Ross Taylor joins Delhi Daredevils

Khelo Front Foot Pe! Ross Taylor

MUMBAI, February 29: New Zealand captain Ross Taylor will move from Rajasthan Royals to Delhi Daredevils in the coming season of the DLF Indian Premier League.

GMR Sports Head (Cricket) and Delhi Daredevils Team Mentor TA Sekar said he was delighted with the latest acquistion. “We all know what a quality player Ross is and we are happy that he will be with us this season,” Sekar said. “We are confident that we have a very competitive side and can have a good run in the coming edition of the Indian Premier League.”

Sekar said the team’s thinktank had worked hard to get together a strong batting line-up this season. “Besides players like our captain Virender Sehwag and David Warner, we have added muscle to our batting by inducting Mahela Jayawardene, Kevin Pietersen and now Ross Taylor into our fold,” he said. “Our fans can look forward to some explosive knocks.”

"Khelo front foot pe! I am liking this slogan!" writes Superfan Anu

In life, the only thing that is equal is the number of hours in a day. Some wise man said that, I didn’t. However, on Monday, being a part of the Delhi Daredevils super fans, I found my motivation going through the roof. I was in exceptional company. My peers Arjun Vajpai, Reena Kaushal Dharmasaktu and Arun Bhardwaj are in a league of their own. I have a lot to learn from each one of them and also from the team itself. 

Delhi Daredevils Superfans

GMR Sports Chairman Kiran K Grandhi and the Delhi Daredevils Supefans Reena Kaushal Dharamshaktu (left), Arun Bhadrwaj, Anu Vaidyanathan and Arjun Vajpai give the cricket team the thumbs up for the season. 

GMR Sports signs up four flagbearers of daredevilry

NEW DELHI, February 27, 2012:  Delhi Daredevils, aiming to stay competitive through the coming season in the DLF Indian Premier League, today unveiled its plans to engage with fans by signing on four remarkable flagbearers of daredevilry as Delhi Daredevils Supefans.

India’s only IronMan athlete Anuradha Vaidyanathan, the youngest Indian climber to summit three peaks beyond 8000m, including Mount Everest, Arjun Vajpai, India’s only ultramarathon runner Arun Bhardwaj and the only Indian woman to ski her way to South Pole, Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu were presented the Delhi Daredevils Supefans badge by GMR Sports Chairman Mr. Kiran K Grandhi.

Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu

This West Delhi housewife skiied over 915 km in 38 days, passing through some of the most desolate regions in the world to become the first Indian woman to ski her way to the South Pole as part of the Commonwealth Women’s Antarctic Expedition in 2009. In doing that, Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu not only braved blizzards, crevasses and temperatures below minus 40 degrees Celsius but also encouraged people to think about their ultimate ambition and to take steps towards turning that dream into reality.
 She continues to seek new horizons and at the same time campaign for the Leave-No-Trace philosophy. She likes to make people more aware about the importance of preserving the environment. She wishes that people would realise that every little thing – separating the biodegradable waste form the non-degradable waste – can contribute majorly to a better environment. She was part of a 15-woman cycling expedition -- Go Green Girls – from Kolkata to Kanyakumari, covering nearly 3000km in 35 days in early 2011 and promote a clean, green and healthy environment.

This freelance outdoor instructor from Darjeeling has made Delhi her home. An experienced mountaineer, she has been on several expeditions in the Himalayas and has received the prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award. In pursuing her dreams, she has shown that she is mentally and physically strong with tolerance for adversity and uncertainty. Indeed, Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu showcases indefatigable spirit that embodies daredevilry. We are honoured to welcome her as a Delhi Daredevils Super Fan.

Arun Bhardwaj

He was the weakest boy in class. He would be down with malaria each year. And, what’s more, he underwent four major surgeries to treat parotid tumour. But from July 2000 when he embarked on a solo run from Haridwar to Baghpat, Arun Bhardwaj has shown reserves of inner strength as he as India’s only ultramarathon runner.

He became the first Indian representative in any 24-hour ultramarathon when he logged 138.172km and finished ninth in the IAU Asia 24-hour Track Championships in Taiwan in March 2002. His last major exploit was finishing the Badwater Ultramarathon. Covering 217km non-stop, it is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet. 

He believes the world has not dared to look to the real source of all true greatness. Most of us simply do not dare look within ourselves for the unbelievable strength and capacities that sit dormant within us. Our true inner capacities far outshine the dimensions of our minds and bodies.

He loves the tears that flows down his cheeks when he in running the ultras, exploring the unknown inner world experiencing spiritual ecstasy. He sleeps just four hours each night and spends one sleepless night every week. For, he clocks 160-200 hours of training each week besides working at the Planning Commission. 

The 43-year-old’s relentless pursuit of his dreams, fuelled by his indomitable spirit, is inspirational. As a wonderful flagbearer of Daredevilry, we are very proud to welcome Arun Bhardwaj as a Delhi Daredevils Super Fan.

Arjun Vajpai

He faced breathing issues, given that his lung capacity was less than an adult’s. He also struggled with loss of appetite and tough living conditions at very high altitudes but his daredevil attitude took Arjun Vajpai to the roof of the world as the youngest Indian. He was 16 years and 11 months old when he scaled Mount Everest on May 29, 2010.

He has not rested on his oars after Everest, succeeding as the youngest climber atop Lhotse and the more dangerous Mt Manaslu. Not even heavy rainfall and landslides and an earthquake could shift his focus or his determination to succeed the Mt Manaslu expedition. He will also soon embark on a mission to the Poles and also hopes to become the first Indian to scale K2. 

At an age when most Indians are making that transition to being young adults, he has has stared death in the face not a few times but he has learnt to react positively to this challenge. He has also learnt to seek new horizons as he pushes himself to the limit.

