Delhi Capitals cheer up fans

With the dust and grime slowly settling over the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament’s league phase, Delhi Capitals brought cheer to lakhs of fans with a consummate performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday. The win has now sealed a spot for Delhi Capitals in the playoff, something which was badly needed.

The way the form of Delhi Capitals had dipped in the previous four matches, there was plenty of reason for worry as they were falling for low totals and unable to produce the magic.

Perhaps, it needed collective strength and a sense of urgency before Monday’s match which saw them beat strong RCB, a side led by the man from Delhi, originally, Virat Kohli.

For old timers, who have been supporters of the Delhi franchise since start of the IPL in 2008, the team failing on the big stage is not news. Many times before, when this team was called Delhi Daredevils and owned by the GMR Group, it had promised a lot before failing and falling. And that, even when they had marquee players like Kevin Pietersen in their ranks.

Once the team changed hands and was rechristened last year as Delhi Capitals by new owners, Parth Jindal group, people hoped the team’s fortunes would change. And it has, this time, in the UAE with the team led by Shreyas Iyer rising to the occasion despite the hiccups.

At the midway stage of the IPL this season, played in very difficult conditions in the heat and the bio bubble, some fans and pundits were suggesting that the way Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians were dominating, a straight final be held between these two teams.

However, as one has seen in the past, nothing can be said with certainty in the IPL till all the 14 league games have been completed. Delhi Capitals played well when most important in the last league match and will get two chanced at making the final. They first play Mumbai Indians in the qualifier on Thursday, a match where Delhi should fancy their chances.

In fact, the Delhi Capitals think-tank, led by Ricky Ponting would want to explore the rivals because Rohit Sharma is out. Ponting is a cunning man and has been with the Mumbai franchise as well before. He brings with him tons of experience, as a player, Oz captain and now an IPL seasoned pro.

It has been Ponting guiding the side through the highs and lows this season. When Prithvi Shaw looked good in the early stages of the IPL, Delhi Capitals found it easy. When Shaw lost touch, changes had to be made.

To be sure, Shikhar Dhawan’s two centuries in the T20 format this time in the UAE and his knock on Monday in the company of mature and cool Ajinkya Rahane worked well. Many thought, Rahane would be a misfit in this format as he is the quintessential Test style batsman. However, even in the IPL, there is room for the classy purists like Rahane, as he showed us in the middle on Monday.

The overall depth in the Delhi side this time is good. They have used all options and what is most important is they have carried positive energy with them. To be playing in venues like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah is very different to playing in Indian stadia.

With no crowd participation and being in the bio bubble, for Delhi Capitals to keep firing even when the chips were down has been good. It showed professionalism and how their fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje have been so efficient this time in the desert duels. Add to it the cunning of R.Ashwin, Delhi have packed in great variety.

So far so good.

From here, begins a new challenge and new chapter where it is not about survival but firing on all cylinders against Mumbai Indians. The knockout stage, or the last four stage of the IPL is serious business. To reach the zenith will not be easy but one hopes Delhi Capitals will live up to the hype and players like Risabh Pant will prove their mettle as well.