Tag: Shreyas Iyer

  • Batsmen gave us good feedback on bowling right lengths against RR: DC pacer Anrich Nortje

    By PTI

    ABU DHABI: Receiving feedback from their batsmen helped Delhi Capitals bowlers to hit the right lengths on a difficult wicket here, says the team’s pacer Anrich Nortje after its big win over Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

    Delhi Capitals registered yet another victory this season after defeating Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Saturday.

    Shreyas Iyer played a fantastic knock of 43 runs off 32 balls to help the Delhi franchise post a total of 154/6 before each of their bowlers chipped in with wickets to help the team reclaim their position at the top of the table.

    Nortje, who registered figures of 2/18, believes their batsmen performed very well on a difficult wicket.

    “It was a good game for us. The guys batted really well to get us to 154/6 on a difficult wicket. Shreyas played his part and (Shimron) Hetmyer played well towards the end of the innings, which was really nice to see,” he said.

    The pacer added that the batsmen also gave good insights about the pitch to the bowlers before they went out to defend their total.

    “The batsmen gave us good feedback about the wicket. Shreyas said that it was not easy to hit straight. So we just looked to hit our lengths while bowling and things worked out for us.”

    Asked about his thoughts on bowling with the current crop of Delhi Capitals bowlers, Nortje said, “It’s really nice to be part of the Delhi Capitals bowling attack. Everyone knows what they have to do and how to execute it. All bowlers, whether it’s Axar (Patel), (Ravichandran) Ashwin, Avesh (Khan) or (Kagiso) Rabada, everyone is clear about their roles. We’ve got two consecutive games in Sharjah next. So interesting times coming up for us.”

    Delhi Capitals will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their next match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, Sept 28.

  • I respect team’s decision to let Pant stay as captain: Shreyas Iyer

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Shreyas Iyer says he relished captaining the Delhi Capitals in the IPL but completely respects the team management’s decision to let Rishabh Pant stay as leader of the pack till the end of the 2021 season.

    Iyer had led the Capitals to the summit clash of the 2020 season but he missed the first phase of this year’s season due to a shoulder injury and the management asked Pant to captain the side.

    The 26-year-old returned to the side before IPL’s resumption after the COVID-19 forced break but the Capitals chose not to change the leader again, keeping Pant in the captain’s chair.

    The young Mumbai batsman, who hit a blistering 47 in team’s win on Wednesday night, said he understands team’s policy and has no complaints.

    “When I was given the captaincy, I was in a different frame of mind and my decision-making and temperament level was very good and I benefited from it in the last two years,” Iyer said at the post-match press conference.

    “This is part of the decision-making from the franchise or whatever decision they took, I respect the fact and Rishabh is leading the side well from the start of the season and they thought that he should be continued till the season end and I completely respect the decision,” he added.

    The 26-year-old said he continues to enjoy the pressure situation as he thrives in such circumstances.

    “And no drastic change has come that my focus has increased in batting. When I was captain, I like to soak in the pressure, when there is pressure, there are more challenges and, in such situations, I perform, that is my mind-set.

    Even today (Wednesday) when I went in, there was pressure to win the game.

    The wicket was playing uneven, so the mind-set is the same that being a main part of the team, you have to finish the match and whenever I play, my mindset is that I play till the last ball and see to it that I make the team win.”

    The aggressive batsman it is a “really good feeling” to contribute in team’s win in his first match post comeback.

    “I wouldn’t say that I’m satisfied because the hunger has just gone up and the appetite keeps on increasing every match you play, so yeah, not satisfied or not contained,” he said after DC demolished Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets.

    Iyer said the injury period was difficult for him but he had the right people around him.

    “I have a very close-knit family and friends and they never made me feel that I was going through an injury.

    When I got injured, it was really difficult for me to adapt (to) the fact that I was injured because I keep doing so many activities here and there and I never think about that situation and that occurred, so it was really tough for me to adapt.

    They kept me busy and in a positive frame of mind and never made me feel that I am going through an injury.

    When the rehab started and I started gaining strength, that feeling was really amazing and that put me in a really good frame of mind that I will come back positive and strong,” shared the top-order batsman.

    Delhi Capitals is at the top of the table and Iyer said the key now is to maintain the momentum.

