News Analysis India

Tag: Delhi Capitals

  • Good starting performance can be great for Kuldeep Yadav’s confidence, feels Delhi Capitals’ assistant coach Ajit Agarkar

    By IANS

    PUNE: Delhi Capitals’ assistant coach Ajit Agarkar on Friday felt that left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive performance in the start of IPL 2022 can turn out to be a great confidence booster for him. In Delhi’s opening match of the tournament against Mumbai Indians, Yadav broke a 67-run opening partnership by taking the wicket of captain Rohit Sharma.

    He then picked up wickets of Anmolpreet Singh and Kieron Pollard to end with excellent figures of 3/18 in his four overs, earning a Player-of-the-Match award in his comeback to IPL. Now, ahead of Delhi’s second match against newbies Gujarat Titans at Pune, Agarkar hopes that Yadav builds on the good show from the first match.

    “It’s huge. Look, he’s been a fantastic bowler over the years and hasn’t played a lot of cricket in the past two-three years perhaps for various teams like India or franchise. Every time he bowls well, he is going to get you wickets, which is what we hope he can do. I am very happy for him while commentating or watching him work as hard as anyone else. To have a good performance at the start of the tournament can be great for his confidence as well,” said Agarkar in the pre-match virtual press conference.

    In a chase of 178, Delhi were tottering at 104/6 in 13.2 overs. But Lalit Yadav (48 not out off 38 balls) and Axar Patel (38 not out off 17 balls) built an unbroken stand of 75 to complete a come-from-behind win by four wickets. The duo’s ability and handling of pressure situation was something which stood out for Agarkar and provides a huge boost for Delhi’s batting depth.

    “Oh, (very) huge. We know of the depth we have in our batting and are still missing a couple of players who will be joining soon. But the way they just absorbed the pressure while playing against a big team like the Mumbai Indians and couple of top bowlers in the team. The way those two absorbed pressures of a good pitch, fast outfield and dew.

    “But it’s about handling the pressure at that point and someone like Lalit Yadav, who’s been around Delhi Capitals for a while now and these type of pressure situations are not easy to handle. Axar’s been around Indian set-up but even then, to score 9,10, 11 at one point in an over is never easy. It gives us a huge boost, especially from the situation we were in.”

    Agarkar is expecting a run-fest from the match between Delhi and Gujarat, who defeated Lucknow by five wickets for their first-ever IPL win. “They pulled a game towards the end. Like us, they were in a difficult situation. So, when you win from a difficult situation, it always gives you that much confidence as a team.

    “It’s still early days in the tournament and both teams have played just one game as well. Not much of new venue as everyone has played in Pune and everyone expects to have a high-scoring game in the venue. It is about how you execute your skills on the day is what matters at the end of the day.”

  • IPL: Mumbai get Capital punishment from Kuldeep Yadav

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: Kuldeep Yadav had a wide smile on his face. There was a noticeable purpose in the way he walked, his celebrations had the air of a man who was enjoying life, like an unleashed golden retriever out on its evening run in the neighbourhood park.

    By the time he was done with his quota of four overs — the first time he has bowled out in the Indian Premier League since September  2020 — Mumbai Indians had been pegged back. A confident start (53/0 from six overs) had made way to a muddle in the middle overs (123/4 after 16) largely thanks to the wrist-spinner’s guile on a surface made tailor-made for trusting the bounce and hitting through the line, aka good batting wicket. His 3/18 (eight dots, zero boundaries) enabled Rishabh Pant to control the flow of runs after the initial onslaught. That Kuldeep also managed to tie down Ishan Kishan, who finished with an unbeaten 81 off 48, was proof of the work he was doing behind the scenes. He admitted as much after the innings.

    “Very happy,” he told the host broadcaster. “I have been talking to Ricky (Ponting, Delhi Capitals coach) regarding the length of the ball in T20s. I did the same with Rohit (Sharma) with the India side. It just depended on the rhythm. The wicket was good, and it didn’t help me. The length has to be good to not allow the batters the time to hit. I varied my length and pace.”

    For his wonderful show with the ball, Kuldeep Yadav is the Player of the matchWell bowled @imkuldeep18#TATAIPL | #DCvMI pic.twitter.com/MEjZQ3b2I9
    — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 27, 2022
    When there’s nothing in the strip for spinners, those become big weapons for the spinners. A confident spinner relies on those subtle variations — changes in pace, using the crease and varying the length — to outfox batters. On Sunday at Brabourne Stadium, the tweaker exhibited his range in picking at least two of his three wickets. For Rohit Sharma, he didn’t push it through, asking the opener to manufacture power to clear the field which he failed. Against Anmolpreet Singh, it was full with a lot of air. The batter accepted the invitation but couldn’t clear long-off. Kieron Pollard will be disappointed with the way he fell because it was almost a long hop but you make your own luck in sport and Kuldeep was overdue.

