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DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 25: David Warner bats during the Karbonn Smart CLT20 Semi Final match between bizhub Highveld Lions and Delhi Daredevils at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on October 25, 2012 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
It may sound harsh, but the Delhi Daredevils may be the new chokers. If South Africa have been labeled the chokers in the international cricket parlance, then Delhi too deserve their tag when it comes to State/franchise/county cricket.
Analyzing Delhi’s performances in the first 4 years of Indian premier league (IPL), in four out of the five years there are instances of choking. In the first year, Delhi lost to the eventual winners Rajasthan Royals and on that occasion they were well beaten. In the second edition held in South Africa, after having topped the group and played extremely well, Delhi went down to the now defunct franchise Deccan Chargers. Although, to be fair, Adam Gilchrist was on fire that night and would have tamed anyone. Again in the third year, Delhi went down to Deccan Chargers in a do or die match which was to decide who would make it to the semifinals – to make matters worse, this was at the Ferozshah Kotla. Earlier this year, after having again topped the table after 16 games Delhi again displayed nerves and dished up two awful performances against both Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings in the eliminator.
The syndrome has now spread to the Champions League T20; Delhi went down to the Highveld Lions where they were clearly the favorites and that too with such limp and the same old mistakes.
It’s one thing choking at a national level, but it is totally different at the franchise level. We have seen in different sports where the owners have little patience and if results don’t go the team’s way, then heads could roll; especially in case of Delhi this year, with so much money being spent on likes of Kevin Pietersen and Mahela Jayawardene.
Being a Delhi boy through and through, my allegiances lie totally with the Daredevils but the results lie in front of us and we cannot ignore these. In my opinion, Delhi are the new chokers of the T20 game and there is no harm (a little shame) in admitting that. It is only after admitting and identifying the problem that we can look to find a solution. Let’s hope for Delhi’s sake we do it. Sooner the better.
