Foreign players also benefit from IPL: Sekar

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) Delhi Daredevils mentor T.A. Sekar Sunday said it is not just Indian youngsters but also international players who benefit from the experience of playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Sekar said Australian cricket's latest poster boy David Warner owes his success to India opener and Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag.

"IPL has done a lot for people. Nobody knew Warner in 2008. Viru (Sehwag) has inspired him a lot. Sehwag told Warner to play Tests and bat like he usually does and look where he is today. He scored a century on debut in Tests against New Zealand. It's not just the Indians who benefit, the foreign players too get to learn a lot, Indian conditions are tough and they get to learn so much," said Sekar after the team's practice session at the Ferozeshah Kotla for the fifth season of the IPL.

Daredevils' head coach Eric Simmons stressed on the point of Indian youngsters benefiting from their interaction with the international players.

"The more you play the more you learn. Youngsters get to interact with International stars and have the opportunity to learn so much. Every player goes through a process of learning," he said.

Simmons, who was recently replaced by Australian Joe Dawes as the Indian team's bowling coach, refused to talk about India's bowling woes or whether the team was missing him saying that he was only focussing on Delhi.

"My focus is on the Delhi Daredevils. Hope the Indian bowlers can come back well. Being the head coach now, I am responsible for everything. I have done this before and I am good at understanding people below me," he added.

The Daredevils finished last in the previous edition, but this time Simmons remained confident with the current crop of players.

The presence of mercurial Englishman Kevin Piertersen, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, New Zealand's Ross Taylor and West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell have made Daredevils the most exciting team to watch out for this season.

"Excited about this group of players. They know their game. I am very pleased the way it is working out. Planning has been great," Simmons added.

The Daredevils start their IPL campaign against the Kolkata Knight Riders, April 5, at the Eden Gardens.