News Update
Tezzbuzz|30-04-2024
Kolkata: Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant admitted that his team were 40-50 runs short after their loss against Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday in IPL 2024. Following the seven-wicket loss, Delhi Capitals slipped to the sixth position while the two-time champions consolidated their second spot with 12 points behind leaders Rajasthan Royals (14). However, with a one-week break before Delhi Capitals’ next game, Pant vows to ‘learn from our mistakes’.
Unlike the previous games, where Delhi Capitals got off to a flying start in the powerplay, the story was different against Eden Gardens as none of their openers – Jake Fraser-McGurk and Prithvi Shaw – got going. Fine bowling by Varun Chakravarthy (3/16), Vaibhav Arora (2/29) and Harshit Rana (2/28) left Delhi Capitals in tatters as they were stopped at 153/9 after opting to bat first.
Playing in front of the home crowd, Phil Salt once again gave KKR a flying start at the same wicket where Delhi Capitals batters struggled. The English opener scored the required runs without much ado, thus making a 33-ball 68 to complete a dominant win.
“I think that (batting first) was a good option but as a batting unit, we did not bat well enough. 150 was definitely below par. We have a long break ahead, where we can learn from our mistakes,” said Pant, who contributed 27.
Delhi Capitals play their next match on May 7 against Rajasthan Royals in Delhi, giving Pant plenty of time to iron out the flaws in his team’s batting. “Sometimes, it is just not your day. We were 40-50 runs short. I think anything between 180-210 would have been a good target. There was a lot of help for the bowlers but as a batting unit, we did not give them enough,” he added.
Salt’s knock was studded with seven boundaries and five maximums and came at a strike rate of more than 206. “It is high-risk but it is also about putting the odds in your favour and not taking the risks you don’t want to. You just have to keep backing yourself and keep taking the right options. Very helpful to keep on it first and see what it is doing,” he said.
Meanwhile KKR captain Shreyas Iyer was all praise for Salt saying he is ‘completely engrossed’ when he comes for team meeting. “Phil, he comes into the team meetings and he is completely engrossed into the game. Pure bliss to see the way he is performing. He (Narine) does not (attend team meetings), and I would recommend him to not come as well,” said the Indian middle-order batter.