Hyderabad, Feb. 2: Adam Gilchrist is understandably excited as he goes into IPL-III as captain of the defending champions, the Deccan Chargers, . However, the Aussie is keeping his feet firmly on the ground as he knows things can get tricky in the Twenty20 format.

"Past history means nothing once the first ball is bowled. Every team has the talent and skill to win this tournament. It will be the 50-50 moments, where a match is in the balance and members of one team back themselves. Those will be the moments that decide the eventual winners," he told this newspaper. Excerpts:

Eager to play IPL-3?

Bring it on! The first two tournaments were amazing, taking cricket and the entertainment it provides to new levels. The people of India and the cricket-loving public the world over deserves to see this fantastic event once again. I can’t wait to be a part of it.

I am extremely excited, particularly to be back in India after the South African experience in IPL-II. I know how much it means to the cricket fans in this wonderful country and look forward to doing my best to entertain them.

Does being defending champions bring added pressure?

Not quite. All teams start the tournament on an equal footing. Past history means nothing once the first ball is bowled. Of course, there will be an expectation from our supporters to do well. They stuck with us through a difficult first year and enjoyed the success of IPL-III. We travel the road together.

How difficult is it to maintain the streak, especially when the momentum is broken by a one-year gap and players have just about a fortnight to regroup?

It’s not about thinking of winning the tournament from the outset. Yes, there is a 12-month gap between series, so for that reason we must break the tournament down into stages. The early part of the tournament is crucial for a positive start as that builds confidence and allows the team members to play their natural game.

What does new signing Kemar Roach bring to the team?

A great deal. He is fast, aggressive and loves to lay down the challenge to the batsman. Kemar (pace bowler from Barbados) is a fine athlete and I know he is really fired up to do well in his first year with the Deccan Chargers.

T20 being unpredictable, which are the teams Deccan Chargers are wary of?

We are wary of every team, simple as that. Every team has the talent and skill to win this tournament. It will be the 50-50 moments, where a match is in the balance and members of one team back themselves. Those will be the moments that decide the eventual winners.

IPL-III will be different thanks to political overtones. How does it affect the players?

Hopefully, the players will be allowed to focus totally on what they do best — playing cricket. We will be guided by the security experts, and hopefully all players will be welcomed into the country in a similar fashion to previous tours and tournaments.

The Shiv Sena has threatened to block Australian cricketers from playing in Mumbai against the backdrop of attacks on Indians in Australia. Your comments,

Any threat must be taken seriously and no doubt all Australian players involved in the IPL will be monitoring the situation closely. I understand the Shiv Sena’s and all Indians’ frustrations at the unfortunate incidents that have occurred in Australia. So too are the Australian public and the government frustrated and concerned. No one likes to see these incidents happen, anywhere in the world.

You’ve always enjoyed a good following in India. Do you see a role in bridging the gap such attacks tend to widen between countries?

I’ve had the good fortune of visiting India many times over the past 14 years and have developed a real fondness for the country and its people. My most enduring memory of India after every visit is the smiling faces of its people.

It truly hurts to think there is any sort of tension between the two countries and I would be extremely happy to play whatever role I could to help bridge any gap. In fact, I recently spoke with Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and mentioned my eagerness to help if he thought it worthwhile.

Can sport play an active role in reducing tensions?

No doubt sport can play a part, it has previously for many years. Cricket is a common interest and love that both India and Australia share. It would be a great shame if incidents outside the game didn’t allow the series to go ahead to its full potential. Sport across the globe has often shown itself to know no traditional boundaries, with a unique ability to bring fans and players from all backgrounds, all beliefs and cultures, together in unity. I hope that is allowed to occur in India for IPL-III.

K. MOSES