    “When we came in here, we were still on the top of the table and we have to maintain the same rhythm that we created in the first half of the leg and the mindset has been really positive in the dugout,” he said.

  • IPL 2021: Shreyas Iyer return boosts Delhi Capitals ahead of SRH clash

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Quite often, an unplanned break in the midst of a league can lead to a top team losing momentum once action resumes.

    But both skipper Rishabh Pant and coach Rickey Ponting feel that the gap has actually helped the Delhi Capitals as they gear up to face the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. 

    One of the biggest reasons for this is the return of Shreyas Iyer, who could not play any part in the first phase due to a shoulder injury.

    The return of the former skipper opens up a ton of possibilities for the franchise. Iyer’s batting skills aside, the balance of the team and the ability to play an extra overseas bowler are among the options available for the team management to tinker with.

    “I am absolutely delighted to have Shreyas back in our line-up,” Ponting said in a press interaction on the eve of Capitals’ first match of the UAE leg.

    “It was devastating for him and the team when he hurt his shoulder just before the start of the IPL earlier in the year. He is a world-class player, and he has been an exceptional player for Delhi Capitals for a long time now. Him slotting back into our line-up, I think it makes the make-up of our team look a little bit more complete.”

    “The first part of the tournament, as well as we played — we won six of our eight games — our overall balance didn’t quite feel like it was just right. But Shreyas coming back in now, it does give us the opportunity to play the two overseas fast bowlers, which we had [done] successfully in the past.”

    Last season’s runners-up used Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje to great effect and with Steve Smith not exactly shining in Iyer’s position, the Delhi side can go back to using Iyer in his preferred No 3 role and it will free up the space for an an additional foreign bowler.

    The only negative point for Delhi has been the performance of their domestic quick bowlers.

    Avesh Khan emerged as the lone match-winner during the first phase as the rest of the Capitals’ fast men took just nine wickets.

    Avesh’s success meant Capitals could afford to leave out Nortje but expect him to be back in the UAE. 

    DC topped the standings with six wins from eight matches and now are sitting in second spot, with 12 points.

    On the other hand, Sunrisers are placed at the last spot, with just a solitary win from seven games and six losses.

  • Rishabh Pant’s level of maturity has gone through roof: Ricky Ponting

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting feels his young skipper Rishabh Pant’s level of maturity “has gone through the roof” in the last couple of seasons as he has evolved from a swashbuckling keeper-batsman to a leader of the pack.

    The 23-year-old Pant was given the responsibility to lead Delhi Capitals in the first phase of IPL 2021 after regular captain Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to a shoulder injury.

    “Rishabh’s level of maturity in the last two seasons has gone through the roof,” Ponting, one of the game’s all-time greats, described the cricketer on Tuesday.

    “When I first came in, he just burst on to the scene. I had said we are going to see the unearthing of someone who is going to play for India for a long time. I could see that coming. I could see how much he wanted to be in every Indian team. It will take a very good player to knock him off that Indian team.”

    Under Pant’s captaincy, DC won six of their eight matches in the first phase of IPL 2021.

    “He has done a terrific job so far (leading DC in IPL). We are all striving for something special. This year we want to go one step further and Rishabh is going to play an intergral part in that.”

    Before the first phase of the league had started in India earlier this year, Ponting had backed Pant as the team’s skipper in the absence of Iyer, stating that the youngster would enjoy the extra responsibility.

    And he did as DC topped the standings with six wins from eight matches before COVID-19 cases in the IPL’s bio-bubble led to a suspension of the event.

    Eager to win their first silverware, Pant said the team needs to give just 10-15 percent more than last season.

    “We are better than last time this year. We have been focussing on the process for two-three years. We don’t have to do too many things differently from last year. We can do the same things and give 10-15 percent extra,” Pant said on the eve of their opening game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

    With the presence of people like Marcus Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer in the team, besides Pant, the Australian legend has a lot of confidence in his middle-order.

    “Stoinis has had actually a really big impact on us. He has the talent to be a great all-rounder in world cricket, especially in white ball formats. We have got a lot of finishing power there with Hetmyer, Stoinis and Pant. It makes our batting lineup really strong and really deep.”

    Ponting is delighted to have Shreyas back in the squad, lending additional firepower to the batting lineup.

