After a painful defeat to Rajasthan in the first IPL semi, I considered giving up my residential allegiances to Delhi and getting back to my ancestral roots and cheering for Punjab. But, those of you who read my blog regularly(yes, all four of you) know that when I back a team, I support it unconditionally through the good, the bad and the ugly(Everton, a case in point) ! Even though the Daredevils became fainthearted when it mattered, the campaign on a whole has still been satisfactory. As the IPL progressed, it became clear that Rajasthan and Mohali would be competing for the top spot; Bangalore(If it's Mumbai Indians and Kolkotta Knight Riders then shouldn't it Bengaluru Royal Challengers?Sorry for the digression but that's a valid point.) and Deccan for the wooden spoon; and that left a glut of 4 teams all very close together in the middle fighting it out for the last two semifinal births. It was to our credit that we held our nerve in many crucial games (and Mumbai lost theirs) to make the top four despite two heavily rain interrupted matches.
So to lift the spirits of my fellow Daredevils(atleast two of the aforementioned 4 are Daredevils) I've come up with a list of why Delhi are a good team and would return strongly next season:
So to lift the spirits of my fellow Daredevils(atleast two of the aforementioned 4 are Daredevils) I've come up with a list of why Delhi are a good team and would return strongly next season:
- We are amongst the best fielding sides in the tournament. I know it takes a brave man to maintain that after Yomahesh and Maharoof's clangers in the semi but if you have followed the IPL regularly you know it's true. Dhawan has probably been the best fielder in the IPL snapping up stunning catches for fun. Add to that Gambir, Tiwary, Dilshan, Karthik, Shoaib Malik, AB de Villiers, Amit Mishra, Daniel Vettori and Sangawan and you know what I'm talking about. Uptill the semis we had inflicted the most runouts-14- in the tournament as well.
- We are a team with a Delhi Core. No other team in the IPL can claim that. Delhi is the only side where most of the stars are Delhites- Gambir, Viru, Dhawan, Amit Mishra(he moved to Haryana a few years ago to further his career), Sangawan and Rajat Bhatia.
- We do not have an egoistic individual at the helm. Think Mallya, Dada and SRK and you wuld get my point. We are not a team that can be disrupted by controversies.
- Three of our leading wickettakers had economy rates of under 7. Once again we are the only team with three bowlers with that distinction. McGrath(12 wickets in 14 matches @ 6.6), Maharoof(15 wickets in 10 matches @ 6.9) and Mishra(11 wickets in 6 matches @ 6.9) have formed a potent yet economical attack. Asif, Yomahesh, Sangwan, Geeves and Bhatia haven't been good consistently but the other three have ensured that with slight tweaking our attack would be excellent next season. I suggest Mitchel Johnson(a very realistic target, won't be too expensive and is a proven performer in T20).
- Our top 3 has scored almost 1300 runs in the tournament. Even though our middle order has been frail, the form of Gambhir, Sehwag and Dhawan means that one good batsman will sure up our ranks. I suggest Kevin Pietersen!
8 comments:
Delhi have a problem that is facing most T-20 sides in that they don't have good overseas batting talent in the middle order. Delhi for sure goofed up at the auction by paying so much for Karthik and Tiwary and never needing them much. They will need that money to retain McGrath and Maharoof. Take your point on the fielding front but they could really do with Vettori as captain. Sehwag almost cost Delhi a place in the semis with some tactical blunders
i guess i'm one of the regualar readers and delhi fan. fielding has been our great strength but i think yomi's poor efforts dropping both watson and pathan in the same over cost us abt 30 runs. mitchel johnson is a good suggestion but if pietersen becomes available i think a bidding war might start.
being a Rajasthan royals fan and supporter frm the beginning... had to listen to all the taunts made by many delhites and others also after that first match defeat of RR against DD... but dunno y i had this feeling already that this would surely happen... and it has... RR has surely dunnit... the most underdog team makes its way to the top... theres not stoppin it...
dunno y but also i think DD lacked the team effort and accurate captaincy by virender sehwag... he never really looked offensive in his tactics and on-field strategies...
but still, hopefully next yr DD will jump back as it will have couple of quality spinners bak in team... like vettori and shoaib malik... malik can even score runs... so thats a gud sign... lets hope fr the best... GUD LUCK DD NEXT YR... this time the IPL is ours...
cheers... RRR... RAJ ROYALS ROXXX..
delhi was never really a strong side, fielding is a very important part and so is bowling but in t20 batting matters most for which delhi had just 2 to depend on (or maybe 3)...i think delhi just rode their luck to semis where they showed that they had no class. ( i know they were not that bad but they drove mumbai out so i hate them).
I din care much abt cricket before but when sadi Dilli was playing, i was hooked!!
wud love for the daredevils to go even further next yr. is it just me or is Shikhar Dhawan a serious cutie?
i agree with sushant comments.He is 100% right....[:)]
watever you said is right...but i dont think they have the firepower to knock out the best in the business in the crunch situation(it was evident from their semis performance and also,they were very lucky to share points with kkr in rain interrupted match)....so,better luck next time khanna..
@ Pak Saale
Lucky to share the points with KKR! We would have wiped the floor with Dada's dysfunctional XI, especially since their was no Shoaib and the match was on our turf!
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