IPL 8: Delhi Daredevils have let their fans down

Summer after summer, misery and disappointment have been constant companions for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

This season has been no different for the capital’s cricket fans as the franchise has put on display below par cricket, underlined by lack of imagination and unwillingness to learn.

The hype was huge at the mini auction held in February when "Prince" Yuvraj Singh was picked up for a whopping Rs 16 crore. For someone who has made a lot of money over the years and is now involved in business as well, the auction price may not be too big. Yet, if you are going to look at the prices for which some well known players went this time, what Yuvraj got was a big amount. Though not named captain, in many ways, as a marquee player, the hype around the 2011 World Cup star was huge.

The sad part is that the man who said he was going to use the IPL to make a comeback in international cricket has turned out to be a huge flop.

When Mail Today reported shortly before the IPL began how the superstar looked unfit with flab around the belly, it saw the team ducking for cover.

They say photos don’t lie and Yuvraj has just not been able to recapture his form. And that has been deeply disappointing for a sizeable number of Delhi Daredevils’ fans who, year after year, hope for a turnaround in the fortunes of the side.

In 11 matches played (before Saturday’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad) Yuvraj had scored only 206 runs. For someone known to use the bat as a bludgeon, this was a pathetic run, given the price he went for. Then again, if you look at his fielding, dropped catches and poor body language say it all.

At a time when most sides in the IPL have put on brilliant fielding displays and taken smart catches, it is clear age is catching up with Yuvraj and the Delhi side has suffered as a result of it.

In a team sport, it would be unfair to blame one player for the insipid performances resulting in a string of losses. When JP Duminy was named Delhi captain, it was seen as a step in the right direction as the South African was expected to forge a potent combination with coach Gary Kirsten. To be sure, both Duminy and Kirsten have bombed.

On the field, Duminy’s captaincy has not been inspirational at all and the side has failed to get the right mix for most matches. It would not be an exaggeration to state that Duminy plus Kirsten resulted in the Delhi Daredevils being unable to put together the best playing XI.

If you take the last match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata, Nathan Coulter-Nile was made to sit out and the side persisted with Angelo Mathews. Mathews was dropped against SunRisers Hyderabad but it’s clear the team management needed many matches to decide he was not going to be a match-winner.

As far as the batting line-up went, again there were glitches galore. To bring in Albie Morkel at number eight made no sense and the way Quinton de Kock has been used makes no sense.

Early on, when Amit Mishra and Imran Tahir were operating for the Delhi side in tandem, the two leggies caught the eye. In a format where fast bowlers usually shine with their accuracy, Mishra and Tahir did well to tease the opposition.

One does not know who takes the final call, but on the field in Kolkata, it made no sense to remove Mishra after he had bowled two good overs. By bringing him back into the attack late, there was no purpose. The ploy to bowl Tahir late also made no sense as his efficacy is better when he is bowling in the middle overs.

And what about wicket-keeper Kedar Jadhav? At best, he is a ball stopper and does not inspire the bowlers in a razor-sharp format where the role of the man behind the stumps is so important.

You may wonder if this is reading like a post-mortem report of the Delhi Daredevils this season. But based on their performances, the anguish of the fans must be answered.

Coach Kirsten is under intense scrutiny after two seasons and I wonder if he deserved all the hype after India won the World Cup in 2011. After all, winning captain MS Dhoni never stands up for publicity.