    “I am delighted to have him back in the team. He has been an exceptional player for Delhi, a world-class player. It does make our team look a little more complete.”

    He said the inclusion of Shreyas in the playing XI will not disturb their bowling combination that has two highly effective South African pacers in Kagiso Rabada and Andre Nortje.

    Ponting said the vibe and atmosphere around his group is good going into their first game in the second phase of the league.

    DC have plenty of senior players in their ranks including Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin, and some of them often miss out on game time, but the head coach said managing them has never been an issue as he treats everyone equally.

    “I manage everyone the same way, everyone is on the same page in our team. We treat each other equally, that’s certainly the way we try to go about. We have a good mix of youth and experience. We also do rely on our senior players as, at the end of the day, Rishabh is not always going to be right. So we bring everybody along the journey.”

    Pant said the team’s performance in the first half is good from the psychological point of view but they don’t talk about what happened a few months ago.

    “That performance in the first half counts obviously but we just want to focus one match at a time. We don’t discuss that as a team and focus on our process. As a player, I don’t think too much. I try to make most of the opportunities I get, move on, and keep learning every day.”

    Asked about his biggest learning from his predecessor in the Indian team, the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Pant said, “Focus on the process and results will follow.”

    When asked about his leadership, he said, “I just try to keep the environment light. Anyone can discuss anything with me or Ricky. The combination of youth and experience helps us to go forward. I have learned from Ricky that everyone should be treated equally in the team – players and also the support staff. Only then special things happen and as a skipper, that’s the only thing you want.”

    About Wednesday’s opponents, Ponting observed that SRH are not a high-scoring side but “they back their defensive side of the game” and are always up for a scrap. We feel like we are well prepared. I am very confident that our boys will get the job done.”

  • We’ve given ourselves a good chance to qualify for playoffs: Rabada

    Delhi Capitals registered six wins from eight matches in the first half of the tournament and led the points table before the league was suspended midway in May owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Shreyas Iyer hitting the ball well, itching to go: DC teammate Kagiso Rabada,

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Delhi Capitals’ fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who has taken 8 wickets in 7 matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 season so far, expressed that the team has given itself a good chance of qualifying for the playoffs following a brilliant performance in the first half of the season.

    The Delhi franchise registered 6 wins from 8 matches in the first half of the tournament.

    “I think the guys are in a good space as we have been playing some cricket since the first half of the tournament. That’s a positive for the team. It’s also nice to start the second half of the season being on top of the table. However, we still have a lot of work to do. We’ve given ourselves a good chance to qualify for the playoffs and earn a spot in the final,” Rabada stated in an official release.

    Rabada added that he feels at home whenever he joins the Delhi Capitals family. “It’s no longer foreign to come into the DC environment for me. We know each other very well and we have also connected on a deeper level. We know about each other’s lives outside of cricket as well. We connect with each other when we are not playing the IPL. I’ve stayed in touch with Shreyas and connected with players on their birthdays.”

    Speaking about the return of Shreyas Iyer, Rabada said that the batsman is a phenomenal player and great for the balance of the side.

    “It’s awesome to have Shreyas back. He’s a phenomenal batter and an integral part of our team. He’s good for the balance of the team. I’m sure he’s itching to play. He seems to be in good spirits and he seems to be hitting the ball well,” said Rabada.

    The fast bowler further expressed that the Delhi Capitals will give it their best shot to win the IPL trophy this season.

    “We’ve had unfinished business since the day the Delhi Capitals didn’t win a final. We are coming back after a break and it’s just one final stretch for us. Hopefully, we can do it for our fans and our families this season. We are just going to give it our best shot. The guys believe that they can do it so that’s a great sign,” he added.

    The Delhi Capitals are set to take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad on September 22. 

  • Shreyas Iyer’s return will strengthen team, says Delhi Capitals batsman Shikhar Dhawan

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Delhi Capitals’ senior batsman Shikhar Dhawan on Sunday said the return of regular skipper Shreyas Iyer will strengthen the team further as it looks to resume its IPL campaign on a high note.

    The 2021 IPL was suspended in May due to multiple COVID cases inside its bio-bubble and the second leg of the lucrative tournament will begin on September 19 in the UAE.