    It’s fair to say Kuldeep had lost a bit of that confidence, self-belief in recent times. In 2020, he played five IPL games (12 overs, one wicket). In 2021, he warmed the bench during the India leg before being ruled out of the UAE leg thanks to a knee injury. Even though he played for the national team during this phase, the returns were not very satisfactory. Six wickets in eight games (five ODIs and three T20Is) revealed its own story.

    During the West Indies series early this year, Rohit had hinted that a fit-again Kuldeep would very much be in his plans. Even if he wasn’t trusted all that much, this team management wouldn’t be averse to rekindling an old alliance (Kuldeep with Yuzvendra Chahal). More games like Sunday will only hasten that feeling.

    Kuldeep 3/18 also had the desired effect because a total of 177 was slightly undercooked on a good surface. And that proved to be the case as Delhi romped home with 10 balls to spare.

    Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 177/5 in 20 ovs (Ishan 81 n.o, Rohit 41, Kuldeep 3/18) lost to Delhi Capitals 179/6 in 18.2 ovs (Lalit 48 n.o, Axar 38 n.o, Thampi 3/35).

  • Can’t believe how time went by with amazing bunch: Delhi Capitals pacer Anrich Nortje

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Delhi Capitals pacer Anrich Nortje said he was “proud” to be a part of the set-up but expressed “disappointed” on not being able to clinch the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 trophy. Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2021 campaign ended with a hurtful defeat as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got over the line courtesy Rahul Tripathi’s six off Ashwin in the final over.

    Nortje shared pictures from his IPL 2021 campaign and thanked fans who supported Delhi Capitals. “In sport and in life, things move so rapidly. Can’t believe how time went by with this amazing bunch. Proud of what we achieved and disappointed that we couldn’t get the trophy. Thank you to everyone involved, especially the fans for sticking with us,” Nortje tweeted.

    In sport and in life, things move so rapidly. Can’t believe how time went by with this amazing bunch. Proud of what we achieved and disappointed that we couldn’t get the trophy. Thank you to everyone involved, especially the fans for sticking with us pic.twitter.com/1mNG8viL5X
    — Anrich Nortje (@AnrichNortje02) October 14, 2021
    West Indies star batter Shimron Hetmyer thanked Delhi Capitals for giving him the opportunity to represent the side in the IPL 2021. “Thanks to @DelhiCapitals for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to represent you guys really enjoyed it,” Hetmyer tweeted.

    Thanks to @DelhiCapitals for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to represent you guys really enjoyed it … pic.twitter.com/Z26bjcMvQJ
    — Shimron Hetmyer (@SHetmyer) October 14, 2021
    After the defeat, Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting said he would like to retain each and every player of his team for the IPL 2022. “I would like to keep everyone, to be honest. We have got this terrific group of people at the Delhi Capitals. The playing staff and the coaches have done an amazing job for the last couple of seasons and I think our performances so to speak for themselves,” said Ponting during the post-match press conference.

    Ponting also said Delhi Capitals failed to utilise the powerplay and were eight to 10 runs short of the good first six overs score in the game.

  • Ended in heartbreak, but could not be more proud of team of exceptional warriors: Rishabh Pant

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant on Thursday said the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 journey for his side ended in heartbreak but he could not be more proud of leading his team of exceptional warriors.

    “It ended in heartbreak last night, but I could not be more proud of leading this team of exceptional warriors. We battled hard through the season, and while we may have fallen short on some days, we always gave 100 per cent,” tweeted Pant.

    In another tweet, the Delhi skipper said: “To the owners, management, staff, my teammates and most importantly, our passionate fans, I want to say thank you from my heart. You all made this season special. We will come back stronger @DelhiCapitals.”

