As the Deccan Chargers limbered up ahead of their match against the Chennai Super Kings, RP Singh broke away from the group to say hello to Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the CSK brand ambassador and India’s chief selector. The IPL’s second-highest wicket-taker, RP has been in the spotlight this week and is now seeking attention from the national selection committee. In an interview with The Indian Express, he talks about the purple cap, the frustration of being benched, and coping with the domestic grind. Excerpts:

You did well here in the World T20, and now you’re doing well in the IPL.

• Yes, this has been a happy hunting-ground for me, my lucky venue. It happens sometimes that when you go back to a place where you’ve done well, you get positive vibes and they make you lucky. The IPL format is such that it allows a team to persist with a bowler to iron out the rough edges.

How much did you enjoy wearing the purple cap?

• This cap gives me great pride and satisfaction. Pride because I’ve bowled during the power-plays and the death overs, and I’ve not only managed to get the most wickets so far, but also be economical in a format that isn’t generally kind to bowlers; satisfaction because all my hard work has paid off. It’s been a while since I’ve played any real cricket and I needed to remind people about myself. The work is only half done. It’s still early in the tournament, but the Deccan Chargers have done well and I’m proud to have played a substantial part in making that happen.

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