    “We were in a certain flow in the first half of the season and then that flow was broken once the tournament was suspended,” Dhawan said in a release issued by the franchise.

    “So we have to rebuild our energy and get back on the flow we were in. The good thing is that our team is well balanced and Shreyas Iyer is back in the side as well, so our team is even stronger now.”

    Iyer had missed the first leg of the IPL after suffering a shoulder injury during the first ODI between India and England in March.

    The 35-year-old Dhawan, who is currently the highest run-getter in the IPL 2021 season with 380 runs in eight matches, said the team is focussed on its first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

    “It’s great to be back. There’s a great environment within the team. All the boys are working very hard and I am looking forward to the IPL season. I am very excited to play the upcoming matches,” said the opener, who has scored 3 fifties in the season so far.

    “It’s very important to start on a high note. We need to do well from the first match itself and therefore we are working very hard for our first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. We have to bring our hard work into effect during matches and produce great results.”

    Delhi Capitals, the last year’s finalists, will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on September 22.

  • In ‘good mind space’, fit-again Shreyas Iyer ready to convert Delhi Capitals’ IPL dream into reality

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer did feel “low” at times during an intense rehabilitation period after his shoulder surgery but a fit-again stylish Mumbai batsman is now gearing up to realise an unfinished dream of winning his maiden IPL title with the Delhi Capitals.

    Shreyas, who led DC to their first IPL final in 2020, missed the first part of the postponed IPL due to surgery.

    Rishabh Pant had captained the side back then.

    “Unfortunately, IPL had to be stopped mid-season, but it has presented me with the opportunity again and I will, as a player and as someone who understand the DNA of our team, will do everything in my role to see the dream of our fans come true,” Shreyas told PTI in an exclusive interview.

    When asked if he is game about playing under Pant’s leadership, the dashing right-hander did not give a direct answer.

    “I would reckon our first half performance this season is a result of the environment we had created in 2019 and 2020. Last year, we came so close to winning IPL,” Shreyas said.

    “Over the last two years, we have transformed DC into a warrior side. That has come from the system and process we had put in place and thanks to the management in trusting my abilities to be able to deliver for the team,” feels Shreyas.

    He feels that leadership role in Capitals did help him become a more astute cricketer since he improved man-management skills and temperament.

    “Captaincy at Delhi Capitals has made me a better cricketer. I look at things, situations, the sport differently. It has improved my temperamental skills, my man management skills as a leader. Ricky Ponting has been very supportive on that,” he said.

    While playing IPL, Shreyas would obviously also have one eye on the T20 World Cup squad where he would probably fight it out with Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, both of whom have had impressive start to their T20 careers, for a place.

    “Competition has always been in Indian cricket and will always be. It is a competitive sport after all. But for me, it won’t be an understatement to say that I have a bigger appetite now,” who has scored 1363 runs in 51 white ball games.

    But someone, who is known to hit monster sixes in T20 cricket would make it clear that he is not competing with anyone.

    “Look, my competition has always been with myself. It’s You vs You. It has worked out well for me in the past, for how I have played this sport so far, and I have no reason to doubt myself that I can’t repeat and achieve that again and more.”

    Challenging himself and moving out of his comfort zone will be his mantra.

    “I want to keep going beyond my abilities. I want to see that transition happening every day. That’s how I see myself and I enjoy throwing these challenges.”

    On the fitness front, Shreyas informed that he attained full match fitness two weeks back and is currently in fine fettle.

    “I have attained 100 per two weeks back. No concerns whatsoever. I feel very comfortable, fresh and I’m in a good mind space. I was completely focused on my daily process and thankfully it has worked out well for me. This (surgery) was something I had to do, and I am happy that I can now move forward,” he added.

    So is he feeling comfortable throwing from the deep? “It’s about gaining the strength. I feel 100 percent . I had the opportunity to arrive in Dubai a few days ahead of my team, and thankfully played a few practices matches with UAE National team. It’s all coming together nicely.”

    He got injured at a time when he was doing well for the country and it does affect any player worth his salt.

    “One has to accept the fact and adapt to it fast. That would be my advise. I won’t lie here, yes you tend to feel low at times, it’s human nature after all, but how you deal with it instead of drowning in it, defines your process.”

    But if a situation comes where he has to dive again, Shreyas won’t mind doing that to save runs for his team.