    It ended in heartbreak last night, but I could not be more proud of leading this team of exceptional warriors. We battled hard through the season, and while we may have fallen short on some days, we always gave 100%. pic.twitter.com/IRPGqsmPT0
    — Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) October 14, 2021
    Venkatesh Iyer and Shubman Gill played knocks of 55 and 46 respectively to follow up Varun Chakravarthy’s two-wicket haul as KKR defeated Delhi Capitals by three wickets in Qualifier 2 here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

    “Can’t change anything after the match. Always we kept on believing and stayed in the game for as long as possible. The bowlers pulled it back. They bowled really well through the middle overs. We were stuck and unable to rotate the strike. Hopefully, we can come back next year for a stronger season,” Pant had told host broadcaster Star Sports after the game ended.

    “We played really good cricket throughout the season. We stuck together and cared for each other. Hopefully, we will improve next year and come back strongly,” he added.

    As a result of this win, KKR will now lock horns against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2021 final on Friday at the Dubai International Stadium.

  • IPL 2021: Disappointing way for us to finish the season, says Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: After suffering a defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting on Thursday said it was a disappointing way for his side to finish the season.

    “Thanks all @DelhiCapitals fans for your amazing support. Disappointing way for us to finish the season but it was such a thrill to be a part of as always. Bigger and better next year,” tweeted Ponting.

    Thanks all @DelhiCapitals fans for your amazing support. Disappointing way for us to finish the season but it was such a thrill to be a part of as always. Bigger and better next year.
    — Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) October 14, 2021
    Earlier, Ponting had said that he would like to retain each and every player of his team for IPL 2022.

    Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2021 campaign ended with a hurtful defeat as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got over the line courtesy Rahul Tripathi’s six-off Ashwin in the final over.

    Ponting was disappointed not to win the IPL 2021 title with a “terrific group of people” and said he will try to build the same squad for the next year’s event when the mega auction takes place.

    “I would like to keep everyone, to be honest. We have got this terrific group of people at the Delhi Capitals. The playing staff and the coaches have done an amazing job for the last couple of seasons and I think our performances so to speak for themselves,” said Ponting during the post-match press conference.

  • IPL 2021: I wasn’t chasing 136, just went out there to bat, says KKR opener Venkatesh Iyer

    By ANI

    SHARJAH: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opener Venkatesh Iyer said he was just playing his own game and trying to analyze the situation in Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

    Needing 136 runs to win, KKR were off to a brisk start, courtesy Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer. The duo cashed in on all the scoring opportunities and took KKR to 51/0 in the first six overs. But they lost the plot in the closing stages and it took Tripathi’s six off Ashwin in the final over to take KKR over the line.

    In a video posted on the IPL website, Iyer interacted with the former Australian cricketer and KKR’s chief mentor David Hussey.

    “I wasn’t chasing 136, I just went out there to bat. I just wanted to play first six overs and then see what the situation is,” said the KKR opener.

    KKR had won only two games in the first leg of the IPL in India but the side came stronger in the second leg in UAE and won five out of the seven games.

    “The brand of cricket that the KKR is playing and by KKR I just don’t mean the cricketers who are playing out there but the entire management,” said Iyer after being asked by Hussey about the biggest turn-around for the team.

    “The way we are thinking, the way we are going about the things that are the real turn around for us. The intent we are showing not just on the field but off the field is that what brought us here,” he added.

    Iyer also said that he will not treat the final as the big game and will try to give his best.

    “I will just rest up tomorrow (Thursday) and I am not going to treat it as a final or big game. I will just play my game and give my best and that’s what the entire team is going to do,” said Iyer.

    KKR has set up the blockbuster final showdown against Chennai Super Kings, which will take place in Dubai on Friday.

  • Bowlers nearly pulled it back, unfortunate it didn’t go our way: DC captain Pant after losing Qualifier 2

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Kolkata Knight Riders almost committed harakiri in what seemed like an easy run chase against Delhi Capitals in the IPL Qualifier 2 here on Wednesday and captain Eoin Morgan said a proper postmortem of the last four overs will be done later.

    Chasing 136 to win, KKR were cruising at 123 for 1 in 15.5 overs but the match took an incredibly dramatic turn when they lost five wickets for seven runs, with four batters getting out for nought.

    It was Rahul Tripathi, who eventually saved the team the blushes with a penultimate ball six, which sealed KKR a place in the final against Chennai Super Kings.

    “Should’ve been a lot easier after the start we got. The openers gave us a great platform. We will dissect what happened in the last four overs,” Morgan said during the post-match presentation.

    “Dew came in and all, but hey, we have won and we are in the finals. We are delighted to get over the line. Would’ve loved to win convincingly but Capitals are a very good side.

    “Six off two, the odds were probably in favour of the bowling side, but Rahul Tripathi has done superbly well for us.”