For one so young, Arjun Vajpai is the personification of daredevilry as an attitude developed over a number of years. It is our pleasure to welcome him into our fold as a Delhi Daredevils Superfan.

Anuradha Vaidyanathan

She wears many hats, almost always working first on whatever intimidated her. She has a couple of degrees in Computer Engineering, a PhD in Electrical Engineering and manages a small team of consultants dealing in Intellectual Property Rights. Anuradha Vaidyanathan teaches at IIT Ropar and IIM Ahmedabad. Her curiosity has taken her to a number of places around the world.

So, do we hear you ask: “What’s the big deal? How does she become a Daredevil?” 

Well, Anu, as he likes to be known, competes in a triathlon version called the Ironman and it involves swimming over 3.8km swim, bicycling across 180km and running 42.2km. And when she gets bored with taking part in Ironman competitions, she prefers the ‘easier; Ultraman version – involving a 10km swim, 420km bicycle ride and an 84.4km run over three days! 

The Delhi-born 30-year-old has managed to compete consistently and most of all, keep her love for this sport alive. She has found that if one loves something, one will always find a way to do it. She dislikes the very thought of not trying, sets her own limits, is persistent and defies eats a lot of stereotypes to make her dreams come true. 

Her passion inspires everyone who knows her to not accept status quo and to make things happen. We are sure you will agree that she is a worthy flagbearaer of Daredevilry. We are proud to give Anuradha Vaidyanathan, wearer of many hats, one more hat to wear – that of being a Delhi Daredevil Super Fan. 

Tracing Irfan Pathan's comeback

Irfan Pathan has worked with former India pacer TA Sekar (Delhi Daredevils Mentor) and his inputs have been invaluable for the Baroda pacer, writes Vinay Naidu in The Times of India. 

Daredevils names Jayawardene vice-captain

NEW DELHI, February 22: Delhi Daredevils has named the vastly-experienced Mahela Jayawardene, who led Sri Lanka to the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, as its vice-captain this season.

Akash Jain gets his Delhi Daredevils-autographed bat

KP becomes first player to wear 2012 Daredevils jersey

Explosive batsman Kevin Pietersen, who became the first Delhi Daredevils player to don the new team uniform at the ICC Global Cricket Academy here today, said he is looking forward to playing alongside many exciting players like Virender Sehwag, David Warner, Mahela Jayawardene and Morne Morkel.

“There is no doubt that the Indian Premier League is an exciting competition and I am delighted to back after having to miss out last season because of a surgery. When I look at the squad list, I am sure that Delhi Daredevils will regain the consistency it has shown in the first three editions when it won 24 games,” he said.

He reflected the immense confidence Delhi Daredevils has about lasting the distance in the coming edition of the Indian Premier League. “We are excited about our prospects in the coming season,” said Mr TA Sekar, Head (Cricket), GMR Sports Pvt Ltd, which owns the Delhi Franchise of the Indian Premier League. “We have the right assembly of talent to.”

Mr Sekar, who is also Team Mentor, said the squad has been restructured with a view to be competitive through the season. “Kevin’s transfer from Hyderabad, the successful bidding for Mahela Jayawardene and young all-rounders Andre Russell (West Indies) and Douglas Bracewell (New Zealand) are all steps in that direction,” he said.

“We have also worked at adding to our ranks domestic talent who we believe can make a significant difference. For instance, we have added Delhi’s 18-year-old Pawan Negi, a left-handed all-rounder who bowls left-arm spin and can pack a punch with the bat. Gujarat’s Manprit Juneja who made a double century on Ranji Trophy debut and Saurashtra’s Kuldeep Raval are exciting talent who can play critical roles in the middle-order,” Sekar said.

Mr Sekar thanked the team’s Sponsors and Partners for supporting the Delhi Daredevils. “We value our relationship with our Sponsors and Partners immensely as we realise that our journey would not be as wonderful without their support and co-operation,” he said. “We also cherish the enormous support that Delhi Daredevils enjoys in the National Capital Region and beyond.”

Aaron seeks March date with cricket action

JAMSHEDPUR: Pace bowler Varun Aaron, recovering from an injury, has said he would be back in action within a month. “The last two medical reports have been good and I am undergoing specialised training in National Cricket Academy at Bangalore,” he told reporters here.
The 22-year-old paceman also told newsmen that he has started bowling. “I am not going to compromise with the speed and confident of bowling quick soon,” he said.
Aaron was in the Steel City to take part in a programme organised by Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) with sports teachers of various schools to promote cricket in the city.

Mahela happy to be a Daredevil

NEW DELHI: Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s captain who will turn out for Delhi Daredevils this season, has said he will complement the big-hitting batsmen Virender Sehwag, David Warner and the newly-acquired Kevin Pietersen and would try to play the role of a finisher.

Jayawardene, Russell & Bracewell add muscle to Daredevils

BANGALORE, February 4: Delhi Daredevils said the addition of Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and young all-rounders Andre Russell (West Indies) and Doug Bracewell (New Zealand) would help the team stay competitive throughout the coming Indian Premier League season.

“We are pleased with the acquisitions at the Player Auction here today and are confident we can be competitive through the season,” said Team Mentor TA Sekar. “Going into the auction, we were very clear that we would strengthen our middle-order batting and look for allrounders. We are happy to have found what we targeted.”

Daredevils seeks to be competitive through the season

NEW DELHI: The fifth season of Indian Premier League gets under way on Saturday with the Player Auction in Bangalore, letting the teams have rosters of up to 33 players. Delhi Daredevils has aimed to make the necessary additions so that the remains competitive throughout the coming season.