak, a team of Ojhas, each playing for the other.

"No one is complaining about each other now," Ojha said on Sunday. "Sometimes it happens, you know, when you are playing and losing ... lots of differences crop up [between people]. There is nothing like that now. We are gelling well together."

Ojha points to an instance from Saturday's match, against Mumbai Indians. Sachin Tendulkar was in control of the chase at the 10-over break. "I had not bowled my first over well. I went to Laxmanbhai, Gilchrist and the coach to discuss how to bowl to him. We decided we'd make him drive to the off side. If he swept, fine, but we'd not let him cut. We had our field set for a shot over the covers; he connected well but didn't get the elevation. It was an amazing feeling for me to get Sachin."

Ojha is the kind of bowler who thrives on the captain's confidence. Adam Gilchrist understands that and is backing him up. "He is a captain who gives us lot of liberties, lets you put your own field and backs you. He knows my strengths and has told me to bowl the way I am doing now; not try too many things and, when in doubt, to fall back on senior players like him or Laxman or the coach."

Ojha's bowling is an uncomplicated art. There is no mystery ball or a standout different delivery. His success lies in the patient use of the stock ball. "I just want to stay calm and keep it simple. Especially, Twenty20 is all about a batsman just trying to hit you. My biggest strength is my flight but here [in this format] I am trying to bowl a bit quicker and use variations in pace. Mainly, though, I am just trying to keep it simple. As a spinner, more than going for wickets, if you try to restrict the batsman - not in a negative way but because it's an attacking option in this format - you can get the batsman out as he will have to try some thing different."

It's this self-awareness of his own game that must please his mentors like Venkatapathy Raju and Robin Singh. "Whenever I am in Hyderabad, Raju helps me with my bowling. And Robin Singh [India's fielding coach] has not only got me fitter but helped me as a bowler. He offers the batsman's mindset and what a batsman is trying to do when he is facing me. And bowling to the likes of Sehwag, Sachin, Yuvraj, Dhoni [in the nets] and talking to Kumble and Harbhajan has obviously helped me mature as a bowler."

And he is learning more in the IPL environment. "For Darren Lehmann [the Deccan coach] told me even in this format, instead of going over the wicket to any batsman, it's better to bowl round the wicket until he dominates you."

Most solutions to cricketing problems lie in going back to the basics, and Hyderabad are working on getting their basics right. It's all about simple things. Their fielding coach has devised a chant that the team shouts out when they win a game. "The first game we won, everyone was really excited and it was thrilling to be in the dressing room. Our fielding coach says something and we have to repeat it; we shout back. That was really nice."

Lehmann, for his part, doesn't want to talk up the current success or dwell on last year's failure. "All we are trying to do is live in the moment and play it ball by ball. If anything that's our mantra. The kids are enjoying themselves, learning about life and improving. That's all you can ask. All I told them at the start is to forget the last year, let's improve as cricketers and as people."

Gilchrist believes the hurt factor is working for them this year. "Like everyone when you do not perform to the standards you want to, you get hurt. We were frustrated after last year and knew we'd let down our fans and, more so, ourselves. We have started well, I am not saying that we have redeemed our selves; we will keep working hard."

In the television series Lois & Clark, Clark Kent defines himself to Lois Lane thus: "Superman is what I can do. Clark is who I am." Deccan Chargers are slowly returning to who they are. And, in that, showing us what they can do.