    DC captain Rishabh Pant was left stunned by the turn of events after his team managed to take the game to the last over only to fall short in the end.

    “I don’t have words to express at the moment, can’t tell anything,” he said.

    “We just kept believing, tried to stay in the game as long as possible. The bowlers nearly pulled it back, but it’s unfortunate that it didn’t go our way.”

    He credited the opposition bowlers for making it difficult to score runs.

    “They bowled very well in the middle-overs, we got stuck and couldn’t rotate strike,” Pant said.

    “Delhi Capitals are known to be positive and hopefully we’ll come back better next season.”

    KKR opener Venkatesh Iyer, who was adjudged the Man of the Match for his 41-ball 55, said he played freely and didn’t try to restrict himself.

    “I think in the past couple of games, I have been trying to restrict myself a bit as I wanted to stay till the end. But then I thought it is not me. I was losing out on the present trying to be a bit conservative,” he said.

    “(Opening partner Shubman) Gill is an extremely wonderful strokeplayer. My entire focus is on the final now.”

    On his match-winning six, Tripathi said: “It feels great.

    The win was very important.

    One or two tough overs, and it would go so deep we never thought.

    “The 18th over was a great over by Rabada. I had to just connect one, and luckily I connected today, so I am very happy.

    “It was difficult once you go in. Straightaway to get those boundaries was difficult. The ball was keeping a little low. After the first phase, we were a little down. We were always looking for positive options.”

  • IPL Qualifier 2: Kolkata Knight Riders win toss, opt to bowl against Delhi Capitals

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and opted to bowl in their IPL Qualifier 2 against Delhi Capitals here on Wednesday.

    DC made one change with fit-again Marcus Stoinis coming in for Tom Curran, while KKR fielded an unchanged team.

    The Teams:

    Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan.

    Kolkata Knight Riders: Eoin Morgan (capt), Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Mavi.

  • Clarity of mind will be very important for us: Delhi Capitals assistant coach Kaif

    By PTI

    SHARJAH: Delhi Capitals assistant coach Mohammad Kaif says “clarity of mind” will be important for his players when they face Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL Qualifier 2 here on Wednesday.

    The winner of Qualifier 2 will take on Chennai Super Kings in the title clash on October 15.

    “It’s a big day tomorrow. It’s all about how we handle the pressure. Every game is a pressure game in the IPL, but this game is a different challenge for us,” Kaif said ahead of the game.

    “We have to stay calm and keep a steady mind under pressure. Clarity of mind will be very important for us.”

    Kaif said they have the players to win Qualifier 2 but they need to shrug off the defeat to Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1 in Dubai on Sunday.

    “We have had back-to-back losses, but now it’s all about coming back. We have to rise after defeat in our game against KKR. And we have players who can win matches. There’s a lot of experienced and in-form players,” he said.

    The former India cricketer said they will take confidence from their previous win over KKR in the league stage.

    “We have played all the KKR bowlers in the past and we have had success against the team. We defeated them in the first half of the tournament.

    “We lost to KKR in the UAE phase of the tournament, but we were in control in some parts of that match as well. However, in the next match, both teams will be under the same pressure as both sides are playing for a spot in the Final,” said Kaif.

  • IPL 2021: ‘Pacer Kagiso Rabada’s form is a concern for Delhi Capitals’, feels Brian Lara

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Legendary West Indian batsman Brian Lara reckons Delhi Capitals’ South African pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada could be an anxious man right now given his poor form in the IPL. Rabada, who was the tournament’s highest wicket taker last edition, has struggled to replicate the terrific form in the second leg of the ongoing season.

    “Yes (his form is a concern for Delhi), he is an exceptional talent. He played a very big part in them getting to the finals, he got a lot of wickets in the middle and back end overs with slower balls and that is not been happening for him off late,” Lara said on Star Sports’ ‘Select Dugout.

    A key bowler for the Delhi franchise alongside compatriot Anrich Nortje, Rabada has gone wicketless in the last four games. “So, yeah, when you got Anrich Nortje doing the business upfront, you want a world-class bowler who can do what he did in the previous tournaments, which he hasn’t. And this has caused him a little bit of anxiousness. I suppose Delhi Capital will love to see Rabada back in form,” Lara said.

    The Capitals had reached their maiden finals last season, losing the summit clash to Mumbai Indians. They will take on former champions Kolkata Knight Riders for a place in this season’s final against Chennai Super Kings in the second qualifier in Sharjah on Wednesday.