    “What’s important is knowing that I was 110 per cent in that game when I hit the mat. I was committed to my role and I will not hesitate to show the same intensity in future.”

    It can get lonely if the support system isn’t around, Shreyas agreed.

    “Thankfully, I have a close knit family and friends who have been my backbone. They bring positivity. I had a quick get-away with friends in Goa post surgery. Back home, my parents kept me engaged, we had a lot of positive conversations and they ensured I look at the brighter side of things.”

    The initial part of rehab can become very tiresome when one is perhaps at home with hand in sling, no gym, no activity as such, more so in this post-COVID world.

    “To be honest, I never felt the agony at all. As I mentioned, for me it was the family and friends who formed the core of my recovery process.

    “And then I had Virat Kohli and many teammates, friends and fans checking on me regularly. To be frank, it was overwhelming to see so much of support.”

    While concluding Shreyas wanted to thank NCA Head of Cricket Rahul Dravid and his staff for their support during the rehab period.

    “Rahul sir and the entire staff at NCA had been very helpful. I got good support from BCCI and the process was smooth for me. I had long conversations with Rahul sir, before he left for Sri Lanka and later on his return. His words are so much encouraging and a lot to learn from him,” he signed off.

  • Blow to Delhi Capitals as injured skipper Shreyas Iyer likely to miss entire IPL

    Express News Service
    CHENNAI: In a major blow to Delhi Capitals, their captain Shreyas Iyer is likely to miss the entire edition of the IPL with a labrum tear. The middle-order batsman is set to undergo a surgery in a day or two which will sideline him for at least three to four months as India are keeping their fingers crossed about his availability for the T20 World Cup.

    Shreyas injured his left shoulder during the eighth over of England’s innings on Tuesday and was immediately taken for scans. “Shreyas Iyer subluxated his left shoulder in the 8th over while fielding. He has been taken for further scans and won’t take any further part in the game,” the BCCI had said in a statement.

    However, the scan reports on Wednesday revealed that the injury is a lot worse than originally feared. It is learnt that the batsman has suffered a labrum tear in his left shoulder which may have not necessarily been caused by of the dive he put in on Tuesday as it is common with athletes who do weightlifting and over the head activities like throwing. “He has suffered a labrum tear which requires operation. If it is a Grade 1 level tear, adequate rest would have been sufficient. But since it is on the higher side, he has been advised to get under the knife,” sources familiar with the development told The New Indian Express.

    Athletes who suffer a labrum tear usually take around 12 weeks to begin the rehabilitation programme and it takes around  4-6 months for the injury to be fully healed.

    The development will be a major blow to Delhi Capitals who now have to look for a new captain for the season. The franchise which made it to the final last season has amongst its ranks Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan and Steve Smith, who have all led various franchises in the past.  Rishabh Pant, who has been Shreyas’s deputy in the past, could also be in the running.

    Shreyas took over as Delhi captain in 2018, making him one of the youngest in the tournament. The injury means Shreyas will miss the IPL and could also miss the Royal London Cup in July where he is signed up to represent Lancashire. A confirmation from the BCCI is expected anytime soon.

  • Economy of Delhi bowlers less than 8

    After 40 matches in the IPL, Delhi Capitals are first in the points table and Chennai Super Kings are in the last place. No one expected 8-time finalist Chennai to have such a position before the tournament started. Delhi is commanded by 26-year-old Shreyas Iyer. Iyer himself is at number 6 in terms of scoring the most runs in the tournament by scoring 335 runs in 10 matches.

    In bowling, 25-year-old Kagiso Rabada has taken the highest 21 wickets in 10 matches. Talking about the three leading bowlers of the team, all three have given runs with an economy of less than 8. All three are under 30 years of age. At the same time, two out of three major bowlers of Chennai are over 30 and their economy is also more than 9. Dhawan, Hetmyer, Stoinis and Prithvi Shaw have scored more than 140 strike rates for the team. In the playing XI, only Shardul (29), Deepak Chahar (28), Karan (22) are under 30 years of age. The team also has a shortage of fast bowlers who can bowl at a speed of 140 kmph. Chennai has none of the top-10 bowlers taking the most wickets. So far only Faf du Plessis has a better strike rate than 140 among the leading batsmen.